The Weekend Ahead: Solid competition across the state

Rumble in the Jungle

*Valencia Watson adding to her gold medal collection at the 2022 MHSAA 5A Track and Field Championships

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One of the most premiere events is the High School Girls sprinting events, as the Clinton trio of Tacherria Lawson, Nakirsten Hughes, and Zharia Bonner will take on reigning MHSAA 5A 100m and 200m Champion Valencia Watson who has not lost head-to-head to a Mississippian since 2019. Once we add in entries such as Pearl's Taylor Stratton and Germantown's Ashlyn Robinson, two more prominent sprinters at the MHSAA 6A level, this is potentially a preview of the 2023 MHSAA 6A Track and Field championships. 

Similar to the sprints, another Clinton trio will try and sweep the hurdle events at the Rumble in the Jungle. Kaitlyn Jones, Corshunna Hughes, and Jenesis Williams, all medalists at the MHSAA 6A level. MHSAA 5A standout Johnasia O'Neal of Columbus High and middle school star Charve Gibson of Jefferson County HS will join the party, and likely provide some all-around thrilling competition in every event from 100-meter dash to the 300-meter hurdles. 

Gibson will also be looking to make a dent in the Long Jump and Triple Jump. 

Madison Central's Alex Lee and Pearl's Katherine Neal headline the High School Girls 1600m, and could potentially chase the 5:30 barrier. 


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Last, but certainly not least, Clinton's Meagan Womack has been making a name for herself as potentially the best Mississippi High School Girls thrower in recent history. After breaking the Mississippi High School Girls Indoor Shot Put record, she has won seven straight competitions and will try and make it nine at the Rumble in the Jungle on Friday. 

Much like High School Girls sprinting events, the High School Boys 100m dash looks to be a star-studded field. 2022 MHSAA 6A 100m and 200m Champion Omari Hampton leads a field of five entries that have a lifetime best of under 11 seconds; Hampton, reigning MHSAA 5A Champion Kendarius Wade of Callaway, reigning MHSAA 5A 200m Champion Jerquavious Lowery of Columbus, MHSAA 4A 100m and 200m qualifier Tyler Arrington of Wingfield, and MHSAA 6A qualifier Nisaiah Bass of Germantown. 

All in all, we think it's safe to say that provided the right conditions, we could see a state lead out of this one. Currently, Lowery leads Mississippi in the High School Boys 100m dash with his win of 10.86 at the Starkville High School Season Opener

In the hurdle events, there are two names that really stick out due to their impressive resume; Reigning MHSAA 5A 110mH Champion Jamari Page, and reigning MHSAA 3A 300mH Champion Rkhyzon Cleveland

*Rkhyzon Cleveland at the 2023 Hattiesburg High Season Opener

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At last year's meet, Page won both the 110mH and 300mH, and will put forth his best efforts to do the same thing this year. While he is the No. 1 seed by over a second in the 110mH, Cleveland will be looking to continue his undefeated streak in the 300mH after taking down the field at both the Hattiesburg High Season Opener and Pearl Track & Field Opener

Could this meet be the beginning of the Page v. Cleveland MHSAA 5A hurdles rivalry?

The reigning MHSAA 6A 800m Champion from Clinton High School, Miguel Bankston will be making his outdoor debut in the 800m run on Friday at the Rumble in the Jungle

*Miguel Bankston at the 2022 MHSAA 6A North State Championships

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Bankston owns the only seed time of under two minutes, which is a monstrous 1:55, and is the heavy favorite to open up with a win in his specialty event, continuing his undefeated streak after winning the 400m at the Clinton Season Opener

Jackson metro standouts Tanner Moore, Christian Parks, and Benjamin Owens are the three main entries to look out for in the High School Boys 1600m, all with lifetime bests of 4:36 or faster. All three athletes have had recent success in either the 2023 Indoor Track and Field season or their Outdoor Track and Field season debuts, and unless it is tactical, is a field that could produce some fast times. 

Parks will also go toe-to-toe against Germantown's Kohl Griffin, a 16:36 5K runner, in the 3200m run. 

**UPDATE: Madison Central's Colin Brannon, a 9:46 3200m runner, is also entered in the 3200m run.**

The High School Boys High Jump at the Rumble in the Jungle promises to be a spectacle with two of Mississippi's top jumpers set to go head-to-head. Columbus High's Khristan Watson and Clinton High's Maxiumus Littleton both have impressive resumes, having both cleared 6-8 in their careers. Watson is the reigning MHSAA 5A Champion in the event, while Littleton has been on a roll since the indoor season, excelling in all three jumping events.


*Max Littleton at the 2022 MHSAA 6A North State Championships

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It will be interesting to see who comes out on top in this highly-anticipated matchup. With both jumpers having the ability to clear 6-8, we could be in for a treat if they both push themselves to new heights.

Littleton will also be competing in the Triple Jump and Long Jump. 

Other notable competitors include Creston Garlington and Kennedi McCord in the Pole Vault, Tineisha McLaurin and Marcus Thompson in the 400m dash, Cierra Crusoe and Julian Winters in the Shot Put, and Connor Mozee in the Discus.