Meet Recap: 2022 Simpson Academy XC Invitational

High School Girls


MAGEE, Miss. --- The stars were aligning again in MAIS 5A, this time at the 2022 Simpson Academy Invitational

In a stacked High School Girls' field that included three All-MileSplit Mississippi XC Team members, with No. 3 ranked Ella Rankin and No. 4 ranked Layla Warren, the crowd was in for a treat. 

We all knew Lilly Overby, the No. 7 ranked female distance runner in Mississippi, is a young, up-and-coming talent with a great career ahead of her. 

READ NEXT: All-MileSplit Mississippi XC High School Girls Team: Edition No. 2

What we didn't know, however, was that Overby would cross the line first at the 2022 Simpson Academy Invitational, stopping the clock at 18:55.0. 

*Lilly Overby, Simpson Academy

Overby obliterated the course record by 42 seconds held by Rankin, who finished runner-up in 19:20.9. Warren placed third in 19:51.7.

With Overby's performance at the 2022 Simpson Academy Invitational, she now becomes the first Mississippi High School Girl to break 19 minutes in the 5K this season and only the third to do it in the past two seasons. The two that accompany Overby in that statistic are Brooklyn Biancamano and Jessica Cartwright

This, of course, means that Overby is now the owner of the fastest 5K time on 2022 Mississippi XC High School Girls circuit. 

RANKINGS: 2022 Mississippi High School Girls 5K List

With Simpson Academy at full force, they took down Madison Ridgeland Academy, Columbia Academy, and MileSplit Mississippi No. 2 ranked East Rankin Academy. The difference between first and fourth place was a mere 13 points. 

The big surprise was Columbia Academy, who was third with a score of 72 points. They have mastered the art of running as a pack with an impressive 40-second 1-5 split and look to be right back in the hunt for a MAIS 5A team title alongside Simpson and East Rankin. 

All in all, we're looking forward to another legendary MAIS Cross Country Championships in the near future.