By Thomas Sellers Jr.
MURFREESBORO – The name Andreanna Hood echoed over the loud speaker in the Middle Tennessee State University Track Stadium last Thursday. Not bad for a freshman. The Brighton ninth grader known throughout the program as Anna reached the podium earning sixth place in the Class 3A State Shot Put with a through slightly under 38-feet, 4 inches. Her personal record in the Shot Put was good enough for a medal. But in the Class 3A State Discus Hood’s PR of 102 feet was ninth place, just missing out on a medal. While her day in Murfreesboro ended better than expected, Hood’s morning started with a scare when her shot put didn’t meet the weight requirement. “When she heard that, she about burst into tears,” Brighton Girls Track Coach Courtney McGinnis said. “She responded and goes up there hitting a PR.” Brentwood’s Katherine Coffey won the event with a toss more than 42 feet. But Cocke County’s Dynah Dunn won the hearts of McGinnis and Hood. “The girl from Cocke told Anna you can use my shot put,” McGinnis recalled. “She told Anna it wouldn’t be a problem to share.” The generosity of Dunn allowed Hood to hit a new personal best and reach the medal stand in her first event at State. “She’s just a competitor,” McGinnis said. “With her maturity she’ll be one of the best.” McGinnis and Hood agreed that once she matures physically and mentally she will post winning numbers like Coffey’s more than 140 foot toss in discus to win the gold. Hood hit the 102-mark with raw form and ability to earn ninth in the State. “I need to start doing weight training,” Hood acknowledged. “That’s what Coach and I started talking about doing. I need to work on my form more. Before this year I never really had any coaching. I’ve been teaching myself and my form is kind of messed up.” Hood admits she has room for improvement in track. She will balance the sport along with band and honor classes. “It’s nice knowing all the hard work you put into pays off,” she said. “I’ve been doing track since last year. I definitely did not see this happening. “A lot of people don’t think about all the homework and things at school balancing it with sports,” Hood continued. “Even if I have to stay up to 1 a.m., I get my work done for school.” McGinnis said she has full confidence Hood will be successful in all aspects at Brighton over the next three years including putting her name in the class of other Lady Cardinal legends. “She could be the next Kimi Jennings,” she said. “They will know her name. They will put it up there with Kimi Jennings.” Jennings was a two-time State champion in the Pole Vault and signed a scholarship to the University of Memphis. Hood said Jennings is a great standard to shoot for in Brighton Track.
“I see myself bringing home a State title because I know I will put the work in to do it,” she concluded.
