Having already earned seven berths to the Class A state meet in Tuesday’s sectional field events, Union City added an eighth Thursday when the 4X100 girls’ relay team qualified for Spring Fling.
School Communications Director Mike Hutchens said the foursome of Nakyah Yarbrough, Aujani Moss, Katana Bonds, and Indeya Hogsett set a school record (50.80) to finish second and punch their ticket to Murfreesboro.
The Union City boys (111 points) ended the two-day sectional as runners-up, with the Lady Tornadoes placing third (97 points). Memphis East won both sides.
Several Tornado athletes remain in contention for wildcard berths, according to head coach Wade Maddox, with their status to be determined this weekend when the remainder of the state completes their respective sectional competition.
Leading that group is the boys’ 4X400 relay team – made up of Malaki Brooks, Kameron Shade, Adrian Crawford, and Andre Small – which finished third Thursday. Shade could also be in the mix in the 100 and 200-meters, after third-place finishes.
Union City athletes and teams set six program records in all Thursday, with Yarbrough (100 meters), the girls’ 4X400 relay team, and two boys’ relay units (4X400, 4X200) among those.
“I asked them to go out and give me all they had, and they did,” Maddox said of his troops. “Now we play the waiting game with the wildcards. And I believe we have a legitimate chance to qualify for the state in several events.”
The Class 1A state meet is scheduled for May 21 at Hayes Stadium on the Middle Tennessee State University campus.
