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.
One of the main storylines this season is Prairie View's Jayce Wimbish, a four-time MSAIS 3A champion who has returned to peak form after struggling with injuries. Wimbish currently leads MSAIS 4A in the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m events and aims to dominate his class. His primary challenger in distance events is Claiborne's Brayden White .
On the girls' side, Benton Academy's Lindsey Hogue, a six-time MSAIA 3A champion, remains the favorite in MSAIS 3A in the distance events since 2021. The sophomore has consistently topped the leaderboard in both the 1600m and 3200m categories this season and is expected to secure another double.
The 2023 MSAIS 3A Track and Field Championships promise to be an event filled with exceptional individual performances, engaging team races, and thrilling competitions. Spectators and participants alike eagerly anticipate the unfolding of this exciting event.