KNOXVILLE — Oh, the benefits of young legs.
Despite temperatures hovering near 90-degrees for much of Tuesday afternoon’s running events, Tyner sophomore sprinter Karontae Cunningham was able to overcome the sweltering elements, and a stacked group of competitors, to blister the track for one of the greatest single-day performances ever by a local athlete.
On the same University of Tennessee surface where multiple other runners had to be carried from the track after suffering exhaustion immediately after crossing the finish line of their event, Cunningham not only defended his state titles in the Class A 100 meters — coming within a whisker of setting a new state record time — and 200 meters, he also added two more first-place finishes during the Spring Fling state championship meet.
In the most grueling part of his day, the chiseled 5-foot-10, 170-pounder ran the anchor leg of the 4×100 relay, where he made up significant ground to overtake the race leader, then added the 400-meter title in the following event.
After another very short recovery time, he managed to cap his day by actually pulling away from the field to take the 200-meters title in 21.03.
“I threw up three times right after the 400 and was cramping on my way to the blocks for the 200,” Cunningham said. “But knowing that was the last race of the day, I knew I just had to push through it. I had to give it my all because there was nothing left to do after that.
Cunningham’s four championships, plus junior teammate Kohl Ward’s strong multi-event performance and Tyner taking first in the 4×200 and second in the 4×400 relays, also helped lead the Rams to the Class A team championship — the first in program history — as they edged Union City 93-88.
Ward, who finished runner-up in last week’s decathlon, also placed second in Tuesday’s triple jump as well as in the 300-meter hurdles, and was fourth in the 110-meter hurdles.
“It was definitely a team effort, but those two guys, Karontae and Kohl, they led the way,” said Rams coach E’Jay Ward, who is also Kohl’s uncle. “They sacrificed their bodies for our school and the community and helped us accomplish something really special.”
Moments after his final event of the day, Cunningham sprawled onto the grass infield and laid there for several minutes as he tried to catch his breath.
“I don’t really like running in the heat,” said Cunningham, whose 10.15 finish in the 100 was just off the state record pace of 10.13 set by Memphis Central’s Jordan Ward in 2023. “I especially don’t like extreme heat like today because it sort of makes me feel drained and a little anxious. I just stayed inside all day before the meet and rested my legs so I would be prepared.
“My goal was to get the state record, to be the fastest to ever do it in Tennessee and I’m right there. I’ve still got two more years to hopefully get that one and I’ll keep working to be ready again.”
Overall, it was a memorable meet that saw 16 local athletes or teams claim state titles in either Class A or AA.
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After settling for runner-up finishes last year, Signal Mountain senior Hudson Sveadas claimed both the AA discus (181-feet, 2-inches) and shot put (65-feet, 4.5-inches). Teammate Samuel Pittman was second in the shot (53-feet, 9.75-inches), followed by Red Bank’s Jackson Fowler (49-feet, 9.75-inches). Soddy Daisy’s Pete Laxton finished second in the discus with a throw of 144-feet, 10-inches and Red Bank’s Fowler finished third (143-feet).
“I had a pretty good idea of what the other guys were capable of throwing, so that helped my confidence,” said Sveadas, who has signed a track & field scholarship with the University of Oklahoma. “When I first began my throwing career two years ago I never could have dreamed I would accomplish this or any of the things I’ve been able to do. I’m just so grateful for everything this sport has brought.”
South Pittsburg sophomore Jaylee Johnson became the school’s first female state champion in any sport, claiming the Class A long jump with a leap of 16-feet, 4.25-inches.
“Once I listened to everyone else’s marks, I sort of realized I could win it,” said Johnson, whose career best is 17-feet, but who has been nursing an injured quad muscle that prevented her from also competing in the triple jump, 100 meters and 4×100 relay for much of the season.
Johnson was given a police escort through town once she returned home, a tradition followed after each Pirates football team has returned from winning a state title. Pirates boys’ athlete Dayon Cooper finished second in the long jump (22-feet, 5-inches).
“I don’t think it will sink in, what I’ve accomplished, until I get my state championship ring. But this definitely motivates me for next season because I know I can jump farther.”
Less than a week after winning her third straight pentathlon state title, Signal Mountain senior Marlee Burkley added a championship in the high jump, where she cleared 5-8, eight inches better than second-place Holley Wilson of Creek Wood.
Burkley would go on to add a first-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles, second in the 300-meter hurdles and was third in the 100 meters (12.19), just behind Brainerd’s Daniya Dunning, who finished second in 12.13.
(READ MORE: Signal Mountain’s Marlee Burkley wins third straight pentathlon state title).
Signal Mountain teammate Maxine Richards also took first-place in the 800 meters to help the Lady Eagles finish second in the Class AA team standings.
“I have a mix of emotions,” said Burkley, a Samford University signee. “It’s hard to believe my high school career is over, but I am so excited to have four more years to compete ahead in college.”
Tyner’s Adajah Nixon swept titles in the 100-meter hurdles (15.13) and 300-meter hurdles (45.67), and both Brainerd (AA) and Tyner (A) won the girls’ 4×100 relay races.
The other classifications — Division II-A and DII-AA on Wednesday and public-school Class AAA on Thursday — will run their state meet later this week at the same site.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com.