HENDERSONVILLE ― Darrah Wiseman qualified for the Class A-AA state cross country championships as Tellico Plains’ lone individual runner and the TSSAA partnered with the senior’s family to make sure her racing bib would cross the finish line.
Wiseman was killed in a multi-vehicle wreck on I-75 in Loudon County on Nov. 2. She was 17. A friend of Wiseman’s was injured in the crash and is recovering, according to reports.
Wiseman’s parents, Chris and Melissa along with the rest of her family walked Wiseman’s jersey, bib and shoes from the start line to the finish line Thursday at Sanders Ferry Park.
“She would’ve been very upset she couldn’t finish the race,” Chris Wiseman said. “I knew she would be upset because she trained so hard, she worked so hard. She made it to state four years in a row so, she made it her eighth grade year too, so I knew she’d want to finish and I just felt upon my heart (I should) finish her race.”
Wiseman was a six-time state track and field champion, having won titles in the 800 and 1,600-meter races in 2023 and 2024, along with 2022 state titles in the 800 and 3,200. She was committed to Tennessee Tech.