DeSantis wins state title as Clarksville area track and field athletes compete at state meet

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Several runners from the Clarksville area competed in the TSSAA State Championships at Dean A. Hayes Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This was highlighted by Rossview High’s Kristen DeSantis, who won the Class 3A state title in the pole vault with a performance of 11’ 6″.

DeSantis, a dual-sport athlete playing football and competing in track and field, won the TSSAA Class 3A state title in the pole vault, following several rain delays. His mark of 11’6″ was half a foot better than second place, earning him the gold medal. Rossview High School held a graduation ceremony for DeSantis on Wednesday, since she missed her school’s ceremony to compete.

Kristen Desantis was celebrated for her graduation and state title on May 29, 2024 (Knox Rives)

“It’s been a long process to get here,” DeSantis said. “I trained in Nashville with Dr. Brandon Grass, and he deserves a lot of credit. I was surrounded by supportive family, friends and teachers. They ultimately led me to success too.

DeSantis will retire as a state champion and continue her academic future, as she will attend the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where she will major in biology and be a member of the honors program.

Additional results from state meetings

Hayden Waleski, an ETSU signee, was first to run, earning a seventh-place finish in the 1,600 with a time of 4:24.921. Waleski then doubled up the next day in the 800m, placing sixth with a time of 1:59.28. Northeast’s Myrham Cohen finished 12th in the triple jump with a mark of 12.72M.

Zacharia Taylor, Kenwood school record holder for the 100m and 200m, placed sixth with a time of 10.74 in the 100m. Taylor then competed in the 200m, placing fourth with a time of 22.02. Kenwood also fielded a relay team in the 4×200, placing seventh with a time of 1:28.51.

Northwestern’s Treyson Cosby competed in the 300m hurdles, placing 11th with a time of 41.45 seconds. Teyvon Clayborn was another Viking who competed, competing in the decathlon, placing 12th. Northwest’s 4×400 team placed 13th with a time of 3:31.59. Prophet Basden was Kirkwood’s lone runner, placing 5th in the 400 with a time of 48.57.

As for the girls, Northeast High had several competitors. Alijanae Cole placed tenth in the long jump with a jump of 4.94m. Ja’kyah Montgomery, also from Northeast, had a sixth-place finish in the women’s triple jump with a jump of 10.89m. Meanwhile, two North East relay teams competed, with the 4x200m team placing 12th with a time of 1:45.14 and the 4x100m team placing 7th with a performance of 49.56 seconds.

Ella Moore of Clarksville High placed 11th in the shot put with a throw of 10.10 M. Brooklyn Houk placed 14th in the discus with a throw of 25.73 M.