Starting over on the ladies' side, we have a lot of strong names that throw down tonight on the tough TCPS course. The #1 seed is MileSplit Mississippi All-State #5 Mia Card from Saltillo High School, who is also boasting a strong lineup in the team standings tonight. Card will be going up against the #6 ranked runner Mia Dawson from Lafayette High School, who is also opening up her season tonight. These 2 have had a rivalry for the ages, as they are the 2 top runners in MHSAA 5A this year. The last time these 2 raced each other was the MHSAA 5A Track and Field State Championships in May, where Dawson got the best of the card by 0.2 seconds in the 800m. Dawson had an incredible outing on the oval that day, as she actually podiumed in all 3 distance events. Card, however, although she has some middle-distance talents, is a very strong runner on the grass, placing in the top 4 in every cross country race she ran, including 3 wins. The pair raced each other 4 times last year, with Card winning that matchup 3-1. The last time the pair raced each other on the grass was the 2020 MHSAA 5A Cross Country State Championships, in which Card won that one with a strong 3rd place finish - Dawson placed 5th. In every race they have been in together, they have been right with each other, and tonight, they will continue the rivalry and face off yet again. Although it might not be the quickest time in the world, as this course is most likely hillier than Choctaw Trails, expect this one to be a thriller between these two MHSAA 5A studs.
Some other notable names to be watched tonight are the Meeks sisters, Katie Meeks and Ava Meeks from Kossuth, Hannah Sanders from Mooreville, Abby Covington and Anna Caroline Crouch from Saltillo, and Kate Gann from Itawamba AHS.
As you can see, the list goes on and on with all of the superstars throwing down tonight. You have the dominant performer in MHSAA 4A Hannah Sanders coming off of her state title in 800m - You have Kate Gann coming off her impressive performance against Brookelyn Morgan at the Golden Wave Season Opener - You have the fast sisters, Ava and Katie Meeks, 2 of the top returners in MHSAA 3A, AND we have Saltillo's deep squad opening up their season and their top 3 of Card, Covington, and Crouch that have all broken in the 5k. In conclusion, tonight's race is going to be an absolute THRILLER.