By Mike Hutchens, Union City Schools Communications Director
To the victor(s) go the spoils.
State champions Adrian Crawford and Keaten Brown and runner-up finishers Debrionna Jones and Kameron Shade added to their respective Union City High School track and field legacies by being named to the Class 1A Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State team today.
The selection of the Union City foursome to the prestigious honor marks the fourth straight year that the UCHS program has boasted multiple all-staters and brings the number of Tornado athletes to make all-state to 12 over that span.
The TSWA recognizes the top three finishers in each individual Spring Fling track and field event as All-Staters.
Crawford – just a sophomore – received the illustrious designation in three events after winning the Single-A High Jump and Triple Jump championships and finishing second in the decathlon. He became just the second athlete in the history of the Tornado program to win multiple state titles in the same year.
Brown claimed his state championship and had a storybook ending to his high school athletic career by winning the discus on his final throw with a best-ever effort. He was also third in the shot put to earn dual all-state honors after being recognized last year with a runner-up finish in the discus.
Jones and Shade were also repeat all-staters from 2023. Jones, a junior, came in second in the shot put and was third in the discus after placing third in the shot last year. Shade, a senior sprinter who’ll run on the next level at UT Martin next year after signing a scholarship in the spring, was second in the 200 meters and third in the 100 meters in this year’s Spring Fling. He was runner-up in the 100 as a junior.
The collective effort of the group and a handful of others helped the Union City boys’ team to a best-ever state runner-up finish. At the same time, the Lady Tornadoes posted a third consecutive Top 10 showing, coming up sixth among a deep and talented field.
Head coach Wade Maddox, who has orchestrated Union City’s surge to relevance on the biggest stage, was thrilled at the individual recognition received by this year’s standout performers.
“I’m extremely proud of all of them,” gushed Maddox, who shared credit with assistant coaches Josh Keown and Thel Taylor. “To be recognized as an all-stater in any sport is a tremendous honor, especially when you consider the number of kids who compete state-wide.
“I’m especially happy for the kids who made it in multiple events. Coach Keown actually suggested last spring that we have our throwers compete in both the shot and discuss, and it was something that obviously paid off handsomely for those kids and our program.
“I still believe we have higher heights to achieve as individuals and in the team concept. We’ll continue to push our kids to do their very best and use these types of accolades (all-state) as an incentive for them to reach their peak.”
TSWA ALL STATE
BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
Class A
TRIPLE JUMP
Adrian Crawford, Union City, So.
Blake Allison, Harpeth, Sr.
Kohl Ward, Tyner Academy, Fr.
HIGH JUMP
Adrian Crawford, Union City, So.
Ty Johnson, Marion County, Sr.
Elijah Groves, East Robertson, Sr.
SHOT PUT
Zachais Ratliff, Memphis East, Fr.
Heath Norton, South Greene, So.
Keaton Brown, Union City, Sr.
DISCUS
Keaton Brown, Union City, Sr.
Tycen Willis, Huntingdon, Sr.
Asa Baker, Adamsville, Sr.
100 METERS
Alex Bennett, Memphis Middle College, So.
Jamaree Jenkings, Tyner Academy, Sr.
Kameron Shade, Union City, Sr.
200 METERS
Austin McCall, Crosstown, Sr.
Kameron Shade, Union City, Sr.
Julius Turnipseed, KIPP Nashville, Sr.
DECATHLON
Jacob Jones, Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering, Sr.
Adrian Crawford, Union City, So.
Isaiah Treadway, Chuckey-Doak, Sr.
GIRLS
Class A
SHOT PUT
Reese Beaty, York Institute, Jr.
Debrionna Jones, Union City, Jr.
Abbey Cox, West Greene, Sr.
DISCUS
Reese Beaty, York Institute, Jr.
Abbey Cox, West Greene, Sr.
Debrionna Jones, Union City, Jr.
