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As the high school track and field season continues to heat up, MileSplit Mississippi is gearing up to cover the action at some of the top meets happening across the state this weekend. With athletes from every corner of Mississippi set to compete, the stage is set for some of the most exciting performances of the year.
MileSplit Mississippi will be on-site at select meets to provide coverage at every corner of the state. Our team of experienced reporters and photographers will be on hand to capture the sights and sounds of the action as it unfolds, providing readers with in-depth coverage and analysis of each meet.
Back to back at the 'Burg
One of the highlights of the weekend will be the Carey High School Challenge, hosted by William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, making it two premier competitions back-to-back in the 'Burg.
*Gavin Wheat at the Hattiesburg High Invitational
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One of the most exciting events to watch will be the 1600m run, which will feature a number of sub-4:40 milers, including Oak Grove High School's Gavin Wheat and Bennett Ferguson, Madison Central's Colin Brannon and Benjamin Owens, and Ocean Springs' Tate Castleman. All in all, This race promises to be a showcase of speed and endurance, with all of these athletes looking to make a statement and come away with the victory.
Wheat enters as the Mississippi No. 2 in the 1600m and No. 3 in the 3200m, and has accumulated three wins during his 2023 Outdoor Track and Field campaign with the potential to make it four on Friday.
The High School Boys 800m run also looks to be a stacked event, with nine guys that have gone 2:04 or faster entered. 1:57 800m runner Benjamin Owens, who finished in fourth at the 2022 MHSAA 6A Track and Field Championships, enters as the fastest seed and is vying to get his first win of the season.
However, he will have to watch his back for the aforementioned Wheat and Castleman, as well as Oak Grove's Jaden Gray, Clinton's Christian Parks and Fabian Babin, and Gulfport's Braylin Carter, Ocean Springs' Ace Cosby, and Madison Central's Braxton Rea.
With such a star-studded field, could we see more sub-2 runners after this race?
In the High School Boys' sprint events, Meridian's Jeffery Gathright is expected to be a standout performer. Gathright will headline the 100m and 200m races, having only suffered one loss to a Mississippian this year, which was to Clinton's Omari Hampton. Hampton is the reigning MHSAA 6A Champion in both the 100m and 200m events and currently holds the Mississippi No. 1 ranking in the 100m.
RANKINGS: Mississippi HS Boys 100m List
He will be entering the 200m dash, and the stage is set for these two talented athletes to chase a sub-22 second mark.
The 110-meter hurdles features two of the best hurdlers in Mississippi... We, of course, are talking about Ridgeland's Jamari Page v. Hattiesburg's Javarius Molden.
With Page holding the MHSAA 5A Champion title and the No. 1 ranking in Mississippi, and Molden boasting an undefeated season, this race could be a preview of the thrilling competition that we can expect to see at the 2023 MHSAA 5A Track and Field Championships.
*Jamari Page winning the 2022 MHSAA 5A 110mH title
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As these talented athletes take to the track, there is the potential for the Mississippi No. 1 ranking of 14.33 to be lowered.
RANKINGS: Mississippi HS Boys 110mH List
Molden will also face challenged in the High School Boys 300-meter hurdles against Meridian's Daniel Hill, but nonetheless, enters as the favorite.
In the High School Boys' field events at the Carey High School Challenge, all eyes will be on Clinton High School, where the winner of the Long Jump and High Jump is likely to come from. The question on everyone's mind is whether it will be Maxiumus Littleton or Tyler Nichols who comes out on top.
Both of these athletes have impressive resumes, having earned recognition and accolades at the MHSAA 6A level. Nichols is the reigning MHSAA 6A Champion in the High Jump and currently holds the Mississippi No. 1 ranking in the event. He is also the Mississippi No. 2 in the Long Jump.
Littleton, on the other hand, is a decorated athlete in his own right, and after coming off such an impressive indoor season, his talent and skill in the jumps should not be underestimated.
