Girls Individuals
Lindsey Hogue - Benton Academy
Starting off the girls list of individuals is Lindsey Hogue of Benton Academy. Benton ran a personal record at the 2021 O'Bannon Invitation, winning the race with a time of 19:34.06. She also won the 2021 Canton Academy XC Invite, running a time of 19:38.05. Another standout performance was at the 2021 Watson Meet, placing 3rd overall in the girls blue division race while also running at 20:08.72. Benton has won almost all of the races she has competed this year and is looking to add another win to her 2021 cross country season.
Emily Ireland - St. Andrew's
Next up on the list is Emily Ireland of St. Andrew's. Ireland ran her personal record at the 2021 Watson Meet with a time of 19:37.23, placing 14th overall in the girls division race. She also won the 2021 Jaguar Trails Classic with a time of 19:42.00. During the championship season, Ireland won the 2021 Region 6-3A & 8-3A Meet with a time of 20:03.51 and placed 2nd overall at the 2021 MHSAA 3A State Championship. She's in direct competition for that championship title!
Lucy Littlejohn - French Camp
French Camp's Lucy Littlejohn ran her personal record at the 2021 French Camp Classic with a time of 19:45.00, placing 2nd overall in the girls race. Littlejohn had an impressive performance at the 2021 Watson Meet, where she ran a 20:04.67 and placed 2nd overall in the girls blue division race. On top of all of this, she has won the 2021 MHSAA 1A State Championship with a time of 10:43.70. Throughout her season, Littlejohn has placed 1st or was runner up in each meet she competed in. Her key matchups in this race will be Benton Academy's Lindsey Hogue and St. Andrew's Emily Ireland.
Aubree Justice - Alcorn Central
Rounding out this list, we have Aubree Justice from Alcorn Central. Justice ran her personal record at the 2021 Pontotoc XC Invitational with a time of 19:49.08, winning the meet in the 1A-3A girls division race. Since breaking sub 20 in the middle of her season, she has gone sub 20 twice since while also running a 20:07.00 at the 2021 MHSAA 3A State Championship, earning herself a state title. Justice also won the 2021 Region 1-3A Meet with a time if 19:51.00 and has been nearly undefeated all this season.
Boys Individuals
Keegan Leverett - Saint Stanislaus
Starting off the boys individual list is Keegan Leverett. Leverett comes into this race with a personal record of 15:37.73 that he ran at the 2021 Watson Meet, where he won the boys gold division race. He also ran the fastest 5k time in the state of Mississippi this past cross country season. Leverett also won the 2021 Region 6-3A & 8-3A Meet with a time of 15:40.36 and the 2021 MHSAA 3A State Championship with a time of 15:45.20. Adding to his impressive resume, he has also won the majority of meets he has entered into this season.
Grayson Childress - Brookhaven
Another individual to watch for this Saturday is Brookhaven's Grayson Childress. Childress ran his personal record at the 2021 Jesse Owens Classic with a time if 15:40.11, placing him 14th overall in a loaded boys gold division race. He also opened up the season with another 15:40 at the 2021 Ole Brook Invitational, winning the meet. Other notable wins for Childress include the 2021 The Opener Meet along with the 2021 MHSAA 5A State Championships. The key matchup to watch in this race will be between Childress and Leverett.
Sam Arnold - Brookhaven
Another runner that will be with Childress is Brookhaven's Sam Arnold. Arnold ran a personal record at the 2021 Jesse Owens Classic with a time of 15:49.96, earning himself a 19th place finish in a stacked boys division race. Other impressive performances from Arnold include the 2021 Ole Brook Invitational, where he placed 2nd overall with a time of 15:59.59 and the 2021 Watson Meet, where he placed 3rd overall with a time of 15:50.03. He has placed consistently high in all the meets he has raced in and has been a solid competitor all season long. He'll be in direct competition between Childress, Leverett, and Oxford's Luke Johnson.
Luke Johnson - Oxford
Oxford's Luke Johnson has had an impressive senior season in cross country this year. Johnson ran a personal record at the 2021 Watson Meet, running a 15:53.34 and placing 4th overall in the boys' gold division race. He also won the 2021 MHSAA 6A State Championship, winning with a time of 15:54.19. Other impressive performances from Johnson include winning the boys silver division race at the 2021 Jesse Owens Classic with a time of 16:06.84 and winning the boys 4A-6A race at the 2021 Tupelo Invitational with a time of 16:05.09. He has run a very consistent season and is looking to end off his high school cross country season with a bang. Key matchups for Johnson will be between Childress and Arnold.
Jaheim Bridges - Tupelo
Tupelo's Jaheim Bridges is coming into this race with good momentum. Bridges ran a personal record at the 2021 MHSAA 6A State Championship with a time of 15:56, placing 2nd overall. Another notable win for Bridges was at the 2021 Pontotoc XC Invitational, where he won with a time of 15:57.43. He has had a very consistent season this year as well, placing in the top 10 in all of the meets he has raced in. After having such a string performance at the state race, Bridges is set to have another string performance this Saturday at the Meet of Champions. The key matchup to look for will be against Johnson and Arnold.
Ethan Knight - Oxford
To close out this list, we have Ethan Knight of Oxford. Knight ran a personal record at the 2021 Watson Meet with a time of 15:57.84, placing him 5th overall in the boys division race. Another notable performance from Knight was at the 2021 Jesse Owens Classic, where he placed 3rd overall in the boys silver division race, clocking in with a time of 16:19.32. The key matchup for Knight will be between Bridges and Johnson.
Girls Team Races
Starting off the list fir girls teams to watch for is Simpson Academy. Simpson Academy has a close, string top 5 spread, with there being only a 17 point difference between their 1-5 runners.
Another team to watch out for this meet is French Camp. They come in as a team who could give Simpson Academy a run for their money.
Columbia Academy rounds off the list, having a fairly placed top 5 that could make a name for themselves this Saturday at the Meet of Champions.
Boys Team Races
Brookhaven is shaping up to be a strong favorite in the boys team race, having their top 5 being seeded in the top 25. Their top 3 is projected to place in the top 15, putting them as the lowest team score heading into this meet.
Another team with a strong spread, Oxford's boys team is projected to place their top 3 in the top 15 as well. They are seeded 2nd overall right behind Brookhaven.
Tupelo is projected to have their top 3 in the top 25. They come into this race seeded 3rd overall and will have a key matchup against Oak Grove's squad.
Oak Grove is coming off of a strong performance at the 2021 MHSAA 6A State Championship. Their top 4 has a consistent spread of 18 points between their 1-4 runners. They are seeded 4th overall and could give Tupelo a fun for their money this Saturday.