Ladies First:
MADISON JONES
Madison Jones of Saltillo High School has put together an impressive 2021 track season. She showed absolute dominance in the state of Mississippi in all distance events, rivaling fellow RunningLane attendee Brooklyn Biancamano. Jones has achieved the coveted distance milestones of the sub-5 minute barrier in the 1600m and the sub-11 minute barrier in the 3200m this past season. More recently, the Jacksonville University commit competed at the Music City Track Carnival last weekend and garnered a personal best of 10:47 in the 3200m. This is a good indicator that she is in excellent shape and could put up another fast 3200m time this weekend. Jones will be competing in heat one of both the 3200m and 800m.
Personal Bests:
800m: 2:19.61
1600m: 4:58.69
3200m: 10:47.36
BROOKLYN BIANCAMANO
Brooklyn Biancamano of Long Beach High School has once again been putting up fast times this season even though she has been battling injury. Biancamano has dropped the 3200m this weekend despite being entered in it and has instead decided to focus solely on the 1600m. She has said that she wants to break five minutes for the 1600m and believes that her training has been good enough to achieve such a goal. The thirteen-time state champion will be in a competitive field with several sub-five minute milers which could bode well for Biancamano.
Personal Bests:
800m: 2:14.86
1600m: 4:54.58
3200m: 10:53.16
CHRISTIAN BALCER
Christian Balcer of East Central High School has been the pinnacle of Mississippi boys' distance. He holds state records in both the 1600m and 3200m and has been running the majority of his races with minimal challenge. The greatest amount of opposition that Balcer has faced has been at the Mobile Meet of Champions where he ran 4:13 for the full mile. The Mississippi College commit will most likely improve upon his personal bests as competition for this weekend will be fierce. Balcer will be competing in the 3200m and mile.
Personal Bests:
800m: 1:53.92
Mile: 4:13.28
3200m: 9:11.22
JT POSEY
JT Posey of Tupelo High School will be leading the charge for his fellow teammates. During his senior season, he has broken the 4:30 for the 1600m and 10 minutes for 3200m. More interestingly, Posey is entered for the distance triple at RunningLane. As of right now, Posey is entered in the 3200m, 800m, and mile, all of which is in heat four.
Personal Bests:
800m: 2:04.25
1600m: 4:27.64
3200m: 9:52.71
CHRISTOPHER ESKESEN
Christopher Eskesen of Tupelo High School follows suit for the Golden Wave. Eskesen has also broken the 10-minute barrier in the 3200m this season, including his win at the stacked MHSAA 6A North Half Meet. He joins JT Posey in the 3200m at RunningLane with both of them being in heat four. These two are both facing a field of sub-10 minute two milers and could manifest a strong finish in the tough field. Eskesen, who is committed to Blue Mountain College, is also entered in heat four of the 800m.
Personal Bests:
800m: 2:06.32
1600m: 4:42.17
3200m: 9:55.40
LUKAS DYKES
Lukas Dykes of Mooreville High School is a younger, up-and-coming talent that has secured some big PR's in the few months. The sophomore has dipped down into the 4:40's for 1600m and 10:30's for 3200m. Dykes has performed well in these events, and faces a strong field in both of these events at RunningLane. He is entered in heat five of the 3200m and heat seven of the mile. It will be interesting to watch and see if Dykes can pull off an impressive feat of some postseason PR's.
Personal Bests:
800m: 2:08.31
1600m: 4:48.00
3200m: 10:33.65
THOMAS SAUNDERS
Thomas Saunders of Neshoba Central HS is an interesting case. The only event that Saunders ran during track season was the 1600m. It is even more interesting that Saunders has not raced a 3200m since 2017 and is entered for it at RunningLane this weekend. The junior is entered into heat six of the mile and heat five of the 3200m this weekend. It will be very interesting to see what Saunders can do for this 3200m since not competing in one since four years ago, so keep your eye on him this weekend as he may blossom in a new event.
Personal Bests:
1600m: 4:40.41
JAHEIM BRIDGES
Jaheim Bridges of Tupelo High School is yet another Golden Wave talent entered into this weekend. Contrary to his teammates, Bridges specializes in the 800m. However, he is not confined to this event as he has also run quick times in the 1600m within the 4:40's. Bridges is currently entered in heat seven of the mile and heat four of the 800m.
Personal Bests:
800m: 2:02.77
1600m: 4:44.52
3200m: 10:29.86
TAYLOR BROWN
Taylor Brown of Tupelo High School rounds out the performers from Mississippi. For someone as young as Brown is, he performs like there is no such thing as an age difference. The 8th grader has put out tremendous times for his age; including breaking 10-minutes for the 3200m and being just below 4:50 in the 1600m. He was also the fastest 8th grader in the nation for cross country. Brown is entered in heat seven of the mile and will be facing a stacked field of runners that all have run in the 4:40's. This is nothing less than a perfect scenario for Brown as he has a full field that could help carry him to a fast time. His current PR is 4:49, but he has closed in the low 4:50's on the back half of a 2 mile on numerous occasions, and should be ready for something big on Saturday night.
Personal Bests:
800m: 2:10.26
1600m: 4:49.01
3200m: 9:56.78