Mallard Creek All-American Hurdler Akira Rhodes Commits To Tennessee



Mallard Creek High School's All-American short hurdler Akira Rhodes has announced her college commitment to the University of Tennessee! 


Rhodes is coming off a monster junior season where she won the NCHSAA Indoor 55m Hurdle and defended her outdoor NCHSAA 4A 100m Hurdle title.  Rhodes continued her season to take 6th at New Balance Outdoor Nationals running a NC#11 All-Time mark of 13.67 to earn All-American status.  She also sits at NC#10 All-Time in the indoor 60m Hurdles with a time of 8.59. 

Rhodes is the #10 returner in the 100m Hurdles in the US and was one of the biggest hurdle recruits in the country this year.  

Rhodes had this to say about her commitment, "I chose Tennessee because I really connected with the team and the coaches, the environment felt very comfortable, and I feel that I can be academically successful there."


Watch Akira Rhodes defend her NCHSAA 4A 100m Hurdles Outdoor State Title

Rhodes will look to climb the North Carolina All-Time list during the indoor and outdoor season.  Below are North Carolina's All-Time list for the indoor 60m Hurdles and Outdoor 100m Hurdles provided by NCPrepTrack.


INDOOR 60 METER HURDLES STATE ALL-TIME LIST
Anna Cockrell       Charlotte Providence Day 8.18p 2016 NBNI semi 3/13
Gabby Mayo          Southeast Raleigh        8.35  2007 NSIC 3/11
Breanne Bygrave     Raleigh Wakefield        8.37  2016 NBNI 3/13
Keni Harrison       Clayton                  8.42  2011 NBIN 3/13
Jacklyn Howell       Southeast Raleigh        8.45  2014 NBNI 3/16
(5)
Latasha Pharr       North Rowan              8.51  2000 NIN 3/12
Chandra Pulliam     Burlington Cummings      8.51  2003 NIN 3/16
Ebony Williams      W-S Parkland             8.52p 2015 NBNI 3/14
Gabriele Cunningham Charlotte Mallard Creek  8.52  2015 NBNI 3/14
Danielle Davis     Southeast Raleigh        8.54  2011 NBIN prelim 3/13
Dominique Price     Burlington Cummings      8.57  2004 Tar Heel Fast Times 1/17
Akira Rhodes        Charlotte Mallard Creek  8.59p 2017 NBNI 3/10


OUTDOOR 100 meter hurdles (33") STATE ALL-TIME LIST

(The girls went from 30" to 33" hurdles after 1984)
(Some performers ran 33" hurdles prior to 1984, though)
Anna Cockrell     Char. Providence Day   13.17  +0.7 2016 NBNO 6/18
Latoya James      Burlington Cummings    13.38w +2.6 2007 (best legal time, 13.67)
Ebony Williams    Winston-Salem Parkland 13.44  +1.1 2015 State 4A 5/9
Keni Harrison     Clayton                13.49  -0.4 2011 New Balance Outdoor Natl.
Gabriele Cunningham Char Mallard Creek   13.51  +1.1 2015 State 4A 5/9
Jacklyn Howell    Southeast Raleigh      13.52w +3.4 2014 NCHSAA 4A 5/17
 (best legal: 13.68 +0.5 2014 NBNO, Gbo 6/14)
Clara Hairston    East Forsyth           13.54       1981 info
Mollie Williams   Clayton                13.54  -0.1 2013 Blunt Inv 7/21
LaTasha Pharr     North Rowan            13.59       2000
Gabby Mayo        Southeast Raleigh      13.60  +0.6 2006
Akira Rhodes      Char Mallard Creek     13.67  +1.9 2017 NBNO 6/17