High School Boys Recap
Sprints
The MSAIS track and field championships saw a determined Rivers Godwin from MRA overcoming a disqualification in the 300mH to dominate in both the 400m and 200m. Godwin won the 400m for the second time and broke the class record in the 200m with a time of 21.79, previously held by current Jackson Prep alumni and Kansas City Chief Jerrion Ealy. His incredible performance helped secure his third team title.
Godwin's future college teammate, Cruz Oguz of Bayou, also displayed resilience in the face of adversity. After losing the 100m to Oak Forest's Tanner Spears, Oguz bounced back to claim victory in the 200m and secure the team title for Bayou for the first time in recent history.
Three other athletes celebrated double wins at the meet: Gary Jackson from Sharkey-Issaquena, Nikquan Parker from Greenville Christian, and Calvin Thompson from Amite School. All three of these competitors will be strong contenders to repeat their success in the upcoming year.
Champions by event:
100m: AJ Parker; Jackson Academy; Tanner Spears, Oak Forest; Calvin Thompson, Amite School; Nikquan Parker, Greenville Christian; Gary Jackson, Sharkey-Issaquena
200m: Rivers Godwin, MRA; Cruz Oguz, Bayou; Calvin Thompson, Amite School; Nikquan Parker, Greenville Christian; Gary Jackson, Sharkey-Issaquena
400m: Rivers Godwin, MRA; Jake Carmichael, Central Hinds; Bert Goodloe, Canton; Jack Pillow, Desoto; Ben Coullard, Briarfield
Hurdles
MRA's Jake McMillan had an impressive showing at the MSAIS track and field championships, with a remarkable performance in the 110mH event. He finished with a time of 14.74, which is just a tenth shy of a meet record and places him ahead of current Southern Miss athletes Brennon Williams and Cam Covey on the all-time list. McMillan is now ranked #5 in the state and is the top sophomore. If he continues to excel, he may attract national attention. In addition to the 110mH, McMillan won the 300mH event due to his teammate's disqualification.
Lamar's state champion, Austin Acton, was the only competitor who consistently outperformed McMillan this year. Acton enjoyed a successful senior year, culminating in another double win at the MSAIS championships. Acton has played a significant role in the rise of Lamar's track program and will undoubtedly be missed as he moves on from high school.
Champions by event:
110mH: Jake McMillan, MRA; Austin Acton, Lamar; Rob Perry, Clinton Christian; Elijah Cleary, Desoto, Jude Eppinette, Tensas
300mH: Jake McMillan, MRA; Austin Acton, Lamar; Bert Goodloe, Canton; O'Brian DeJohnette, Prairie View; Jayden Maten, Regents of Oxford
Distance
Sidney Stegall is considered the greatest MSAIS distance runner of all time, with an impressive record that includes top-10 rankings in the 800m, 1600m, 3200m, and the 5K in XC. His high school resume is only rivaled by Christian Balcer and the legendary George Kersh. Stegall dominated all three distance races at a recent meet, showcasing his unmatched speed and versatility. Mississippi College is fortunate to have him join their team next year.
Behind Stegall, William Fugate has been quietly improving and is now a top 10 distance runner in Mississippi. With Madison St Joe moving up to 6A next year, Fugate is well-positioned to continue winning events if he maintains his progress.
Kameron Willson, a freshman, set a class record in the 3200m and now holds the top freshman all-time record in Mississippi for the event. He is definitely a runner to watch in the coming years, and it will be exciting to see him compete against Starkville's Scott McDonnell.
Other notable highlights from recent meets include Jackson Prep's Elliot Davis securing his second MSAIS 6A title in an exciting 1600m race and Regents of Oxford's Tristan Bryan beating MSAIS 2A star Dallas Stricker in the 1600m in MSAIS 2A.
800m: David Brett, PCS; Sidney Stegall, Heritage; Kameron Willson, Centreville; Rashud Brown, Greenville Christian; Causey Maner, Mt Salus
1600m: Elliot Davis, Jackson Prep; Sidney Stegall, Heritage; Kameron Willson, Centreville; Jayce Wimbish, Prairie View, Tristan Bryan, Regents of Oxford
3200m: Jonas Cox, MRA; Sidney Stegall, Heritage; Kameron Willson, Centreville; Jayce Wimbish, Prairie View; Dallas Strickerf, Heritage Christian
Team Race Recap
MSAIS 2A: Regents of Oxford secured the team title, with key performances from brothers Tristan and Samuel Bryan in the distance races and sprinter/hurdler Jayden Maten. The team also reached the podium in all four relays, including a decisive 4x800 win and a 4x400 win.
MSAIS 3A: In a close battle between Sylva Bay and Desoto, solid performances from distance runner Noah Grayson and sprinter Qua Johnson helped Sylva Bay maintain a narrow lead. The team title came down to the 4x400m, with Sylva Bay securing second place and the overall win.
MSAIS 4A: Lee-MS and Canton were neck and neck throughout the meet. In the end, Lee-MS's Tanner Fava closed the gap in the 4x400m, ultimately securing the win for his team.
MSAIS 5A: Bayou's dominant performance in field events set them up for victory, with Mississippi State signee Cruz Oguz adding 44 points on Saturday. The 4x400 relay served as a victory lap for Bayou, as they celebrated their first title.
MSAIS 6A: MRA maintained a significant lead throughout the meet and claimed the team title. Rivers Godwin won his final two races, and his impressive anchor leg in the 4x400 relay allowed him to lift the team trophy and end his high school career on a high note.