High School Girls

Ella Rankin, Hartfield Academy

2021 Champion: Julia Stradinger (Jackson Preparatory School) | 20:23

Meet record holder: Julia Stradinger (Jackson Preparatory School) | 20:23

Course record: Brooklyn Biancamano (Long Beach High School) | 18:03

No. 1 seed: Ella Rankin (Hartfield Academy) | 19:01

The Rundown: 

We could be in store for an exciting Varsity Girls race at the 2022 MRA Cross Country Invitational showdown. 

Going into the race, we have yet another classic matchup between two of the best ninth-grade girls in the state: Simpson Academy's Layla Warren vs. Hartfield Academy's Ella Rankin. 

Both runners are currently on the All-MileSplit Mississippi XC Team. 

READ NEXT: High School Girls All-MileSplit Mississippi XC Team: Edition No. 1

As of right now, Warren has a slight season best over Rankin. She has gone 19:36 on her way to a PR at The Opener. 

READ NEXT: Meet recap - 2022 THE OPENER (podcast)

However, Rankin has gone 19:37 this season, and her PR is 19:01, coming from Choctaw Trails last season. As a matter of fact, Rankin took down Warren in that race. 

Layla Warren, Simpson Academy

The pair are 1-1 so far this season against each other, and with these two along with Lilly Overby of Simpson Academy, the meet record of 20:23 is most likely a goner.

Overby was the second Mississippian at The Opener with a current PR of 20:05 for 5K. 

Lilly Overby, Simpson Academy 

Some other notable entries include 2021 MAIS 3A Cross Country Champion Lindsey Hogue of Benton Academy, as well as Madison Ridgeland Academy's Abi Alden Benton and Reese Johnson. 

State Editor's pick: Ella Rankin, Lindsey Hogue, MRA, and Simpson are all spiking up at the 2022 MRA Cross Country Invitational... this field is loaded. 

Although there are multiple talents in this field, the win will likely come down to All-MileSplit Mississippi XC team members Layla Warren and Ella Rankin. 

Both athletes haven't raced in a week, so we know they'll be antsy to get back on the trails and throw down something quick. Both runners are ultra-competitive and as tough as nails, but Warren has run well under the spotlight multiple times this season. 

We're predicting a fight down to the wire, but Warren will edge out Rankin for the win. 

Also, keep your eyes peeled for Overby to work through the field and potentially make a dent in this prediction.