Distance Runners to Watch at the 2022 Carey High School Invite
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UPDATE: It has been made clear that the Carey High School Invite has been moved to today, March 10, 2022. However, MileSplit Mississippi was not notified of this date change. With that being said, please let the MileSplit Mississippi staff know via email (msmilesplit@gmail.com) and/or change the date on the meet calendar any time a meet is moved to ensure the MileSplit Mississippi crew can provide the best coverage possible for the best sport, in the best state.
With that being said, we decided to leave our predictions up since it was already written to see how close we were... Enjoy!
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Grayson Childress v. Gavin Wheat square off once again in 1600m
The two best milers in the state are meeting once again to square off at the 2022 Carey High School Invite.
Brookhaven's Grayson Childress, the 2021 MHSAA 5A Cross Country State Champion, won the 2022 Hattiesburg High Invitational with a state-leading time of 4:30.64. However, Childress was closely followed by Oak Grove's Gavin Wheat who has had an incredible start to his season, hitting a big PR of 4:31.15 in that race and recently winning the stacked 2022 Southern Miss High School Invitational 1600m title.
That previously mentioned 1600m race at Hattiesburg currently has the two fastest 1600m times in the state.
These two will also be looking out for Childress's teammates in 15:49 5k runner Sam Arnold and 4:38 1600m runner and recent South Alabama signee Jake Thompson, as well as Ocean Spring's Anthony Smith, a 2021 MHSAA 6A 1600m State Qualifier, among many others.
Could we see the first sub-4:30 performance of the 2022 Outdoor Season??
Watch Gavin Wheat take down a star-studded field in fast heat of the High School Boys 1600m at the 2022 Southern Miss High School Invitational
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Dorsey v. Brookhaven in the High School boys 800m
In the 800m, JoeDarrius Dorsey leads the entries with his recent PR of 2:01.38.
He won an outstanding performance last week at the 2022 Southern Miss High School Invitational, where he outlasted Madison Central's Benjamin Owens, and 1:59 800m runner Dominic Turner of Pearl. That race actually selected as the MileSplit Mississippi race of the week - Watch it Here!
He'll be accompanied by the trio from Brookhaven in Grayson Childress, Jake Thompson, and Collin Kellum. Childress is currently undefeated in the 800m so far this outdoor season.
This field has a lot of runners pushing the 2-minute mark, and would not at all be surprised to see someone dip under that barrier and join Bankston at the 2022 Carey High School Invite.
Interesting Matchup: Bennett Ferguson v. Dallas Stricker v. Sam Arnold, High School Boys 3200m
A matchup to look out for is Heritage Christian's Dallas Striker, Oak Grove's Bennett Ferguson, and Brookhaven's Sam Arnold in the 3200m.
Dallas Stricker is a 4 x MAIS 1A State Champion, and he recently opened up his season at the 2022 Hurricane Meet with a stellar time of 10:06, a solo effort for the freshman.
Sam Arnold is one of the state's best cross country runners, finishing the 2021 cross country season as the MileSplit Mississippi #2 ranked runner in Mississippi. Recently, he had a runner-up finish to teammate Grayson Childress at the 2022 Brookhaven Speed Trials with a time of 10:08 in the 3200m, a PR.
Expect these two to be right up there with Bennett Ferguson, who had an incredible sub-10 performance at the 2022 Southern Miss High School Invitational.
Prepare yourselves for a nail-biting ending to this 3200m at the 2022 Carey High School Invite.
Mallory Streetman goes for the 400m/800m double
Your state's leader in the 800m is going for the 400m/800m double on Saturday.
The Mississippi State commit, Mallory Streetman of Gulfport has had a phenomenal start to her season, continuing her winning ways of the 2021 outdoor season and opening up with a pair of wins at the 2022 Gaston Hewes Relays and 2022 Sabbatini Relays. Streetman also won those same two meets last season.