2023 MSAIS 3A Track & Field State Meet Analysis

VIRTUAL MEET: MSAIS 3A Boys | MSAIS 3A Girls

Many athletes will descend on the campuses of Jackson Academy and Jackson Prep with dreams and goals of winning a MSAIS 3A title. Only the best and most dedicated will win a share of the 36 individual titles and the team titles awarded to the top male and female teams. 

In the girls' title race, DeSoto School is poised to maintain its dominance. As the defending champions, they return their entire roster from last year, led by standout athletes such as sprinter Claudia Pittman, distance runners Leah Carnathan and Mary Pillow, hurdler Charly Allen, jumper Anslee Barnes, and thrower Maddie O'Bryant. With a team that dominated relay events last year and currently leads in the same category, DeSoto's depth makes them a formidable opponent in their classification. DeSoto School is predicted to secure the team race with relative ease.

While DeSoto's girls' team experienced great success last year, the boys' team also won last year's MSAIS 3A championship. However, the team faces challenges this year due to the graduation of key athletes, sprinter/jumper Gibson Pillow and sprinter/hurdler Nash Vonkanel. In their absence, Sylva Bay Academy has emerged as a strong contender, boasting exceptional talent such as MSAIS 3A standout Qua Johnson. Other notable athletes from Sylva Bay include jumpers Brody Boyd and Cash Pickel, as well as distance runner Noah Grayson. The winning team may well be determined by relay performances, an area where DeSoto excelled last year.