George & Kaelin Kersh
800 Meter Runs
Pearl Track & Field Invitational
April 6, 2018
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Thirty-two years ago during the 1986 Track and Field Season, George Kersh of Pearl High School established himself as the number one high school 800 meter runner in the nation. Following his sophomore season in which he ran an astonishing time of 1:53.09, he soon thereafter ran a personal best of 1:48.86-solidifying top honors at the TAC Junior Nationals in Baltimore, Maryland.George once again finished another season undefeated in the prep 800 and was crowned the MHSAA State 400 and 800 Meter Run Champion. His junior year was just as successful as he captured major wins at the Shreveport Meet of Champions and the Golden South Classic. George also represented the United States on the US Junior National Team in the World Junior Championships in Athens, Greece. Other achievements include being named "All American" and finishing in the top five for the highly competitive National High School Track & Field Athlete of the Year Award. George went on to set three national high school records during his senior year in the Indoor 800, the Indoor 1000 and the Outdoor 800. In setting the National High School Outdoor 800 record of 1:46.58, he became the very first high school athlete to break 1:47.0.
Kaelin Kersh was an 800-meter runner just like her dad and coach, George Kersh. Running under her father's skillful direction at Pearl High School, to say Kaelin was an outstanding athlete is by far an understatement. Kaelin possessed an effortless stride and technique that made her appear as if she wasn't running, but floating;and as she ran, she boasted a champion form with her head tilted to the side-just like her father. Kaelin held the Class 5A title in the 800 meters in 2012 and 2013. She also competed in the 400 meters, 4x200 and 4x400, all while also contending as an All-State cross-country runner. Kaelin's personal best, in the 800 meters, was accomplished at the Jace-Lacoste Invitational with a time of 2:13.11. As a valued component of the Mississippi State University's (MSU) track team, Kaelin helped capture first place at the Distance Medley Relay at the 2016 Alabama Relays. She was a vital part of the most successful era of MSU Women's Track & Field.
On May 5, 2017, celebrations and congratulations were in order as Kaelin graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology and Health Fitness Studies from Mississippi State University's College of Education. However, not even two days later, her bright, beautiful life was tragically ended in a car accident. In her memory, The Kaelin Kersh Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established at MSU to assist female student athletes on the MSU Track and Field team, and candidates for the award must demonstrate academic achievement and leadership qualities within the team. The perpetual support generated through the endowment will ensure that many future generations of Bulldogs can benefit from the scholarship award, while carrying on the legacy of the girl with the infectious smile.
Tonight we pay tribute to whom many experts agree is the greatest high school 800 Meter runner of all time and his beloved daughter, Kaelin.
Tonight's races will consist of some of the BEST 800 meter runners from the states of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. When a group like this gets together, great things happen! Expect great races and fast times!!!
Tonight's George Kersh 800 Field
Lane Athlete Class School Best Final Time
1 Patrick Spurgeon 11 Pearl 2:02.82 ________
2 Adrian Lockwood 12 Brookhaven 2:01.74 ________
3 Jordan Shannon 11 Clinton 2:00.51 ________
4 Tony Mack 12 Pearl 1:57.27 ________
5 Josh Jenkins 12 Hewitt-Trussville 1:59.98 ________
6 Charles Wesley 10 Terry 2:00.95 ________
7 Austin Bourne 11 Brandon 2:01.90 ________
Austin Bourne is a junior at Brandon High School. This season he has taken on roles in the 3200, 1600, 800, 4x800 and 4x400 relays. Austin finished 5th in the 1600 at the state meet last year and has continued to work diligently ever since. This school year he was named All-State in Cross Country and has broken the school record in the 3200 with a time of 10:22.16. Austin also records a personal best in the 800 with a time of 2:01.90.
Josh Jenkins is a senior at Hewitt Trussville High School. Josh competes in the 800, 1600, and 4x800 meter relay. Josh was a part of 5 All-State Relay teams and also helped the team secure a second place finish at the indoor state meet last year. He ran a personal best of 4:31 and had a second place finish last year at the section 4-7A sectional meet. He is also a member of the second fastest high school 4xMile in the state of Alabama. With a personal best of 1:59.98, Josh is very honored to be selected to run the George Kersh 800 meter race.
