Hattiesburg High Invitational
*Lenasia Drummond and Sierra Edwards at the 2022 MHSAA 5A Track and Field Championships
The competition at the Hattiesburg High Invitational promises to be exciting, with a mix of established stars and rising talents from across the state.
Headlining the meet in multiple events is Hattiesburg's own Lenasia Drummond, an 8-time MHSAA 5A Champion making her season debut on her home turf. Drummond will be competing in the 110mH, 300mH, Long Jump, and Triple Jump, and is the No. 1 seed in each of those events. However, she will face tough competition from the likes of Columbia's Katie Gates, Brookhaven's Sierra Edwards, and Hattiesburg's Amyziah Thompson. Drummond is one of the most versatile High School Girls Track and Field athletes in Mississippi, so it will be exciting to see what kind of form she's in for her season debut.
Another athlete to look out for is North Pike's Mahria Miller, the reigning MHSAA 4A 400m Champion, making her season debut in the 400m. Miller is the lone entry in the 400m field with a lifetime best of 59.11 seconds, and we will get to see where she is at the Hattiesburg High Invitational.
In the High School Girls 1600m, we'll see a good competition between 8-time MHSAA 3A Champion Emily Ireland, Columbia standout Charlee Brees Franks, MHSAA 2A 3200m qualifier Ireland Jones, Brookhaven star Ramie Stovall, and Oak Grove duo Mari Alis Lyons and Samantha Kennedy.
*Emily Ireland winning the 2022 MHSAA 3A Cross Country Championships
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Lastly, the High School Girls High Jump is an event to keep an eye on. There are several athletes that have cleared 5-2 and could potentially push themselves clear of 5-4.
In the High School Boys sprinting events, Meridian's Jeffery Gathright will be a key athlete to watch, as he is becoming a favorite to win the MHSAA 6A titles in the High School Boys 100m and 200m dash. Gathright's indoor season included a 60-meter lifetime best of 7.05 seconds, making him No. 2 in the state. Recently, the Meridian senior won the 200m dash at the Clinton Season Opener, defeating 2 x MHSAA 6A Champion Omari Hampton.
*Jeffery Gathright winning the 200m at the 2023 Clinton Season Opener
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Gathright currently holds three wins and one runner-up finish this season, and will face off against MHSAA 5A 200m qualifier Xavier Gayten of Brookhaven, and try and keep his streak of consistency alive.
The hurdle events will be another highlight of the meet, with hometown favorite Javarius Molden making his outdoor season debut. He is the No. 1 seed in both the 110mH and 300mH, but will face fierce competition from the likes of Meridian's Daniel Hill, Columbia's Omarion Fortenberry, Harrison Central's Mackai McCree, and others in both events. With such a stacked field, the High School Boys hurdles events are sure to be a must-watch at the Hattiesburg High Invitational.
In the distance events, Oak Grove looks to dominate the competition with recent 9:33 3200m runner Gavin Wheat leading the charge.
*Gavin Wheat at the 2023 Pearl Track & Field Opener
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Wheat, a William Carey signee, is coming off a win in the 1600m at the Pearl Track & Field Opener and will be joined by teammate Jaden Gray, as well as Starkville's Giles Jones and Scott McDonnel. In the 3200m, All-MHSAA 6A Cross Country finisher Grayson Taylor of Oak Grove leads the way as the No. 1 seed coming off a 10:07 performance at the Pearl Track & Field Opener.
Lastly, all eyes will be on Brookhaven's Brodie Ezell as he makes his season debut in the Shot Put and Discus. As the reigning MHSAA 5A Champion in the Discus and a Mississippi College signee, he enters as the heavy favorite in both throwing events.
Other notable mentions include Starkville's Grady Stewart in the 400m dash, Hazlehurt's Sentario Willis, the reigning MHSAA 3A Triple Jump Champion, competing in the Triple Jump and Long Jump, and 6-2 Starkville High Jumper Braylon Burnside. With such a deep field, the Hattiesburg High Invitational promises to be a highly-anticipated and competitive event for high school track and field athletes across the state.