Meet Preview: Southern Miss HS Invitational Distance

Southern Miss High School Invitational
Preston Speed

High School Boys 800m

Dominic Turner set to strike once more

Look out for Pearl High School's Dominic Turner to win the High School Boys 800m at the 2022 Southern Miss High School Invitational on Friday.

Turner, who has already had an impressive start to his season, holds the fastest time in the state so far with a 2:01.87 from the 2022 Pearl Track and Field opener.

Another notable entry is Turner's teammate and 1:59 guy Javien Davis, who finished on the podium at the 2021 Mississippi Meet of Champions.

Expect a big race from these two and the possible first sub-2 performance in 2022.


High School Girls 800m 


Jessica Cartwright Leads the Way

Topping the 800m field on the girls side is Hernando High's Jessica Cartwright.

She is a 2 x MHSAA 6A State Champion and one of the top cross country runners from this past season. She opened up her track campaign with a solid performance of 2:31.18 at the 2022 South Panola opener.

She'll have to keep an eye on her teammate Riley Jackson, who finished runner-up this previous season at the MHSAA 6A Cross Country Championships and multiple time state qualifiers.

Expect this Hernando duo to have a top notch performance in the half mile race at the 2022 Southern Miss High School Invitational.


High School Girls 1600m

Sellers vs. Hernando trio

On the girls side, expect a battle between Pearl High's Shana Sellers and the Hernando High trio composed of Jessica Cartwright, Riley Jackson, and Madison McMillen.

Cartwright, the reigning MHSAA 6A state champion in this event, will be looking to further cement herself as one of Mississippi's best. Hot on her heels will be her teammate Jackson, who is not only undefeated this season in the 1600m, but also the state leader in the event.

Look out for Mississippi College commit and Pearl High School senior Shana Sellers, who has had a solid start to her season, winning the 2022 Pearl Track and Field Opener, and having an impressive 3200m and 1600m double at the 2022 Madison Central Jaguar Classic.

It's a tall order to predict a winner here, but it quite possible we will see a new Mississippi #1 in the 1600m at the 2022 Southern Miss High School Invitational.


High School Boys 1600m

MHSAA 6A South State Preview (ft. Noah Mason)

The best of the best from Pearl High School and Oak Grove along with Germantown's Noah Mason are duking it out in the 1600m.

Heading the list of entries is Oak Grove's Gavin Wheat who went toe to toe all the way to the line with Grayson Childress, the top miler in the state so far this season at the 2022 Hattiesburg High Invitational.

Tanner Moore, who has shown some serious closing speed in both of his 1600m races this season, is a big contender to take the victory. Keep an eye out for Noah Mason, who finished right behind Moore at the 2022 Madison Central Jaguar Classic had an impressive indoor campaign running 4:34.14, along with Oak Grove's Bennett Ferguson and Pearl High School's Brendan Clark.

Who knows which athlete will come out on top, but expect a scintillating finish in the 1600m at the 2022 Southern Miss High School Invitational.



High School Boys 3200m

How many will go Sub-10?

In the 3200m, we could see these guys push each other some blazing times in Hattiesburg.

The top Mississippi entry is Madison Central's Benjamin Owens. He is a Mississippi Meet of Champions winner, and he podiumed at the 2021 MHSAA 6A State Championships in this event.

Alongside Owens is the Oak Grove talent in Bennett Ferguson. He won the 2022 Hattiesburg High Invitational with a big PR of 10:06.80. Also watch out for Maxi Duran from Pearl who had a statement victory at the 2022 Madison Central Jaguar Classic hitting a lifetime best of 10:19.89.

Expect these Mississippi boys to be challenged by Nolan Pedota, the Northridge senior from Alabama.

Will we see one or multiple guys dip under the 10-minute barrier. We will have to wait and see at the 2022 Southern Miss High School Invitational.