Adrian Lockwood is a senior at Brookhaven High School. Adrian has an 800 personal best of 2:01:74. He was the 2016 MHSAA 5A Cross Country State Champion. In 2017, he was the 5A runner-up in the Cross Country State Meet and helped lead his team to the 5A Cross Country State Championship.
Tony Mack of Pearl High School was the MHSAA 6A Cross Country State Champion. In 2016, Tony was also a member of the state meet record winning 4x800m Relay Team. He also possesses a personal best time in 1600 meters of 4:27. Tony has been named to the Clarion Ledger All-State Team for the last three years in Cross Country and Track & Field. Tony has a personal best time of 1:57.27 in the 800 meter run.
Jordan Shannon is a junior from Clinton High School, and a two-year letterman in Cross Country and a three-year letterman in Track. During his sophomore and junior year, Jordan made the Region 2-6A All-Region team in Cross Country and has a personal best of 17:49 in the 5K. This past indoor season, Jordan ran a 2:04.43 at the Last Chance Invitational in Birmingham. For outdoor season, Jordan placed 7th in the 800 meters at the 2017 State Track meet. Just this past weekend, he set a personal best of 2:00.51 at the Arrow Invitational. Jordan is also a member of the 4x800 meter relay team. Jordan is very grateful to be selected to run in the 2018 George Kersh 800 Meter Run.
Patrick Spurgeon is a junior at Pearl High School and is a two-time Cross Country All-State runner. Patrick has a personal best of 16:40 in the 5K, and he is also a member of the state leading 4x800 meter relay team that has a time of 8:18. Patrick has a personal best time of 2:02 in the 800 meters, and he also runs the 1600 meters with a personal best time of 4:45.
Charles Wesley is a junior at Terry High School. He runs the 3rd leg of the 4x400 relay and the anchor leg of the 4x800 relay. Charles helped our 4x400 relay team run a 3:32.07 at the Bianca Knight Invitational and our 4x800 relay team run a 9:02.55 at the Panther Invitational. Charles' personal best in the 800 is 2:00.95, which he achieved last season at the 6A state track meet.
Tonight's Kaelin Kersh 800 Field
Lane Athlete Class School Best Final Time
2 Savannah McIntosh 10 MRA 2:27.88 ________
3 Katelyn Cartwright 11 Hernando 2:25.94 ________
4 Morgan Claire Rose 12 Kirk Academy 2:16.14 ________
5 Oneke Gwan 12 Ruston, La 2:17.98 ________
6 Sydney Hall 11 Hewitt-Trussville, Al 2:27.08 _________
7 Jordan Conner 11 Clinton 2:28.73 ________
Katelyn Cartwright is a junior at Hernando High School. She was named Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year in Cross Country for the 2017-2018 season. She is the 6A Cross Country State Champion with the time of 19:29. Katelyn competes in the 800, 1600, and 3200 events in track. In addition to her work in athletics, she also is heavily involved in the student body serving on the Student Council, Superintendent Youth Council, and as a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Upon graduation, Katelyn plans to enter college to major in the medical field.
Jordan Conner is a junior from Clinton High School that competes in the 800, 4x800 Relay, and 4x400m Relay. Her personal best in the 800 was set at Clinton this year with a time of 2:28.73. This is her first year running high school track, and honored to be selected to run in the inaugural 2018 Kaelin Kersh 800 Meter Run.
Oneke Gwan is a senior at Ruston High School. She runs the 400m, 800m, 1600, and has run legs on the 4x200, 4x400, 4x800, and SMR. Oneke has personal best of 58.91 in the 400, 2:17.98 in the 800, and 5:37 in the mile. Oneke holds three school records in the 4x400m (3:52), 800m (2:17.98), and sprint medley (4:15.36). Oneke excels in her academics as well. She has an overall GPA of 4.52 and has achieved a 30 on the ACT. Oneke plans to continue her athletic and academic career in college as she wants to enter the medical field to be a doctor. She has drawn interest from Tulane, Xavier, Louisiana Tech, LSU, Northwestern State, and Alabama.