*Max Littleton and Tyler Nichols, Clinton High School
As the Long Jump and High Jump gets underway, all eyes will be on these two exceptional athletes, as they battle it out for victory and look to establish themselves as top competitors in Mississippi.
Another headliner entry in the field events is Brookhaven's Brodie Ezell, the reigning MHSAA 5A Discus Champion, and is looking to continue his undefeated streak and sweep the Shot Put and Discus.
A Mississippi College commit, Ezell is ranked No. 1 in the Discus and No. 4 in the Shot Put and Mississippi, and could potentially improve upon those rankings after his performance at the Carey High School Challenge.
RANKINGS: Mississippi HS Boys Discus List
However, Ezell will have some fierce competition from Madison Central's Julian Winters, the current Mississippi No. 1 in the Shot Put and undefeated this season in the event.
RANKINGS: Mississippi HS Boys Shot Put List
As these two talented athletes go head-to-head in the Shot Put and Discus events, fans will be eagerly anticipating a showcase of skill and strength. It remains to be seen who will come out on top, but one thing is for sure - this is a competition that cannot be missed.
The High School Girls 100-meter dash at the Carey High School Challenge is shaping up to be a thrilling event, featuring a highly anticipated rematch between two of the best short sprinters in Mississippi - Ridgeland's Valencia Watson and Clinton's Tacherria Lawson.
Both of these talented athletes have the fastest 100m times this season in Mississippi High School Girls competition, having clocked a remarkable 12.03 at the Rumble in the Jungle. In that race, Watson barely escaped Lawson to keep her 100m and 200m undefeated streak alive.
WATCH: Rumble in the Jungle, G 100m f1
However, Lawson, along with Zharia Bonner and Nakirsten Hughes, will be looking to play spoiler to Watson's impressive undefeated streak.
As these talented athletes take to the track and compete for victory, fans will be on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating what promises to be an exciting and highly competitive race. With so much talent on display, it remains to be seen who will come out on top, but one thing is for sure - this is a race that should not be missed.
The High School Girls 110-meter hurdles at the Carey High School Challenge will be a race to watch, as it features a classic matchup between some of the top MHSAA 5A and 6A hurdlers in Mississippi.
*Lenasia Drummond at the Hattiesburg High Invitational
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Hattiesburg's Lenasia Drummond, a standout in the 5A division, will be up against the formidable Clinton trio of Corshunna Hughes, Jenesis Williams, and Kaitlyn Jones, also known as the three-headed hurdle dragon.
Drummond enters the race as the favorite, having taken down the Clinton hurdlers at the Southern Miss High School Invitational just last weekend. However, with the likes of Hughes, Williams, and Jones, she cannot afford to let her guard down. These talented athletes are sure to give Drummond a run for her money, and the race promises to be highly competitive and exciting.
Drummond will then double back her efforts Ian the 300-meter hurdlers, where she will face off against sub-45 second 300-meter hurdler Kaitlyn Jones of Clinton, and also enters as the No. 1 seed in the Long Jump and Triple Jump.
The High School Girls 400m dash at the Carey High School Challenge is set to be a showcase of some of the top long sprinters in Mississippi, with the No. 1 ranked 400m runner in the state, Gulfport's Lania McDonald, headlining the event.
RANKINGS: Mississippi HS Girls 400m List
McDonald has proven herself to be a dominant force in the long sprints, having set the Mississippi No. 1 time of 58.34 seconds at the recent Southern Miss High School Invitational.
However, she will have some stiff competition in the form of reigning MHSAA 4A Champion Mahria Miller, reigning MSAIS 5A Champion Carson Carter, and MHSAA 6A long sprinter standouts Jenesis Williams, Serenity Reed, and Chloe Aultman.
With so much talent on display, this is a race that promises to be highly competitive and exciting, and fans could likely witness a performance under 58 seconds.
