5K PR: 19:01
Grade: Freshman
2021 ranking: No. 3
Classification: MAIS 6A
Accolades: 2021 MAIS 6A Cross Country Champion | 2022 MAIS 6A 3200m Champion | 2022 MAIS 6A 1600m Runner-up | 2021 Watson 7th-place finisher | 2021 All-MileSplit Mississippi Cross Country Team Member
Starting out the announcement of the top three high school girl cross country runners is the 2 x MAIS 6A State Champion out of Hartfield Academy, Ella Rankin!
Rankin returns in 2022 right where she left off at number three, and for good reason. She is coming off of a fantastic eighth-grade season which included two state titles, as well as ending the year inside of the top four in both the 5K in cross country and the 3200m in outdoor track and field.
She was fourth in the 5k with her PR of 19:01 which was run at the 2021 Watson High School Meet, and was second in the 3200m with her performance of 11:43 from the 2022 MAIS 6A Track and Field Championships.
RANKINGS: 2021 Miss. High School Girls Cross Country List | 2022 Miss. High School Girls 3200m List
She also ended both seasons as the fastest girl in the MAIS in both of those events.
Last but certainly not least, as we mentioned above, her 2021-22 academic year consisted of two state titles, winning the 2021 MAIS 6A Cross Country title beating out 11 x MAIS 6A State Champion Julia Stradinger, and then coming back to win the 3200m at the 2022 MAIS 6A Track and Field Championships.
All in all, Rankin will definitely be one to look out for this upcoming cross country season as she chases the 19-minute 5k barrier and some more state titles to add to her resume.
READ NEXT: Incoming Freshmen that can make an impact
5K PR: 19:00
Grade: Sophomore
2021 ranking: No. 4
Classification: MHSAA 6A
Accolades: 2022 MHSAA 6A 3200m Champion | 2021 MHSAA 6A 3200m Champion | 2021 Watson 6th-place finisher | 2021 MHSAA 6A Cross Country 5th-place finisher | 2021 All-MileSplit Mississippi XC Team Member
Rounding out the All-MileSplit Mississippi High School Girls Cross Country preseason team top three announcements is a name we all know well, and that is Brookelyn Morgan out of Tupelo High School!
With her PR in the 5K of 19:00, Morgan ended the year as No. 3 in the entire state according to PRs, only sitting behind Brooklyn Biancamano and Jessica Cartwright.
In the 2021 cross country season, Morgan tallied up six wins and was also the top Mississippian at the 2021 Watson High School Meet.
On the track, she ended the indoor season as the No. 1 3200m runner in the state with a time of 11:44, as well as placing No. 2 in the 1600m.
RANKINGS: 2022 Mississippi High School Girls Indoor 3200m List
Finally, in the 2022 outdoor season, Morgan continued her momentum and established herself as one of the best female distance runners in MHSAA 6A, qualifying for the 2022 MHSAA 6A Track and Field Championships in the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m, defending her 3200m title after already running the 800m and 1600m earlier in the day.
Morgan placed third overall in the 1600m and sixth in the 800m.
We can count on Morgan to open up her cross country season with a bang and show the rest of the state why she deserves to be this high on the 2022 All-MileSplit Mississippi Cross Country Preseason list.
Stay tuned for No. 1 next week!