Kaelin and George Kersh 800m Invitational Preview

George Kersh High School Boys 800m

One of the most exciting events of the Mississippi Track and Field season is always the George Kersh High School Boys 800m, hosted at the Woody Barnette Invitational at Pearl High School. 

Here is the entry list for that race: 

A lot to break down here,  and we obviously can't talk about everyone in the field, but here is the basic rundown of each entry: 

Matthew Singletary - A Mississippi College distance signee reigning from Oxford, Singletary comes in with a PR of 2:01.82 from his win at the 2022 NMMC Relays, taking down some of the highest-ranked distance runners in North Mississippi. Most recently, Singletary just ran 4:31 to win the 2022 Oxford Invitational, again taking down some very highly-ranked distance runners including 2021 MHSAA 6A Cross Country State Champion Luke Johnson.

Singletary is a well-rounded middle-distance runner who brings a lot to the table, and is a dark horse in this very strong 800m field. 

Brandon Williams - Williams is a threat from many distances, but will be a threat at 800 meters at the 2022 Woody Barnette Invitational, and a strong one at that. Williams has thrown down at every non-hurdle distance from 100m-800m this season, snagging PR's in all four of those events. Williams is coming off of two wins in a row in the 800m, most recently running 2:00.88 to win the 2022 Oxford Invitational and take down some of Oxford High School's best, including Singletary. 

Williams has had a breakout senior season, and his trend has been shooting up, and he will be looking for his first-ever sub-2 800m in the 2022 George Kersh 800m. 

Sid Stegall - Perhaps the biggest dark horse and potential threat in this field is the 3 x MAIS State Champion from Heritage Academy, Sid Stegall. Stegall got a late start in the season, not opening up his 2022 track and field campaign until March 24-25. However, Stegall didn't waste any time getting to the top of the rankings, soloing a 9:52 3200m at the 2022 Falcon Relays, and then doubling back to win the 1600m at the 2022 Bianca Knight Invitational in 4:26. 

The sky is the limit for Stegall, and although he will be doubling back off of the 3200m, never count him out of any race. 

Javien Davis - The next sub-2 performer in the field competing on his home turf is Javien Davis of Pearl. Davis has recently had a pair of runner-up finishes to his teammate, who is one of the favorites to take the 2022 George Kersh Title. Davis is the 4th-place finisher at the 2021 MHSAA 6A State Championships in the 800m, as well as the 3rd place finisher at the 2021 Mississippi Meet of Champions in the 800m. 

Davis is lightning fast and has a lot of talent, and could very well be looking to get back on track at his home meet in this high-caliber field. 

Dominic Turner - The other Pearl Pirate in this field, and could be considered one of the favorites, is Dominic Turner, AKA the Dominator. Turner has PR'd in both the 400m and 1600m this season, and has been waiting on a field such as this one to snag an 800m PR. Most recently, Turner pulled off the 400m/800m double at the 2022 Rankin Country Championships, running a SB of 2:01.3 in the 800m after running a PR of 50.9 in the 400m, winning both events. 

Dominic Turner is a fearless competitor who is fit and ready to roll in the George Kersh High School Boys 800m. 

Curt Carman - The #1 seed time comes from the 2021 MHSAA 4A State Champion in the 800m, and that is Curt Carman of Tishomingo County HS. Carman's #1 seed time of from the 2021 Mississippi Meet of Champions, finishing second to none other than Christian Balcer in 1:59.1, beating out studs such as Javien Davis and Miguel Bankston. Carman is undefeated this season. 

Although Curt Carman has the fastest seed time, he is still viewed as an underdog, and I feel he will surprise a lot of people in the George Kersh High School Boys 800m. 

JoeDarrius Dorsey - JoeDarrius Dorsey, a senior from Port Gibson, has truly found his middle-distance form this season. We knew he was the real deal when he took down Dominic Turner and Ben Owens at the 2022 Southern Miss High School Invitational. Most recently, Dorsey is coming off of another 800m win at the 2022 Velma Jackson Invitational, as well as a 400m PR at the 2022 Wordy Hicks Relays. 

