The state track and field championships for Division II Class A wrapped up this past week in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Over the course of the past week, hundreds of track and field athletes from across the state descended upon Middle Tennessee State University with the hopes of walking away with the title of state champion.

Repeating championships in any sport, team or individual, is difficult, both mentally and physically. Embracing the challenge is half the battle, and that half is one that Grace Christian Academy senior Brianna Baker clearly has a leg up on.

Of the twenty-six times she has run the 300-meter hurdles, she has crossed the finish line in first place twenty-three times. Her last loss was on May 4, 2021. Baker was the defending State Champion from 2021 and 2022 and now clinches the 3-peat State Title and set a new personal and school record with a time of 44.50.

Baker, the East Tennessee State University commit, also secured the State Championship in the 100-meter hurdles setting another new personal and school record in that event with a time of 14.66 and placed third in the long jump with a distance of 17 feet.

"Unbelievable," said GCA Athletic Director Marcus Dilligard of Baker’s accomplishment. "She was undefeated the whole outdoor season, which is just amazing. She had an amazing race, and to bring home two state titles at the end of her senior season was a storybook ending to her high school career.”

“I just kept thinking about how cool it would be to be a three-time state champion,” Baker said. “That really motivated me to kick as hard as I possibly could.”

Baker also recently competed in the State Pentathlon for the very first time, setting four new personal bests in the high jump, shot put, long jump, and high jump. Breaking her school record in the long jump and shaving 7 seconds off her time in the 800-meter run. She won the 100-meter hurdles event, tied for first place in the shot put, came in second in the long jump, tied for 4th in the high jump, and placed 3rd in her heat in the 800-meter run. All her marks from each event were calculated, giving her a total of 3,143 points combined from all 5 events and a 2^nd place finish overall.

Throughout the week leading up to the race, the realization was setting in that this was the end of her high school career.

But it's been a storied career that she hopes to build on when she gets to East Tennessee State University in the fall.

“I have four state championship titles and multiple district and region titles," Baker said. "My high school career got me to ETSU, and there are big things to come at ETSU.”

Congratulations to rising senior and Track and Field athlete, Rachel Flinchum!  After a remarkable spring season, Rachel qualifed in June 2019 for the AAU Junior Olympic Games in three events.  Rachel will be competing in the Shot Put, Discus, and Javelin in Greensboro, North Carolina, in late July.

We're so proud of you, Rachel, and can't wait to see how you use your God-given talents!

GCA was represented by two athletes at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor Track & Field event held in Greensboro, NC, June 13-16.  This elite event is open to the top 50 qualifying athletes in the nation.

Reilly Mehegan competed in the Boys Junior High School 2 Mile Run.  His time of 11:07.00 placed him 32^nd.  This  is a new personal record and is the fastest time in Tennessee for all eighth graders.

Jackson Bostick competed in the Emerging Elite 400 Meter Hurdles, posting a time of 57.47 for a 31^st place finish, establishing a new school record.

Congratulations Reilly & Jackson for a great end to the Track & Field season!