*Meagan Womack, Clinton High School
The High School Girls Discus at the Carey High School Challenge is set to feature an impressive display of strength and skill, with Clinton's Meagan Womack looking to continue her dominating performance in the event. With a remarkable 11 straight wins and the Indoor state record holder in the Shot Put, Womack is undoubtedly the favorite to take home the Discus title as well.
Though D'Iberville's Aryn Eady will be competing alongside her, it is clear that Womack is determined to continue her climb up the record books at the Carey High School Challenge.
ALL-TIME RANKINGS: Mississippi HS Girls Discus List
With so many top-ranked and talented athletes in attendance, the Carey High School Challenge is sure to be a highly competitive and thrilling meet. Fans and competitors alike will be eagerly anticipating the performances of these talented athletes as they take to the track and compete for victory. As a preview for the MHSAA 5A and 6A Track and Field Championships, this meet promises to provide a glimpse into what's to come and set the stage for an exciting postseason of track and field competition in Mississippi.
Stacked distance fields in Tupelo, Kendricks back at it
The NMMC Relays, hosted by Tupelo High School, is set to be a thrilling event with some of the top high school track and field athletes in Mississippi competing for victory.
*John Scott Kendricks, Oxford High School
One of the biggest names to watch out for is Oxford's John Scott Kendricks, the new state record holder in the High School Boys Outdoor Pole Vault at 17-3/4.
READ NEXT: John Scott Kendricks breaks Miss. HS Boys PV record
Kendricks, a University of Arkansas signee, has been in top form this season and now holds the Mississippi records in both the Indoor and Outdoor Pole Vault after his stunning performance at the Oxford Relays.
WATCH: John Scott Kendricks breaks MS HS Boys PV record
As the ranked vaulter in the country, Kendricks is sure to draw a lot of attention at the NMMC Relays. Fans will be eager to see if he can maintain his impressive form and continue his record-breaking streak.
The NMMC Relays is set to host a highly competitive field in the High School Boys 1600m, with nine entries boasting impressive seed times of 4:40 or faster. Among these talented runners are Jaheim Bridges and Sidney Stegall, both of whom have been dominant in this event in recent times. Stegall, a Mississippi College signee, has been in excellent form this season, posting a 9:32.6 3200m and 1:58.7 800m at the Oxford Relays. He now sets his sights on the 1600m run, but faces tough competition from a line-up of talented runners.
Reigning MHSAA 6A 1600m Champion Jaheim Bridges is just one of the names hot on Stegall's heels, along with 4:28 miler Taylor Brown, 4:29 miler and Oxford Relays winner Bailey Kosko, 4:30 miler and Oxford Relays runner-up Lukas Dykes, middle school sensation Andrew Brown, and the Desoto Centeral duo of Kaleb Tackett and Gavin Brown. With such a talented field, a sub-4:20 finish is certainly within the realm of possibility.
RANKINGS: Mississippi HS Boys 1600m List
Fans of high school track and field will undoubtedly be eager to see how this impressive group of athletes performs at the NMMC Relays.
Meanwhile, in the High School Boys 3200m run, Gabe McElwain, the 2022 All-MileSplit Mississippi No. 1 ranked Cross Country runner and recently coming off a 9:39 3200m performance, is the heavy favorite in that event.
Undefeated Senatobia sprinter Carlando Crump headlines the 100m and 200m dashes, entering as the No. 1 seed in both events. Crump will likely continue his tear, and is quickly rising as an MHSAA 4A title favorite.
Another Senatobia athlete to keep your eyes on looking to sweep the hurdle events, is reigning MHSAA 4A 110mH and 300mH Champion JaBrysten Abram.
*JaBrysten Abram, Senatobia High School
Abram, the current Mississippi No. 1 in the 300mH, enters as the heavy favorite in both hurdle events.
RANKINGS: Mississippi HS Boys 300mH Rankings
With that being said, it could potentially be a Senatobia sweep in the 100m dash, 200m dash, 110mH, and 300mH with the likes of Abram and Crump.
