State of Franklin Track Club inducts Gray, Rollins into Hall of Fame

Rick Gray and Susan Rollins are still making an impact on the local running scene. The State of Franklin Track Club has certainly noticed. In Sunday's ceremony, the SOF Track Club inducted both into its Hall of Fame. Also at the ceremony, Greeneville's Trey Bailey and Abingdon's Avery Whitson were honored as the year's top distance runners. RICK GRAY Gray's journey began decades ago, as he won the prestigious Trailblazer Invitational cross country race in both 1977 and 1978. Later, he turned in a sub-2:30 time at the Shamrock Marathon as well as a top 100 finish in the Boston Marathon. In 1987, Gray earned the SFTC Comeback Runner Award. Twenty-seven years later, Gray completed his 300th ultra race on Jan. 27, 2024. As of Nov. 21, 2025, Gray has run in 329 races of 50K or greater and 38 races of 100 miles or longer. He's also a recipient of the 1,000-mile buckle at Umstead, where he's conquered the 100-miler 10 times. Whether it's the VOL State 500K, the HOTS 332-miler or finishing all 19 years of the Iron Mountain Trail Race, Gray has been the epitome of consistency and grit. Some of his "regulars" include the Mount Mitchell Challenge and Black Mountain Marathon (16 finishes) — the 40 miler being his first ultra in 2003 — the Mountain Masochist Trail Marathon and 50 Miler with 14 finishes, the Hellgate 100Km for 14 finishes and the famous Barkley Fall Classic where he's completed the 40k three times with one marathon finish. SUSAN ROLLINS Rollins began her journey at Davidson College, where she started running her freshman year and spearheaded the formation of the school's first women's cross country team. She qualified for the Division III nationals in 1979. While attending medical school in St. Louis, Rollins clocked an unofficial marathon time of 3:11. While in Salt Lake City, Rollins conquered the "Crazy Bob Bair Gutsman" race and won the Wasatch Steeplechase in 1988. The holder of 19 Tennessee running records between the miles and half marathon, Rollins was ranked top 10 in the world for five different events by USA Masters Track and Field in 2014. Rollins holds the national record for the 1500m in the 55-59 age group, and she still ranks top 10 all-time for the 400m, 800m and 1500m in the National Senior Games. Despite undergoing a total knee replacement, Rollins dominated the 2025 National Senior Games in Des Moines, Iowa. She completed the "Triple Gold" sweep of the 1-mile run (5:56.62), 5K run (20:39) and the 10K run (43:36.43). She won all three events in her age group while finishing top five overall. Additionally, Rollins earned silver and bronze medals in the 100m and 200m breaststroke swimming events. She still coaches the elementary cross country and track teams at Ashley Academy, and was even feature in Runner's World magazine. Bailey, Whitson honored as top distance runners Greeneville junior Trey Bailey and Abingdon sophomore Avery Whitson were chosen as this year's most outstanding runners. Bailey, Greeneville's first recipient of the award since Wes Pectol in 2013, was undefeated during the 2025 cross country season, including his triumph at the prestigious Jesse Owens Classic in Alabama (15:01). Only the eighth boy from Northeast Tennessee to break 15:15 on a 5K course, Bailey also became the area's 11th male to run under 9:15 in the 3200m. He capped his junior cross country season with an individual state championship in Memphis, helping Greeneville place third as a team. Whitson led Abingdon to a seventh-place finish at the VHSL Class 3 state meet. With her season-best time of 18:17.9 at the Virginia Showcase in Mechanicsville — one of the state's largest — Whitson moved into fourth on Abingdon's all-time list for the 5K. In addition, Whitson, finished third in the 3200m and was fifth in the 800m as Abingdon's track and field team finished state runner-up last spring.