Athlete Alex Padgett is honored by Commission

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- At Monday’s county commission meeting, local 11-year-old athlete Alex Padgett was honored for his amazing feats in competition running, including holding several state records for his age. He, along with his family, were at Monday’s meeting to receive the plaque.

Padgett has been a member of the Campbell County Cross Country team for the past four seasons and will be a 6th grader at Jacksboro Middle School next month.

County Mayor Jack Lynch read a proclamation in Padgett’s honor.

TOP PHOTO: Local athlete Alex Padgett was honored by county commissioners on Monday evening. He is pictured here with his family.

“At just eleven years old, Alex Padgett has already accomplished feats that most runners only dream about,” Lynch said.

The young athlete has completed an “impressive lineup of endurance races, including three-hour events, twenty-four-hour events, as well as a 100K (62 miles) Ultramarathon. He competes in multiple events with athletes much older than him and he “consistently proves that age is no barrier to grit, discipline and heart.”

Mayor Lynch said that Alex’s “racing resume” includes events such as the MAD Backyard Ultra, Barn Creek Backyard Ultra, Circle Endurance Series, Johnston Wood Trail Festival, and the Pistol Ultra 100K, where he finished 6^th overall out of 50 runners.

Padgett also holds the state record for three-hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, by an 11-year-old male. He also has a personal record mile of 6:40 for Cross Country.

Alex has completed Conquer the Bluff every year, placing 1^st in his age group, as well as placing first in the Down Set Dash Race the last three years.

“Alex’s passion in competition in the sport of running is approached each race with courage, humility, and an infectious love for the sport, whether on rugged trails, endurance loops, or backyard ultra courses. Alex represents the next generation of ultra running,” Mayor Lynch said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-07/21/2026-6AM)