Other notable entries include reigning MHSAA 4A Discus Champion Chavarius Garrett, 43-6.5 shot putter Alvarado Nixon, and Corinth Pole Vault standout Jack Gibson.
The NMMC Relays is set to feature an impressive lineup of high school track and field athletes in High School Girls competition, including the talented Alexis Mosley of Shannon. Mosley, the reigning MHSAA 4A 100m dash Champion, boasts a lifetime best of 12.18 seconds, making her the heavy favorite in the 100m field.
With such an impressive performance record, Mosley is sure to draw a lot of attention on Friday at the NMMC Relays.
The High School Girls 1600m run is shaping up to be a particularly exciting event. Leading the way is three-time MHSAA 6A Champion Jessica Cartwright of Hernando, who will be joined by Kaitlyn Burge, the current Mississippi No. 1 in the High School Girls 1600m, also from Hernando.
RANKINGS: Mississippi HS Girls 1600m List
With these two talented athletes in the mix, the competition promises to be fierce. But they'll be facing tough challenges from some of the state's other standout runners, including Riley Jackson, MHSAA 4A standouts Hannah Sanders and Elsie Wilbanks, and South Panola's Maine Lund. It's sure to be a thrilling race from start to finish, with all of these talented athletes pushing themselves to the limit. Fans of high school track and field won't want to miss this exciting event at the NMMC Relays.
*Brookelyn Morgan, Tupelo High School
Brookelyn Morgan, the current Mississippi No. 1 ranked 3200m runner, will take another crack at the 11:30 barrier. The two-time MHSAA 6A 3200m Champion will go for her third straight win in the event on her home track.
South Panola's Samyra Wright is the lone entry in the High School Girls 400m dash under 60 seconds, owning a lifetime best of 59.20 seconds, good for a Mississippi No. 5. With Oxford's Sparkle Caldwell pushing her, she could potentially crack inside the top three.
Cierra Crusoe and Meagan Richardson headline the throwing events at NMMC Relays. Crusoe enters as the No. 1 seed in the Shot Put, while Richardson is the No. 1 seed in the Discus. Both are MHSAA Class Champions in their respective classifications, and could provide a thrilling battle for fans at the throwing ring at Tupelo High on Friday.
Jackson Metro to collide at Rankin County Championships
The Rankin County Championships, hosted by Pearl High School, is set to be a thrilling event featuring some of the best athletes in Mississippi high school sports. With a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, the competition promises to be intense and exciting.
*Kennedy Stringfellow at the Pearl Track & Field Season Opener
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One athlete to keep your eyes out for is the new sprinting sensation from Brandon High, Kennedy Stringfellow. Stringfellow, a Mississippi State Track and Field signee, is entered in the High School Boys 100m, 200m, and Long Jump. He is coming off a triple victory at the Southern Miss High School Invitational, where he put down a Mississippi No. 1 ranking in both the Long Jump and 200m, as well as a No. 2 ranking in the 100m.
WATCH: 2023 Southern Miss HS Invite, B 200m f1
The senior from Brandon certainly has momentum on his side heading into the Rankin County Championships, and could extend his undefeated streak to nine straight wins after his performance on Friday.
There are a plethora of athletes lined up for MHSAA 6A powerhouse Pearl Pirates to keep your eyes peeled for.
Tanner Moore, a 4:34 miler, is entered in the High School Boys 1600m. Moore has been testing his talents in the 800m run this season, and has come away with two top-three finishes and a lifetime best of 2:00.1, good enough for the No. 5 ranking in Mississippi.
RANKINGS: Mississippi HS Boys 800m List
With his impressive newfound speed endurance, Moore could prove to be a formidable opponent in the closing stages of the 1600m at the Rankin County Championships with the potential to leave his competitors in the dust as he races towards the finish line.
