Haley Ward

Formerly known as the Jesse Owens Classic, now re-branded as the Gatorade XC Classic, we look back at the best girls performances in the meet’s rich history.

  One of the oldest and most prestigious track meets in the state of Tennessee takes place Friday when competitors square off at the Optimist Track Meet to be held at Walker Valley High School in Cleveland, TN. Historically, the meet experiences mild temperatures and is held at a time in the high school track season that signals championships are right around the corner.

The Percy Warner course is a very spectator friendly course.  If you’re willing, you can run from one side to another and up and down hills to get a glimpse of your favorite athlete.  If you’re an athlete, well, this course has its moments.  Although from a spectator’s point of view, the course doesn’t seem that hilly, but it is.  And with the course being wide open, the wind will sometimes play games with you too.   With that said, the times at these championships don’t always give you a good feeling that you are watching some extremely talented athletes tearing up a tough course. 

  The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the racecourse, distinguishes Ward as Tennessee’s best high school girls cross country runner.  Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year award to be announced in January, Ward joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Ryan Hall (1999-00, 2000-01, Big Bear HS, Calif.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.) and Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.).