The state championship trophy cases in Webb’s Lee Athletic Center just got more crowded with Webb’s Lady Spartans winning the 2019 TSSAA Division II-A state track and field team crown – its first-ever in the history of the program at Webb. Webb’s showing at this year’s state championship was marked by numerous top-five performances, including several gold-medal finishes.
Sophomore Kai Lanier set the pace a week before the state championship meet began with an overall bronze medal finish in the Division II-A state pentathlon at Franklin Road Academy. Lanier took first in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles (16.63) and shot put (8.61m), fourth in the 800-meter dash (2:36.07), sixth in the long jump (4.87m), and 14th in the high jump (1.37m).
Vanderbilt signee Niki Narayani ’19 increased that momentum several days later at the Division II-A track and field championship at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro with first-place finishes in the 3200-meter (11:10.01), 1600-meter (5:13.24), and 800-meter (2:22.27) races, and the 4 X 800-meter relay with classmates Lindsay Holliday, Taylor Coseyand Isabel Papenbrock Romero (10:11.10).
Junior Jasmine Jefferson continued the Lady Spartan charge with gold medal finishes in the 100-meter dash (12.39) and 400 (58.14), and took home a silver in the 200 (25.52). She also joined teammates Parker Dunn ’23, Stephani Franks ’20 and Sheelove Knowles ’22 to place runner-up in the girls’ 4 X 400-meter relay (4:05.10).
Franks added another state silver to her athletic resume, taking second in the pole vault with a jump of 10 feet.
Lindsay Holliday, an East Tennessee State University signee, earned a silver in the girls’ 1600 (5:19.91) and took fourth in both the 3200 (11:48.87) and 800-meter (2:27.90) races.
North Carolina State University commitment Taylor Cosey won a bronze in the girls’ 3200 (11:43.90) and was fourth in the 1600 (5:31.08).
Lanier brought home a bronze in both the girls 100 and 300-meter hurdle races, crossing the finish line in a time of 16.19 and 48.36, respectively. She also took fifth in the long jump (15-09.25). Lanier also teamed up with Dunn, Franks and Knowles to place fourth in the girls’ 4 X 200-meter relay (1:47.45).
Webb’s Lady Spartan team finished with 140 points – some 36 points ahead of runner-up Christian Academy of Knoxville.