READ NEXT: Future Stars: New Albany's Dorian Hurd
----
Featuring in this week's MileSplit Mississippi senior sendoff is one of the best distance runners in the Jackson Metro area, out of Germantown High School, Noah Mason!
Mason will be traveling to Young Harris, Ga. where he will compete for Young Harris College in the Fall.
Mason is coming off of a breakout senior season in track, where he PR'd indoor and outdoor in the 1600m, running 4:34.14 indoor and 4:29.09 outdoor. That PR of 4:29 also earned him the silver medal at the 2022 MHSAA 6A Track and Field State Championships.
Boys 1600 Meter Run 6A
=========================================================================
Name Year School Finals
=========================================================================
1 Bridges, Jaheim 11 Tupelo 4:26.31
2 Mason, Noah 12 Germantown 4:29.09
3 Ferguson, Bennett 11 Oak Grove 4:32.95
4 Singletary, Matthew 12 Oxford 4:33.84
5 Brown, Taylor 9 Tupelo 4:36.09
6 Wheat, Gavin 11 Oak Grove 4:40.29
7 Moore, Tanner 10 Pearl 4:44.74
8 Smith, Anthony 12 Ocean Spring 4:46.54 Mason also had a successful cross country campaign, finishing in 10th place at the 2021 MHSAA 6A Cross Country Championships, and then coming back to finish in 13th at the 2021 Mississippi Cross Country Meet of Champions.
Young Harris College is a private, liberal arts college that competes in the Peach Belt Conference at the Division II level. Their men's team is coming off of a fifth-place finish at the 2021 PBC Cross Country Championships, qualifying them for the 2021 NCAA Division II Southeast Region Cross Country Championships where they finished 21st overall.
Mason said that he will contend for a varsity spot on the cross country team, as well as focusing on the 800m and 1500m during track season.
Once Mason arrives at Young Harris, he will be working to get his degree in Outdoor Leadership, a discipline that combines outdoor skills like backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, and rock climbing, with theory and practice in interpersonal communication, behavioral science, counseling, and being a leader.
We asked Mason some questions and insight in regards to his high school career, what he loves about running, and some advice that he would leave behind to all of the track and field athletes that are still on their journey.
Check them out below!
----
Q: Explain your 'running journey'... (How did you get into running, how did your senior season go, and how did you get connected with the college that you are going to?)
A: I started running my 8th-grade year after my brother had been running since he was in the 6th grade. I always enjoyed playing sports and trying new things and I decided that I would try cross country and ever since then I fell in love with the sport and it was the best 5 years of my life. Running was something I was good at and something I could really enjoy and something I was very good at
Q: What is your most memorable meet/race and why?
A: My most memorable race was my senior year north state track meet the meet to qualify before state. In my junior year, I made it all the way to north state in the mile and got 6th and unfortunately did not make it to state. This year that changed I worked very hard all season and was able to qualify for state in the 1600 all my hard work paid off and it was a very happy moment of my track career.
Q: Out of all your high school achievements, which one means the most to you and why?
A: The achievement that means the most to me is my 10th place finish at the state cross country meet. My first sport in high school was cross country this was a moment I had been working for since 8th grade and all my training and hard work paid off at the state meet my senior year. It was something I will never forget and I will remember for a very long time.
Q: If you could go back and do it all over again, what would you change, if anything?
A: It's hard to decide what you go back and change but the two biggest things would be to start running cross country during my 7th-grade year, and throughout high school to take my summer training more seriously. I loved cross country so much that I wish I was able to get 6 years out of it like some of my fellow seniors.
Q: Who is somebody that you look up to/someone that helped you along your journey to get you where you are today?
A: The biggest person I look up to are my brother and coaches. My brother got me into cross country and helped me every step along the way as well as my coaches who helped me through all my training and workouts to help me to be where I am today.
Q: What will you miss the most?
A: I will miss all the practices and races every Saturday and the community and friends made from this amazing sport. This sport gives you memory like no other sport I know because the one thing that's true about running is that it brings everyone together and we are all just one big happy family
Q: What piece of advice would you give to the younger athletes that are just getting started on their journey?
A: I would say to just enjoy it while it last and just make as many memories as possible and to keep on keeping on and always remember to be kind and thank those who have helped you through your journey and to where you are today
