High School Boys Individual Preview

Graham Weiss, Hernando High School

South Panola XC Classic 

Some MHSAA 6A studs will be opening up their cross country season this weekend at the 2022 South Panola XC Classic. 

Leading the charge in the entry lists is 16:33 5K runner Graham Weiss of Hernando High School, a rising junior who placed seventh at the 2021 MHSAA 6A Cross Country Championships. 

Weiss had a solid 2021 cross country campaign, finishing well in multiple high-profile races and ran 16:33 on two occasions - Once at the state meet, and another at the 2021 Watson High School Meet. 

Although he is the fastest performer in the field by 45 seconds, he may have some competition to contest the win. 

One of those competitors is his teammate, Joseph Thornhill, a rising senior who went 4:44 in the 1600m to finish fourth at the 2022 MHSAA 2-6A Regional Championships. 

Another could be Senatobia High School's low stick Austin Winstead, the 2021 MHSAA 4A 3200m State Champion. 

Austin Winstead, Senatobia High School

Winstead, also a 4:44 miler, is an improving talent that could be looking to take charge in MHSAA 4A very soon. 

However, one sleeper that we want to mention is Desoto Central's projected No. 2, and that is rising senior Kaleb Tackett. 

We know what you're thinking - Why are we mentioning a guy that is well over a minute off of the No. 1 seed time of 16:33?

Well for starters, Tackett has the best 3200m PR out of the entire field as he has been rapidly improving year after year. And as a testament to that, we also heard a rumor of how both Tackett and Gavin Brown broke 17 by a very fair margin in a Desoto Central time trial... 

We think both Tackett and Brown could finish in the top three, and don't say we didn't call it if Tackett wins the 2022 South Panola XC Classic.