Brandon Bell - Gulfport HS v. Derrick Bennett - Biloxi HS
A head-to-head match-up to look out for is Brandon Bell v. Derrick Bennett in the 400m. Bell boasts a PR of 49.36 and is the 2021 MHSAA South State Champion. He'll be watching out for Derrick Bennett who is coming off of a solid indoor season and whose PR of 50.03 is not far behind Bell. Bennett is an MHSAA State Runner Up and will be looking to challenge Bell for a possible state-leading time in the 400m. This matchup between Bell and Bennett at the 2022 Gaston Hewes Relay will be a potential preview for who snags the 2022 MHSAA 6A South State crown.
Keegan Leverett - Saint Stanislaus HS
Keegan Leverett, Mississippi's top cross country runner from the 2021 season, is opening his 2022 account with a 1600m and 3200m double. He is a 5x state champion, and with the exception of the Saltillo Invitational, has not lost to a fellow Mississippian in nearly a year. Undefeated on the track in 2021, expect Leverett to extend that streak today. There's no telling what he has planned, but expect Leverett to obliterate his PRs at the 2022 Gaston Hewes Relays.
Ryan Tyler - Saint Stanislaus HS
A thrower to look out for is fellow Saint Stanislaus senior Ryan Tyler. One of the best-returning throwers in the MHSAA, Tyler is the 2021 MHSAA 4A State Runner up in the Discus and is the top returner in that event in 4A. He will be challenged by Ocean Springs senior Ryan Powell, who is the winner of the 2021 Gaston Hewes Relays and his PR of 135-0 is not far behind Tyler's of 137-9. Expect these two to duke it out for not just the top spot in the Gaston Hewes Relays but also in the state of Mississippi.