Jessica Cartwright - Hernando High School
Kicking off our athlete watchlist and stepping on the starting line for the first time since her MHSAA 6A Cross Country state championship is the 2 x MHSAA 6A State Champion from Hernando High School, Jessica Cartwright. Cartwright had the season of her life during the 2021 cross country campaign, ending it with her first-ever cross country state title with her first-ever sub-19, running 18:41 and winning by 26 seconds. Thanks to her PR's of 2:24/5:21 in the 800m/1600m, she is the #1 seed in both the 800m and 1600m. Those are the two events that she will surely want to double and add two more state titles to her resume, and it will be exciting to see Cartwright make her long-awaited track debut at the 2022 South Panola Opener.
Riley Jackson - Hernando High School
The runner-up in that same MHSAA 6A Cross Country State Championship was Cartwright's teammate, Riley Jackson, and is also slated to compete in the same events as Cartwright, as well as the 3200m. Jackson will most likely be right with her teammate Cartwright, at is basically what they did during the 2021 cross country season and their track PR's are very similar - Jackson's PR's sit at 2:30 and 5:28 for the 800m and 1600m, as well as an 11:34 in the 3200m. Like Cartwright, this will be Jackson's first competition since the 2021 MHSAA 6A Cross Country State Championships, and she and Cartwright are one of the most consistent best duos in the state. It will be thrilling to see them back on the track again.
JaBrysten Abram - Senatobia High School
Another athlete to watch on the High School Boys side is the hurdle specialist from Senatobia High School, the 2 x MHSAA 3A State Champion(Senatobia is now MHSAA 4A), JaBrysten Abram. Abram is set to have a busy day at the 2022 South Panola Opener as he is entered in both hurdle events, as well as the 100m and the 200m dash. This will be Abram's first competition since his double state title run at the 2021 MHSAA 3A State Championships, and he looks like he is ready to get after it at the 2022 South Panola Opener.
Graham Weiss - Hernando High School
Headlining the High School Boys distance running events is the 2021 MHSAA 6A 7th place finisher at the Cross Country State Meet, Graham Weiss of Hernando High School. Weiss is due for some huge PR's as he has made some massive improvements over the 2021 cross country campaign. His current 5k PR of 16:33 is a faster mile pace than his 3200m PR of 11:00. Weiss is entered in all three distance events and is the favorite to take the 1600m and 3200m, as well as snag a PR in the 800m, at the 2022 South Panola Opener in his season debut.
Samariya Sesson - Senatobia High School
Lastly, the athlete that will be headlining the throws is the 2021 MHSAA 3A State Medalist in the Discus and State Qualifier in the Shot Put, Samariya Sesson of Senatobia High School. Sesson's first full season was last year's outdoor season and has not competed since the 2021 MHSAA 3A State Meet. With that being said, she comes into this outdoor season with gained experience, now having knowledge of what it is like and what it takes to compete at the state championship level. Surely going for gold this season, the South Panola Opener will be a great starting point for Sesson's road to the MHSAA 4A State Championships