Rodriguez sets middle school cross country record

By Keeli Parkey

For the second consecutive year, Unicoi County Middle School runner Keilet Rodriguez represented his school at the state level – and he represented it well.

Rodriguez set a personal best time and a new school record while competing at the TMSAA State Championship in Clarksville on Saturday, Oct. 5. He completed the 2-mile course in 12:39 and finished in 27th place out of a field of 120 runners.

“It was Keilet’s last run of the season on a course that was super fast, dry and flat. It was also his second trip as a seventh grader to the TMSAA State Championships,” coach Lydia Hilliard said. “He set a personal goal of 12:40 and pushed to the end with a strong finish and achieved a personal best time of 12:39.”

The previous record for the 2-mile run was held by Nolan Tankersley with a time of 13:03.

“It has been an awesome and rewarding season for Keilet,” Hilliard said. “Coach (Kelly) Waley and I are very proud of all of his accomplishments. Keilet has been an inspiration to the cross country team and we look forward to next year.”