TELLICO PLAINS, Tenn. — The track and cross country community, Monroe County and countless family and friends are mourning the loss of Darrah Wiseman, a 17-year-old Tellico Plains High School senior.
Darrah Wiseman died and another 16-year-old was injured in a car accident along I-75 in Loudon County Saturday night.
Wiseman was a six-time state Class A state champion and traveled from Tellico Plains to Knoxville to train with Knoxville Youth Athletics.
"When you see her compete, she is just such an athlete, so determined," said Jada Mays, Darrah's coach. "But then, when you talk to her, it's literally nothing but sheer bliss."
Mays described Wiseman as a "beast" of an athlete, and would often outrun some of her male peers in practice. Mays said she always came to work with a smile on her face.
"Anybody that was around her was better for it," Mays said. "She was so happy. Not even just her running, which, I mean, that speaks for itself — but it was who she was and how she made you better once you was with her."
Wiseman was set to compete on Thursday to clinch what all of her coaches said was a guaranteed win of two more state titles, adding to the six she already had.
To honor her, athletes will wear bracelets that say "#Running4her. The four is meant to be a symbol of what would be her fourth straight year to win two state titles.
As an added tribute, her father will wear her bib to start and finish the race in her honor.
Mays said Darrah was an inspiration to many other young athletes, including her daughter, Shiloh.
"I hope any little girl sitting up in her bedroom with her tennis shoes and her spikes, I hope that she runs like Darrah," Mays said. "Unwavering but happy. Because that's exactly what she would want you to do."