VIRTUAL MEET: High School Boys | High School Girls
As the highly anticipated 2023 MHSAA 2A Track and Field Championships draw near, athletes and fans alike are brimming with excitement for the explosive competition that awaits.
Headlining this year's event is the prodigious Gabe McElwain, who aims to make history with a formidable 1600m-3200m double, while the High School Boys High Jump promises to be a jaw-dropping showdown.
With each team vying for the coveted championship title and competitors showcasing their extraordinary athletic prowess, the stage is set for a high-stakes, high-octane weekend that will undoubtedly leave spectators on the edge of their seats.
McElwain Goes for Back-to-Back 2A Championship Double
Perhaps the most eye-catching story of the upcoming MHSAA 2A Track and Field State Championships is Gabe McElwain's double attempt. The Walnut star is already a 4-time state champion across track and cross country. He is still alive and extremely likely to progress to 2A State in the 1600m and 3200m.
McElwain could have continued in the 800m as well, but he chose not to race in that event at the Region 1-2A meet, despite leading 2A in that event. It seems that the 800m was dropped to focus on the 1600m/3200m double.
While that is a daunting task for any meet, it is even more impressive to see McElwain handily win both events four straight weeks in a row with high stakes. If he can pull it off, which he is heavily favored to do so, it will be his second year in a row completing that 1600m/3200m state championship double.
High Jump Battle
The Boy's field events are headlined by the battle for the high jump title. Three athletes are tied with season bests at 6-4. Those jumpers are Puckett's Samuelle Gray, and Tavian Johnson and Terrance Harris of Velma Jackson. These three are all tied for the No. 1 ranking in MHSAA 2A at 6-4.
Johnson placed second at last year's MHSAA 2A Track and Field Championships and is this year's top returner in the event.
Not far behind that trio is Terrence Marco of Charleston High School at 6-2. Marco is very well in the mix and while he is the underdog, it would not be a surprise if he were to walk away with the MHSAA 2A High Jump State title.
With the firepower brought in, all eyes on the field events will be on who takes home the MHSAA title in the High Jump.
Three Team Toss-Up
On the boys' team side, there seem to be three teams that have a great shot at taking home the MHSAA 2A State Championship: Velma Jackson, Leflore County, and Charleston High.
Velma Jackson is led by their strong sprint and jumps squads. They are home to the MHSAA 2A leaders in the 100m (Ken Young), 200m (Lorenzo Smith), 4x100m, and 4x200m. With the point-scoring versatility of their sprinters and jumpers, Velma Jackson is poised to score high at the MHSAA 2A State meet.
Charleston is led by the aforementioned Terrance Marco in the jumps and a fierce 4x400m team that is favored to win state. Additionally, Charleston took a narrow one-point victory over Leflore in their Regional matchup.
If the team matchups come down to just a few points, that high jump finale could be the most important event of the day.
Middle School Stars Shine in Mid-Distance
MHSAA 2A is home to the state's top seventh-grade mid-distance runner in Ally Murphy. After winning the MHSAA Middle School Cross Country Classic, as well as the MHSAA 2A Cross Country Championships this past season, Murphy is the favorite to win both the 800m and 1600m.
Murphy boasts personal bests this season at 2:35.95 and 5:42.52 in the 800m and 1600m respectively. However, she will not have it easy in the 1600m, as Eliza McCarley of Baldwyn is just two seconds behind her at 5:44.56.
With a state championship on the line, the two should provide a riveting matchup that will not be decided until the final 100 meters.
Amia Wright goes for Triple Championship
Charleston's Amia Wright is the current MHSAA 2A leader in both the 100m and 200m. Additionally, she also ranks fourth in MHSAA 2A in the triple jump. So far in the post-season, Wright has progressed in all three events and looks clear to advance to state in all three.
On paper, Wright is the current favorite to win the two short sprint events. If she does want to hold the prestige of winning all three events on the same day, she will have to defeat the talented Arniecia Thomas of Riverside High School in the triple jump. Currently, Thomas leads MHSAA 2A in the Triple Jump.
The two should have a close fight as they did at the MHSAA Region 2-2A meet, where Thomas edged out Wright by two and a half feet.