GSC honor bestowed upon Tankersley on her birthday
Anna Tankersley was almost certain that the Gulf South Conference Women’s Cross Country Champion ScholarAthlete would be a senior.
Her evidence was based on the fact that former Union University teammate Amanda Leatherwood won the inaugural award last season. It’s an honor given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA among teams taking part in the GSC Championship.
Upon the completion of the Oct. 31 meet at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala., Tankersley caught her breath after finishing 25th (out of 94 runners) in the 5K and arrived at the awards ceremony. Then and there – on her 21st birthday – the former Houston High standout was gifted with some surprising news.
“I was very happy,” said Tankersley, a junior majoring in teaching and learning interdisciplinary studies. “I honestly wasn’t quite expecting it, because I didn’t know if it was a thing that only seniors got. It was pretty exciting – made the day a lot better.”
Leatherwood, who attended Arlington High, majored in physical education.
“I feel like it’s a good reflection of our program and school,” said first-year Bulldogs coach Bailey Bell. “Union prides itself on developing students academically, spiritually and athletically.
We truly seek a student who desires growth in all three of those areas.”
Through 94 completed credit hours, Tankersley has a 4.0 GPA. She latched onto the career plan of becoming an elementary education teacher prior to the start of her sophomore year of high school.
“For the longest time, I had no idea,” she said. “I have a lot of siblings, so I got to see them get ready for college and they all knew what they wanted to do. It was kind of scary not knowing.”
An opportunity to teach second graders at Vacation Bible School also helped open her eyes.
“It was just a really wonderful experience,” said Tankersley. “I know it’s a lot more than education. It’s about loving kids and teaching them more than about school.”
Meanwhile, about the Huntsville course – ran just once before in 2019 – Tankersley came two seconds short (19:24) of tying her personal best in high school.
“When I look at my whole college career, it was definitely the best I’ve ever done,” she said. “I was pleased, but I was hoping for better.”
Four runners finished in the top 30 to help the Bulldogs capture fifth place. Eleven teams competed.
“We had wonderful conditions,” said Tankersley, who was named The Commercial Appeal’s Cross Country Runner of the Year in 2018. “The weather was amazing. It was a pretty fast course.”
On Oct. 17, in Union’s second of two regular-season meets hosted by Mississippi College, Tankersley was 13th out of 88 runners in 19:42.90.
“Anna has made great strides this year in her development as a runner and leader on our team,” said Bell. “She put in a lot of work in the offseason, which allowed her to step into a leadership role. She leads by example and work ethic, day in and day out. I am excited for her progress.”
Feats and Accomplishments
Hernando’s Riley Jackson (second), Jessica Cartwright (fourth), Delaney Hopkins (eighth) and Madison Mcmillen (13th) all ran strong in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A Girls Cross Country Championship at Jackson’s Choctaw Trails to guide the Tigers to a second-place finish. Hernando (49) was seven points back of state champion Pearl. Center Hill’s Marin Faulkenberry was 11th in the Class 5A girls’ meet. … The new NCAA Division I representative for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Board of Directors is University of Memphis softball coach Natalie Poole. Her three-year tenure begins Jan. 1. Poole is entering her ninth season with the Tigers. … Six Desoto County standouts have been chosen to participate in the Mississippi Association of Coaches AllStar Volleyball Game: Desoto Central’s Kennedy Smith and Avery Wolf, Lewisburg’s Sadie Bridgforth and Ellie Morgan, Lake Cormorant’s Jasmine Chacon and Center Hill’s Olivia Hines will play in the July 14 match at Millsaps College. … Wooddale High’s Tywana Hill is the latest winner of the Autozone Liberty Bowl and College Football Playoff Foundation’s “Tag A Teacher” program. Hill will receive a $500 Donorschoose gift card for classroom instruction.
On the Links
Christian Brothers University senior Tanner Munzel shot a two-day total of 146 to finish tied for 12th at the Montevallo Full Moon Invitational in Calera, Ala. The Bucs were tied for fifth as a team (597) with West Georgia. In the women’s tournament, senior Kenna Hughes shot a 152 to come in sixth overall. She was tied for second after the first day following her 2-over par 73. CBU ended up tied for sixth with Trevecca Nazarene. ... Pat Macmain aced the 125yard No. 12 using a 6-hybrid at Forest Hill.
Sunday Sports Brunch is a weekly look at movers, shakers and newsmakers on the Memphis sports scene, from youth level to the pros. If you have an item of interest, please contact Chris Van Tuyl at christopher.vantuyl@commercialappeal.com