We resume our top ten countdown of the biggest sports stories for Knoxville today with #5. Not only will Kieren Nichols be regarded as one of the greatest basketball players to ever wear a Knoxville uniform, but he may be looked on as one of the greatest athletes to ever walk the halls of Knoxville High School. Nichols qualified for the Drake Relays a year after he and the rest of the athletes were shut out of the event due to a worldwide pandemic. Nichols was able to qualify in the 400 and placed 9th with a time of :50.31 seconds on April 23rd. Nichols told KNIA/KRLS Sports he was just thankful for having the chance to participate in track and field this year after having it taken away from him last year.

Nichols:
“This is a really special year, because for a lot of guys this is the first sport their participating in because we made it all the way to spring last year. It’s just a special time and we’re thankful we’re all here competing in a sports we love.”

Nichols excelled in football, basketball and track and field at Knoxville. He would go on to make the state meet in multiple events, more on that later in the countdown.