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On Monday, Feb. 5, Coffee County basketball played host to Spring Hill and in between games, the 1974 Manchester Central High School girls track team was recognized for the 50th anniversary of their TSSAA Championship.

One of its members, Dian Peek Rayfield, was there as part of the celebration as she was reunited with the Championship trophy.

“It was surprisingly emotional, especially when Coach Carden’s great nieces walked the trophy out to me,” said Dian. “I’m just sorry that my teammates couldn’t attend.”

Rayfield, who went by Dian Sartin in her high school years, along with Carla Tart, Labora Whitaker, Vanessa Anderson and Sherry “Cookie” Maxwell made up the 1974 girls track team, which was the first team to be awarded a TSSAA Championship for girls track and field.

In years before, girls track and field in Tennessee had many unsanctioned events with some of them taking place here in Manchester as Dian recalled, “Prior to 1974, we hosted many unsanctioned state meets and the Rotary Relays which were sponsored by the Manchester Rotary club, and that was seen as one of the feature attractions in girls track and field in Tennessee. It was a really wonderful time and we just happened to benefit because we grew up here.”

The catalyst of Manchester High’s girls track team in those days was Coach Margaret Carden,  a coach with a calm demeanor who later on went to serve as a member of the National Rules Committee for girls track and field.

“With track and field, unlike basketball or football, there isn’t a whole lot to yell about,” Dian said. “Mrs. Carden was very calm and a very good strategist in utilizing our talents to maximize our points.”

A good example of Coach Carden’s belief in her team’s abilities was the 1974 Mid-State Regional, a step away from the State Championships.

Manchester led the event by six points over North Nashville with one event remaining. 

“There was a sprinter from North who won all of the 100’s and 220 events up to that point,” recalled Dian. “So everyone expected her to win, get six points and tie with us.”

However, Vanessa Carden placed third in the event, scoring three points to give Manchester the win, 29-26.

“I can vividly remember us sitting around Mrs. Carden, there’s no board or anything telling us who is ahead by how many points or anything, and we’re sitting there waiting for the race to end, and as soon as Vanessa came across the line, Mrs. Carden said, “That’s it. We’ve won,” without any crazy emotions or anything like that.”

The Red Raiderettes were now headed to the State Championships, however the season hadn’t been without its road bumps.

Two weeks before their big Regional win, the team took part in the Green Hills Relays and as Dian recalled, the results were less than desired.

“We stunk it up,” she said. “We came in third that day and that was one of the only events that I had family come and watch me run. In hindsight, I think that event humbled us.”

However, the track team was a tight-knit group who all wanted what was best for the team, and there wasn’t any obstacle they couldn’t overcome. 

“We were very close,” Dian said of her teammates. “A lot of us had also played basketball together and had run together while we were in junior high. We were also very competitive and were always challenging each other in practice. None of us were ever not happy for the other’s success.”

After their Mid-State Regional win, the team set their eyes on the State Championships at John Overton High School in Nashville.

Manchester won the 440 and 880 relays with Dian, Labora Whitaker, Vannessa Anderson and Sherry Maxwell running a time of 49.2 seconds in the 440 and 1:44.2 in the 880. 

Carla Tart won the high jump, jumping a height of 5 feet, 5 ¼ inches, Whitaker placed third in the 100-yard dash and Anderson placed fifth in the 220.

The Red Raiderettes scored 22 points to win the first ever TSSAA Girls Track and Field State Title, again beating North Nashville, who scored 18 points. 

“It took a while for the feeling to set in,” said Dian. “But later on, I realized just how rare it is to win a State Championship in anything. Looking back, it was a big deal.”

Being a State Champion in any sport may be rare, but what’s even more special is being the first ones to do it, and the 1974 Manchester Central High Girls Track Team will forever be etched in history as the first ever TSSAA Champions in girls track and field.