Best Championship Race in Mississippi History
The lead pack at the 2k mark of the Mississippi All-State Meet of Champions
The Championship Boy's race from the 2021 Mississippi All-State Meet of Champions perhaps brought us some of the best championship racing Mississippi has ever seen on the cross country course. Watching these guys come through in a 'tactical' 6:10-15 through 2k (15:30 5k pace) was downright awesome The way everyone was sizing each other up, trying to predict the moves of other competitors, and everyone on 1 goal in mind - Winning.
From the 1-mile, basically, everybody had their eyes set on 1 man, and that was Saint Stanislaus's, Keegan Leverett (1707). He was the man to beat - He had the fastest time in the state of 15:37 in which he won Watson, and ever since his season opener, no one had taken him down since. He also had the fastest time of the State Championships in a winning time of 15:45, taking down sub-16 5k runner Jack Hewes by over 45 seconds.
The field was following his every move. At the 2k mark, it was a pack of 8, and they were some of the best 8k runners in the state. The lead pack was led by 15:57 runner Ethan Knight, who was getting a little antsy at the 1200 meter mark and decided to take it out through the mile. We also couldn't count out the chase pack being led by Bennett Ferguson, a huge second-half racer who absolutely munches on the field in the last 2 kilometers. From the 2k-3k mark, it was all tactics as they were approaching the halfway point and pre-race plans were beginning to unfold and moves were being made. Leverett covered every one and took the lead on the hill in the second loop right before the 3k. As he took the lead, the field immediately slotted in behind him. Leverett has made his move earlier and earlier on this course, and you could tell he gained confidence through every race. With 2 kilometers, Leverett went for broke... and no one covered.
By the time Leverett got to 'the hill', it was all over. Although Jaheim Bridges and Sam Arnold did run that well very well (both had PR's by the way), catching someone like Keegan Leverett up that hill is just too tall of a task, as Leverett also runs that hill very well. In the end, it was again Keegan Leverett for the win in 15:39, breaking 16 for the 4th time in a row. He has run Choctaw Trails 4 times now, and each time has been in between 15:37 and 15:45. This race was perhaps Leverett's last ever time to run this course, and he left behind a great example of how to execute on the state championship course.
Sam Arnold came through in a strong 2nd, showing his grit like he does every time he steps on the line, and it paid off with a 15:47 PR. Rounding out the podium was Jaheim Bridges, the superstar from Tupelo, also snagging a PR of 15:50.
It gives me chills just reminiscing on this race. We had the best of the best in the deepest year Mississippi has ever had and put them all on the starting line for some good old-fashioned competition, and to see who #1 really was - It reminded me of a 'Foot Locker Regional Meet' solely based in Mississippi. I simply can't express in words how inspiring it was to see the progress Mississippi has made in the past year set before me in the style of a race, but it sure was exciting to watch.
Let's give a rundown of the Full Top 21.
FULL LIST OF ALL-STATE TEAMS
21. Bailey Kosko - Oxford High School - 16:52 -- PR
20. Lukas Dykes - Mooreville High School - 16:51
19. Rhett Schimpf - Starkville High School - 16:51
18. Luke Skinner - Oak Grove High School - 16:47
17. Ryan Williams - Desoto Central High School - 16:47 -- PR
16. Jake Thompson - Brookhaven High School - 16:46
15. Noah Bowlin - Brandon High School - 16:46
Chasing the 17-minute barrier all season, Ryan Williams finally got it done with a 17 second PR running 16:47! Also running a PR was Bailey Kosko, the freshman from Oxford who plaid a huge role in Oxford's state title in MHSAA 6A. He proved that his state championship race was not a fluke, and snagged the last All-State Honorable Mention spot running 16:52. Every other runner on this list finished in the All-State positions in their respective classes which 2 bronze medalists, MHSAA 4A bronze medalist Lukas Dykes and MHSAA 5A bronze medalist Jake Thompson.
14. Gavin Wheat - Oak Grove High School - 16:42 -- PR
13. Noah Mason - Germantown High School - 16:36 -- PR
12. Colin Brannon - Madison Central HS - 16:32
11. Taylor Brown - Tupelo High School - 16:30
10. Ethan Knight - Oxford High School - 16:28
9. Gabe McElwain - Walnut High School - 16:27
8. Grayson Childress - Brookhaven High School - 16:22
In 2019, Gavin Wheat's 5k PR was 23:36. The following season, he lowered it to 18:28. On Saturday, Wheat ended his season with a 16:42 PR, taking nearly 7 minutes off of his 5k time in 2 seasons. Wheat is a testament to what putting your head down and grinding can do. Another strong run was Noah Mason of Germantown who is coming off of a Top 10 finish at the 2021 MHSAA 6A State Championships, snagging a 2nd-Team All-State spot in 16:36. We also had 2021 MHSAA 5A State Champion Grayson Childress, MHSAA 2A State Champion Gabe McElwain, 15:57 5k runner Ethan Knight, and 2 Top-5 finishers at the MHSAA 6A State Championships in Colin Brannon and Taylor Brown.
7. Bennett Ferguson - Oak Grove High School - 16:18
6. Grayson Edwards - NW Rankin HS - 16:16 -- PR
5. Luke Johnson - Oxford High School - 16:01
4. Cooper Parmer - Pontotoc High School - 16:01 -- PR
3. Jaheim Bridges - Tupelo High School - 15:50 -- PR
2. Sam Arnold - Brookhaven High School - 15:47 -- PR
1. Keegan Leverett - Saint Stanislaus High School - 15:39
In 7th place, perhaps the best second-half racer in the state (I would love to see him and William Fugate go at it), which is the same he thing did to get him his 4th place finish at the MHSAA 6A State Champions and the last 1st-Team All-State spot, Bennett Ferguson of Oak Grove! In 6th place, ending his high school career with a bang with a big PR of 16:16, perhaps one of the grittiest performances of the day, Grayson Edwards! In 5th place, the 2021 MHSAA 6A Cross Country State Champion and someone who seemingly never has a bad day, Oxford's Luke Johnson! In 4th, the 2021 MHSAA 4A Cross Country State Champion showing the state that he can mix it in with the top dogs of the state and hold his own just fine, running a PR of 16:01 getting that much closer to the 16-minute 5k barrier, Coach Bain's finest, Cooper Parmer! Getting the bronze, perhaps making the biggest improvements over the summer as this young man did not take part in the 2021 MHSAA 6A State Meet in track and field... and now he's on the podium at the Mississippi All-State Meet of Champions with a new PR of 15:50 in the 5k - Jaheim Bridges! In runner-up position, another runner in the state who just doesn't have a bad day. This was his 4th time this season to break 16 minutes in the 5k, and is someone who simply leaves it all out on the course and grits it out every time, Sam Arnold of Brookhaven! And finally, your 2021 Mississippi All-State Champion... The #1 runner in the state this year and 5 time State Champion so far in his career, and perhaps one of the best tacticians the state has ever seen, Keegan Leverett of Saint Stanislaus!