Honorable Mentions:
Ethan Knight - It was very hard for me not to put Knight on this list. He had a huge run in Memphis on Saturday, and was the first Mississippi runner across the line and beat current All-State member Luke Johnson. However, a lot more goes into making this list than one's first race. However, if Knight keeps racing the way that he did on Saturday, there is no doubt that he will be on the next edition of this All-State Ranking.
William Fugate - The 2020 MHSAA 2A State Champion in cross country, Fugate is a very talented kid who isn't afraid of anyone. He opened up his season at The Opener with a 4th place finish and PR of 16:50 in the 5k, just half a second behind All-State member Tanner Moore. Like Knight, if Fugate keeps racing like that, he will surely be on this team.
Christian Parks - The private school transfer from Clinton High School, Parks has made some gains over the summer to this cross country season. Parks opened up his season with a 16:41 5k at the Ole Brook Invitational, currently #8 in the state. He will race at French Camp this weekend, so we will get a better understanding of where he is at on Saturday.
7. Tanner Moore - Pearl High School
Last ranking: #6
Last Performance: 16:49 5k, 3rd place at The Opener 2021: Mississippi College
Next Race: Northwest Rankin XC Meet
Moore opened up his season at Choctaw Trails against some solid competition and came away with the Bronze medal. His 16:49 is almost a minute faster than last year's meet, and really not too far off of his PR. For Moore to run that on a hot day in his first race of the season is a good sign. Moore gets another shot at the Brookhaven Boys, along with Grayson Edwards and William Fugate, this weekend at Northwest Rankin.
6. Jaheim Bridges - Tupelo High School
Last Ranking: Not Ranked
Last Performance: 16:37 5k, 2nd place at the Brooks High School Invitational
Next Race: Mooreville XC Invitational
Wow... much like Kate Gann, Bridges has shocked a lot of people this season, including me. I knew Bridges was on the come-up when he was posting those fast indoor times, but I didn't think it would translate to cross country as well as it has. Bridges opened up his season with a 16:50 5k runner-up finish to teammate and All-State member Taylor Brown. That was a pretty big PR for him at the time. However, Bridges wasn't done surprising us yet. At the Brooks XC Meet in Florence, AL, Bridges shocked the field and ran 16:37 and finishing 2nd against a very solid field. We're talking a 4:19 and 9:26 3200m runner, a 16:04 5k runner, and a 16:14 5k runner (Brown)... and Bridges beat all of them. We might be looking at yet another PR this weekend out of Bridges, as he will have teammate Taylor Brown, as well as 16:37 5k runner Cooper Parmer to push him to another fast time this weekend at Mooreville.