Hutchison and Young lead Clinton track to strong season start
The Clinton High School track teams kicked off their 2025 seasons with impressive performances at a pair of meets last week.
On Friday, the Dragons and Lady Dragons competed at Union County High School in Maynardville.
For the Lady Dragons, Kenzlee Hutchison claimed victory in the shot put with a throw of 27 feet, 8.75 inches. Her teammate, Hannah Whittley, finished fifth with a mark of 24-1.5.
Ashleigh Alcott secured a pair of third-place finishes in the hurdles, completing the 100-meter hurdles in 24.05 seconds and the 300-meter hurdles in 1 minute, 4.52 seconds. The Lady Dragons’ 4x100-meter relay team took second place with a time of 56.87 seconds.
Senior Alli Hollifield earned a second-place finish in the 1,600-meter run, clocking in at 6:39.84. She also finished fifth in the 800-meter run with a time of 3:18.60.
In the 100-meter dash, the Lady Dragons had three top-10 finishers: Saviah Desean (sixth, 14.36), Laci Clevenger (eighth, 14.47), and Maliyah Drake (ninth, 14.57). In the 200-meter dash, Saviah Stewart finished ninth (30.21), and Ryleigh White was 10th (30.92).
For the boys’ team at Union County, Wil’Queis Young swept the sprints, winning the 100-meter dash in 11.41 seconds and the 200-meter dash in 23.65 seconds. In the 400-meter dash, Konner Baylis secured second place with a time of 55.75 seconds, while Ryker Armes was second in the 100-meter dash (12.09).
Lucas Butz won the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 43.91 seconds and took third in the 110-meter hurdles, also at 43.91 seconds. Clinton’s 4x100-meter relay team earned a victory with a time of 47.09 seconds.
The two teams began their season in Loudon on Tuesday, March 4.
Clinton’s boys had five runners place in the top 10 of the 100-meter dash. Silas Weaver led the way, winning with a time of 11.87 seconds. Armes finished third (12.09), Baylis was fourth (12.17), Ryin Jones took sixth (12.21), and Donavin Pencek was seventh (12.27).
In the 200-meter dash, the Dragons claimed the top three spots with Young winning in 23.98 seconds. Pencek was second (25.26), and Baylis finished third (25.47). Baylis also won the 400-meter dash (56.24) and placed fifth in the high jump (5-2).
Clinton’s 4x100 relay team captured first place with a time of 46.11 seconds.
Butz continued his dominance in the hurdles, winning both the 110-meter hurdles (15.86) and the 300-meter hurdles (43.25). He also secured 10th place in the shot put (32-9).
In distance events, Cooper Bostrom finished eighth in the 800-meter run. In the long jump, Pencek was second (18-6), Austin Steen was seventh (16-9.5), and Jones was 10th (16-3.5).
For the Lady Dragons, Stewart claimed second place in the 400-meter dash (1:11.74) and fourth in the 200-meter dash (30.96). Hutchison was third in the shot put (29-5) and fourth in the 800-meter run (3:08.71).
Hollifield placed third in the 1,600-meter run (6:48.31) and fifth in the 800-meter run (3:14.87). Alcott finished fifth in the 100-meter hurdles (24.43). Clevenger was third in the 200-meter dash (30.92) and ninth in the 100-meter dash (30.92).
The Dragons are off this week for spring break.