Jaquavion Bryant is the new talk of the town on the Mississippi distance running scene, having gone undefeated this season and holds the two Mississippi No. 1 rankings. The reigning MHSAA 6A Cross Country Champion holds the No. 1 ranking in the High School Boys 1600m and 3200m in Mississippi, as well as a No. 2 ranking in the 800m.
WATCH: 2022 MHSAA 6A HS Boys Cross Country Championships
He is coming off double wins in the 800m and 1600m events last week at the Southern Miss High School Invitational.
WATCH: 2023 Southern Miss HS Invite, B 1600m f1
With his impressive track record and recent victories, Jaquavion Bryant is a top contender in the upcoming Rankin County Championships.
Connor Mozee, with his impressive credentials and recent success, is sure to be a top contender in the Discus and Shot Put events at the upcoming Rankin County Championships.
As the 2022 MHSAA 6A Discus champion and the No. 2 ranking athlete in the discus in Mississippi, Mozee has already demonstrated his exceptional talent in the throwing events this season.
RANKINGS: Mississippi HS Boys Discus List
With three top-three finishes already under his belt, he will be looking to continue his winning streak and add to his impressive record.
Pearl's Kingi McNair is a multi-talented athlete who is sure to impress in the upcoming Rankin County Championships.
With entries in the 100m, High Jump, Long Jump, and Triple Jump events, McNair's versatility is his greatest strength. His impressive No. 4 ranking in the Long Jump and No. 8 ranking in the Triple Jump in Mississippi highlight his exceptional jumping abilities. McNair is also a decorated athlete, having won the bronze medal in the 2022 MHSAA 6A Championships in the Triple Jump.
With his talent and experience, McNair is sure to be a fierce competitor in each of his events at the championships.
Katherine Neal is entered in the High School Girls 1600m run. Consistency has been key for Neal, as she has two wins and five top-two finishes this season. She also holds the No. 3 ranking in the 1600m in Mississippi.
Look out for Neal to make that three total wins to her 2023 Outdoor Track and Field resume at the Rankin County Championships.
Addison McLaurin from Brandon High School is entered in the 100m, 200m, and 400m events.
McLaurin is a versatile sprinting athlete who can be dangerous from any distance between 100 to 400 meters. She currently holds the No. 4 ranking in the 100m, the No. 2 ranking in the 200m, and the No. 3 ranking in the 400m in Mississippi.
With her versatility and impressive rankings in multiple sprinting events, Addison McLaurin from Brandon High School is a standout athlete to watch at the upcoming Rankin County Championships.
Lastly, Katelyn Hulsey from Northwest Rankin High School is entered in the Pole Vault event. Hulsey is a top-ranked athlete in the Pole Vault, holding the No. 2 ranking in Mississippi this season, as well as the No. 2 all-time ranking with her lifetime best of 13-1.75.
As the reigning MHSAA 6A Pole Vault Champion, Hulsey has already demonstrated her exceptional talent and ability to perform under pressure. Fans and competitors alike will be eagerly anticipating Hulsey's performance at the championships.
The Rankin County Championships is sure to be an exciting event, featuring some of the best athletes in Mississippi high school sports. With such a talented field of competitors, it's anyone's guess who will come out on top. But one thing is certain: fans are in for a thrilling competition.
Scott to compete at Nike Indoor Nationals
While there is plenty of action happening on the outdoor circuit, we also have a Mississippian representing on the outdoor state.
That's right... The Mississippi Indoor Triple Jump record holder headed to the Armory for Nike Indoor Nationals this Saturday.
*Sterling Scott at the Starkville High School Season Opener
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Scott is the Mississippi No. 1 indoors this year in both the triple jump and long jump. Scott will be competing in both of those events this weekend. The Starkville senior has already proven himself on the national stage, as he placed first in the Triple Jump and fifth in the Long Jump at the 2022 Adidas Outdoor Nationals in 2022.
This weekend, Scott will face three of the nation's top five ranked triple jumpers indoors, while he enters ranked 11th nationally. Competing among the nation's best, it will be exciting to see what accolades Scott can bring home.