Following record-setting performance in South Carolina, Science Hill TN sophomore standout looks to become first Southeast female athlete to win sweepstakes title in Arizona in meet history

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The biggest cross country showcase in the Southwest this season will be graced by a little Southern charm Friday with the presence of Science Hill TN sophomore Jenna Hutchins at the 13th annual Desert Twilight Festival.

Not since Hannah Christen and Lake Braddock Secondary VA competed at the meet in 2013 has an athlete or team from the Southeast with such impressive credentials come to Arizona to compete under the lights in the girls sweepstakes race.

Christen is one of only two female athletes from outside Arizona or Colorado in meet history – Ashley Helbig of Great Oak CA in 2012 being the other – to place in the top five in the girls sweepstakes race.

But Hutchins, who placed ninth as a freshman at the Foot Locker National Championships, could become the first female athlete from the Southeast to win the sweepstakes title after Christen’s runner-up effort six years ago helped Lake Braddock place third overall.

“I learned about Desert Twilight last year and thought it looked like an amazing race. I love racing at night on the track and I really wanted to experience that nighttime excitement in a cross country race, too,” said Hutchins, who is originally from Texas, before moving to Tennessee.

“It gives me an opportunity to race people that I normally wouldn’t see at this point in the season. I have good competition in Tennessee and in the surrounding states, but it’s always nice to race against new people. It keeps it interesting.”

Since the meet moved from Toka Sticks Golf Course to Grande World Sports Complex in Casa Grande in 2014, every top-five finisher in the past five girls sweepstakes races has come from Arizona or Colorado.

Although Boise Senior ID became the first girls program from outside Arizona to win the sweepstakes team title last year, the Braves’ top finisher placed eighth.

Mountain Brook AL won the boys sweepstakes crown in 2011, the only team or athlete from the Southeast to secure a championship in meet history.

Hutchins has raced twice this season, including a record-setting 5-kilometer effort Sept. 7 when she ran 17 minutes, 23 seconds at the Cherokee Classic in Knoxville. But her victory Sept. 14 at the Eye Opener Cross Country Festival in Spartanburg, S.C., provided a glimpse of her potential on the flat 5-kilometer layout Friday in Casa Grande.

Hutchins clocked 17:14.1 to win by 26 seconds and set the 5-kilometer course record at the Roger Milliken Center. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of her performance was that Hutchins’ time would have placed second in the college women’s race behind Furman senior Gabrielle Jennings (17:10.7), an NCAA Division 1 All-American in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

“I was really happy with my race in South Carolina. I did realize that would have been a second-place finish in the collegiate race that morning, but I don’t really think too much about that. I try to stay focused on my goals for each race and the season, in general,” Hutchins said. “I had a different strategy in that race that seemed to work well and it just reinforced that I’m happy with my fitness level and training at this point in the season. It makes me optimistic about future races.”

It also validated the work Hutchins did during the summer, along with the communication and trust she is continuing to establish with new Science Hill girls coach Evan Meeuwenberg. David Nutter also took over as boys head coach for the Hilltoppers in August.

“Coach Evan has been very open and supportive of my goals and training. Last year during cross country, I averaged 27-30 miles per week. This year I did increase my overall mileage, but I still run below 40,” Hutchins said. “I have changed some things up in my training. In addition, my long runs have become a bit longer and the intensity has picked up, but I also have a lot of confidence in my training. To me, that is very important with any runner’s success.”

In addition to winning a Division 1 state cross country title, along with capturing championships in the spring in the 800 and 1,600 meters during her freshman year, Hutchins’ confidence continued to build in June when she ran a Tennessee state record 4:43.33 in the mile at the Music City Distance Carnival, elevating her to the No. 4 ninth-grade performer in history.

Hutchins is expected to square off for the first time Friday with Desert Vista AZ freshman Lauren Ping – a two-time Nike Cross Nationals All-American in seventh and eighth grade competing for Winona Cotter MN – along with Flagstaff AZ senior Hana Hall, who finished second at NXR Southwest last season, in addition to Cherokee Trail CO sophomore Cameron McConnell, who placed third in last year’s sweepstakes race, and her freshman teammate McKenna Mazeski.

“I know they are great runners,” Hutchins said. “I am very excited to get to compete against some new faces that I know can really push me.”

It will also be a chance for Hutchins to build momentum in preparation for racing Oct. 5 at the Great American Cross Country Festival in North Carolina, before returning home for potential showdowns at the Trailblazer Invitational and in the postseason with Dobyns-Bennett senior Sasha Neglia, who finished 15th last year at Nike Cross Nationals.

Hutchins is embracing all of the competition and opportunities along her journey in the quest to travel West again in December for a return trip to the Foot Locker Nationals and another potential All-America performance in San Diego, Calif.

“I really enjoyed it last year and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had,” Hutchins said. “My ultimate goal this season is to make it back to San Diego and improve from last year.”