Joe Darrius Dorsey is yet another dark horse in this field who could surely make an impact, and go for the win with 200 meters to go. 

Benjamin Owens - Coming fresh off of a new 400m PR is Madison Central's Benjamin Owens, who is ready to play his hand yet again in the 800m after a stellar runner-up finish at the 2022 Southern Miss Invitational, running 2:01 in a somewhat tactical 800m race. In that race, Owens took down Dominic Turner, one of the favorites to take the 2022 George Kersh title. 

Benjamin Owens has a lethal kick, and if he is anywhere close with 150 meters to go, my money is on him to take the title. 

Grayson Childress - Last but not least, the 2021 MHSAA 5A Cross Country State Champion is going to shake things up with some of Mississippi's best in the 800m. Childress has had one loss this year, which was a 2nd place finish in a tactical 800m, finishing 0.04 seconds behind Raymond's Tavon Davis. Besides that, Childress has won every other race he has competed in and has snagged PR's such as 2:03, 4:26, and 9:50.

Grayson Childress is a true gamer, and whenever he is at his best, he is dangerous. Potential Sub-2 coming for Childress in the George Kersh High School Boys 800m. 

Kaelin Kersh High School Girls 800m

Along with the George Kersh High School Boys 800m is the Kaelin Kersh High School Girls 800m, in honor of George Kersh's daughter. 

Here's who we have running: 

Shana Sellers - Starting us off in the Kaelin Kersh High School Girls 800m is Mississippi College distance signee, Shana Sellers. The Pearl senior is coming off of a 800m and 1600m PR, winning the 800m in 2:31.28 at the 2022 Rankin County Championships. 

Expect Sellers to put all that she has to defend her home track in the Kaelin Kersh High School Girls 800m. 

She boasts a PR of 2:28 and will be looking to carry her momentum over to Pearl to show the rest of the state what she can do at the 2022 Kaelin Kersh High School Girls 800m

Julia Stradinger - Another versatile distance standout is Jackson Prep's Julia Stradinger. She has dominated the MAIS throughout her career and now she will be going head to head with the state's best half-milers. She boasts a PR of 2:24 in the 800m from the 2021 MAIS State Championship and is coming off a victory in the 1600m from the 2022 MRA Classic. 

Being the fierce competitor she is, expect Stradinger to battle toe to toe with her competition all the way to the tape. 

Mallory Streetman - The Gulfport High senior and Mississippi State commit, Mallory Streetman is making the trek to Pearl to compete in the best 800m field Mississippi has assembled this season. With a PR of 2:20 in the 800m, and the Miss. #1 time, she is a main contention to take the win on Friday and continue her undefeated streak.

With the kind of talent in this field, a win at the 2022 Kaelin Kersh Invitational would definitely cement her as the state's best.

Gracie Atkinson - Another mid-distance runner to look out for is fellow Jackson Prep athlete, Grace Atkinson. Runner up at the 2021 MS Meet of Champions in the 800m and 3rd place finisher at the 2021 MAIS State Championships in the 800m, Atkinson has proven that she can run with just about anyone in this event.

Look out for this Jackson Prep junior to show the state what she can do at the 2022 Kaelin Kersh High School Girls 800m. 

Jessica Cartwright - Hernando's Jessica Cartwright has consistently shown her mid-distance abilities throughout the 2022 Outdoor season. She boasts the Miss. #2 time in the 800m with a 2:25, as well as the Miss. #2 time with a 5:21 in the 1600m. She has set of those PR's this season. 

The 2021 MHSAA 6A 1600m and Cross Country State Champion is on a roll this season, and expect her to go for that 2:20 800m barrier. 

Riley Jackson - Lastly, Riley Jackson, teammate of Cartwright, will be joining her Hernando compatriot in the Kaelin Kersh High School Girls 800m. Jackson is a threat from any distance event, and has shown off that range at basically every single meet she has run at this season. With that being said, this will be Jackson's first and only fresh 800m that she will run this season. 

Riley Jackson is a fierce competitor who knows what it takes to compete at a high level, and we should expect her to do so at the Kaelin Kersh High School Girls 800m.