GRAY DEYOSports Writer

The Tullahoma track program has been blessed with one of the better runners the school has seen in its history. That being junior Brindley Duncan. She showed her capabilities of what she can bring to the table as a runner in her sophomore season. Here is a recap of her achievements from last year and what she could do in her third season at THS.

Duncan, when she arrived on campus as a freshman, it was immediately noticeable that she was of a different caliber runner. She possessed great speed and, most importantly, had what seemed like an unlimited tank of stamina. These two skillsets only strengthened going into her sophomore year, where they shined best in the 800m event.

Duncan went off and broke a school record that was set in 1977 in the 800m. In an event last year, she set a time of 2:15.9. This broke the previous record set by Phyllis Hines from over 45 years ago. Duncan in the same year qualified for the TSSA state track championships in the 800m. She ended up placing sixth in the event, and a lot of that had to do with an unfortunate fall in the race.

Going into her third year, the goal for Duncan is rather simple: to win state. She showed last year that she was more than capable of accomplishing this feat. Her record time of 2:15.9 would have given her a second-place finish at state. The winner of the event was junior Andi Lerond from Farview High School. She finished with a time of 2:15.64. Duncan, with another offseason to improve as a runner, can get to that time, and then some. Former head track coach of the girls’ team Chris Clemens believed this thoroughly.

“Brindley is only limited by Brindley. I believe we can drop the record below 2:10 before she graduates. But Brindley has to believe it to make it happen.  Referring back to the two principles: process over results, and know that the process is going to hurt and be uncomfortable.

Anything of worth comes with a price of discomfort. Without it, it’s not worth much,” said Clemens on Duncan.

Duncan has shown that she possesses the work ethic that Clemens described. If she can even reach somewhat close to the potential he saw in her, a state championship medal for Duncan in the 2026 season is definitely in the cards.