Sydney Hall is a junior at Hewitt Trussville High School. Since her freshman year, she has been a varsity member of both Cross Country and Track teams. She was recently selected to run on the Alabama High School All-Star Cross Country team. Sydney was also a part of the 4x800 team that placed first in sectionals while setting a school record of 9:58.24. Additionally, she was a component of the team that set the school record in the distance medley. This year, she was a part of a 4x800 team that achieved All-State honors. Sydney runs the 4x800, the 800, the 1600, and the 3200. Her 800 PR is 2:27.08. Sydney is thankful for the opportunity to run in the 2018 Kaelin Kersh 800 Meter run.
Savannah McIntosh is a sophomore from Madison Ridgeland Academy, is a workhorse on the track, competing in 6 events including the 3200, 1600, 800, 4 x 800 relay and 4 x 400 relay, and she also pole vaults. She holds the AAAA North State title for 800 meters for 2016 and 2017 and was the Overall State runner up in 2017, where she clocked her fastest time at 2:27.8. Her best time this year in the 3200 meters is 11:45, which currently ranks in the top 5 in the state. Additionally, Savannah competes in Cross Country, and in November helped lead her team to its first ever Overall State Championship and was named to the Clarion Ledger's 2017 All State Cross Country Team.
Morgan Claire Rose is a Senior at Kirk Academy. She runs the 3200,1600 and 800. She had the State leading times in the State of Mississippi in all three in 2017. Her personal best are 10:43 in the 3200, 4:55 in the mile, and 2:16 in the 800. Morgan Claire is a 5 time State Cross Country Champion in the MAIS and had the fastest 5k time in the State in 2017. She led her cross country team to 3 State Championships. Morgan Claire signed a scholarship to run distance for The University of Mississippi. Morgan Claire is very honored to run in the 2018 Kaelin Kersh 800 meter run.
2017 George Kersh 800 Meter Run
Results
Place Name Yr School Finals
1 Morrow, Demeyers 12 Clinton High School 1:58.27
2 Syme, Tate 12 Senatobia 1:58.71
3 Daniels, Xavier 11 Oak Grove 1:59.95
4 Rock, Kyle 12 Oxford 2:00.14
5 Mack, Tony 11 Pearl HS 2:01.28
6 Rogers, Tony 12 Senatobia 2:01.95
7 Humphrey, Johnathan 12 Desoto Central 2:15.39
2016 George Kersh 800 Meter Run
Results
Place Name Yr School Finals
1 Tucker, Shamar 12 Pearl High School 1:56.99
2 Little, David Patton 12 Starkville High School 1:57.91
3 Burdette, Steven 12 Senatobia High School 1:59.65
4 Sykes, Ahmad 12 Greenville High School 2:00.19
5 Thomas, Alex 12 Oxford High School 2:01.65
6 Harris, Kenard 11 Oxford High School 2:02.40
7 DeLuca, Giacomo 11 George County High School 2:02.69
8 Addington, Austen 11 Centreville Academy 2:02.97
9 Mion, Raymond 12 Saint Stanislaus 2:03.16
10 Mack, Tony 10 Pearl High School 2:03.29
11 Draughn, Griffin 12 Jackson Prep 2:03.80
12 Fletcher, Allen 12 Pearl High School 2:06.09
2015 George Kersh 800 Meter Run
Results
Place Name Yr School Finals
1 Tucker, Shamar 11 Pearl High School 1:58.88
2 Little, Patton 11 Starkville High School 1:59.56
3 Burdette, Steven 11 Senatobia High School 2:00.39
4 Draughn, Griffin 11 Jackson Prep 2:00.73
5 Hampton, Darion 12 Murrah High School 2:01.56
6 Thomas, Alex 11 Oxford High School 2:01.86
7 Mion, Raymond 11 Saint Stanislaus High School 2:02.39
8 Knight, Curt 12 Jackson Academy 2:03.69
9 Herrington, Cooper 11 Madison Central High School 2:19.40