MHSAA 5A Recap
High School Girls Field Events
"Last one, best one" - That was the theme going into the MHSAA 5A Track and Field Championships for Columbus High's Cierra Crusoe, who won the High School Girls Shot Put and placed second in the Discus.
Crusoe, who is signing her NLI on Monday, May 15, successfully defended her Shot Put title, and added her third MHSAA 5A title of her career. Crusoe also led a Columbus 1-2 sweep in the Shot Put, alongside fellow Lady Falcon Jakiya Lewis, who finished second with a throw of 34-10.
The High School Girls Discus was won by West Harrison freshman phenom Sydnei Barber, who has won the last five competitions in a row in the Discus and successfully snagged her first-ever MHSAA 5A title.
The MHSAA 5A Track and Field Championships showcased the incredible talent of Lenasia Drummond, who won both the Long Jump and Triple Jump events with marks of 18-2.5 and 37-8.5, respectively. As an 11-time MHSAA 5A Champion, Drummond is set to sign her NLI soon and will undoubtedly make a significant impact at the collegiate level.
In the High Jump, Lafayette's Harmony Jackson demonstrated that being a newcomer wouldn't hold her back. Jackson jumped 5-2 and secured the MHSAA 5A title after finishing second at the MHSAA 5A North State Championships the previous week.
Lastly, West Harrison's Deasia Williams took home the Pole Vault title. Williams won every round of the MHSAA postseason and finished with a personal best of 8-7, earning her first-ever MHSAA 5A title.
High School Girls Running Events
Ridgeland's Valencia Watson truly shined at the MHSAA 5A Track and Field Championships, earning an impressive four gold medals. Not only did she claim her fifth MHSAA 5A title in individual events, but she also contributed to the Lady Titans' victories in the 4x100m and 4x200m relays. Remarkably, Watson maintained her undefeated streak against fellow Mississippians in the 100m and 200m events for four consecutive seasons.
As Watson now prepares to attend the University of Southern Mississippi in the fall, her exceptional high school career will surely be remembered. The level of success and determination she displayed throughout her time at Ridgeland sets the stage for a promising future in collegiate athletics.
Pearl River Central's Hannah Mitchell put on a remarkable performance in the distance events. Before the championship, Mitchell had not won a single MHSAA 5A individual title. However, by the end of the day, she had become a three-time MHSAA 5A Champion, showcasing her incredible talent and determination.
Mitchell achieved a rare distance triple, winning the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m events in dominant fashion.
As the three-time MHSAA 5A Champion prepares to join William Carey University's track and field team in the Fall, she leaves behind a strong legacy at Pearl River Central.
Brookhaven High School showcased an impressive performance in the 300-meter hurdles at the MHSAA 5A Track and Field Championships, with juniors Sierra Edwards and Chrisiyona Quarles securing the top two spots. This outstanding achievement contributed significantly to the Lady Panthers' team title and has certainly cemented the school's reputation in hurdles.
Lenasia Drummond, who triumphed in the 100-meter hurdles, also displayed her prowess by finishing third in the 300-meter hurdles.
Additionally, the MHSAA 5A Girls' 400m dash was won by Callaway's Tineisha McLaurin. As a talented long sprinter with a personal best of 57.80 seconds and a high jump record of 5-4, McLaurin remains an unsigned senior. Given her immense potential, colleges should consider signing her quickly to add her remarkable skill set to their track and field programs.
High School Boys Field Events
Brodie Ezell put on an impressive display in the throwing events at the 2023 MHSAA 5A Track and Field Championships.
The Brookhaven High School graduate, who is set to attend Mississippi College in the fall, added his third and fourth MHSAA 5A titles to his resume. Despite challenging conditions due to rain earlier in the morning, Ezell managed to achieve marks of 47-11.5 in the Shot Put and 160-1 in the Discus.
Ezell's remarkable accomplishments at the championships demonstrate his dedication and skill in his chosen events. As he transitions to the collegiate level, there is no doubt that he will continue to make an impact in the sport of Track and Field.
Khristan Watson from Columbus High displayed exceptional talent by clearing 6-10 and nearly reaching 7-0 at the MHSAA 5A Track and Field Championships. Successfully defending his title, Watson has demonstrated remarkable skill in high jump and hurdling. As an unsigned senior with such outstanding potential, colleges should consider signing him quickly to strengthen their track and field programs and benefit from his versatile abilities.
George County sophomore Justin Knight had a big day in the jumps at the MHSAA 5A Track and Field Championships. Knight secured a silver medal in the High Jump behind Watson, but still came away with a MHSAA 5A title in the Long Jump thanks to his 23-4.25, a lifetime best. Although he came in second in the event at the MHSAA South State Championships, Knight pulled through to earn his first-ever MHSAA 5A title of his career.
Another force to be reckoned with in the jumps was Vicksburg's Tyler Henderson. Henderson secured a MHSAA 5A individual title in the Triple Jump with a massive leap 46-9.5, a lifetime best. Additionally, Henderson added another lifetime best in the Long Jump with a mark of 21-11, good enough for fifth place.
Lastly, Thomas Lamerand, a sophomore from George County, broke through the 12-foot barrier in the Pault, vaulting 12-0 to secure first-ever MHSAA 5A title. Perhaps even more impressive, this was Lamerand's first-ever trip to the MHSAA 5A Track and Field Championships, yet still left with a gold medal around his neck.
High School Boys Running Events
Callaway High School's Kendarius Wade displayed his exceptional speed in the short sprints. Wade won the 100m with an impressive time of 10.66 seconds and followed up with a lifetime best of 21.68 seconds in the 200m, making him the only competitor at the entire meet to go under 22 seconds. In addition to his individual accomplishments, Wade contributed significantly to Callaway's relay teams, further showcasing his athletic ability as a short sprinter.
Canton's Antoine Spillman had the race of his life in the 400m, crushing the 49-second barrier for the first time of his career running 48.64 seconds, securing his first-ever MHSAA 5A title in the process. Spillman also added a silver medal finish in the 200m, stopping the clock at 22.06 seconds.
Only a junior, Spillman has proven himself a force to be reckoned with in 2024 in Mississippi High School Track and Field.
Moving onto the distance events, Parker Shannon successfully pulled off the 5K(XC)-1600m-3200m triple in thrilling fashion, winning both races by a combined 1.38 seconds.
In the 3200m, Shannon held off South Jones' Zachary Josiah Nobles in a blistering last lap, 10:14.37 to Nobles' 10:15.05.
Double his efforts in the 1600m, Shannon had to withstand some heavy blows from Blue Mountain distance signee Landon Ahrens, who took the field out in a 1:02 first lap. With one lap, Shannon was gaining hard on the Long Beach Senior, overtaking him in the final stretch to secure a lifetime best of 4:36.09.
However, the 1600m and 3200m weren't the only events that were close - In the 800m, first through fourth place were separated by a mere 1.12 seconds.
Tylar Ross came out on top in 2:03.06, a lifetime best for the Ridgeland sophomore, overtaking Ahrens, Canton's Elijah Lewis, and teammate Ernest Stover in the home stretch.
The hurdle events were just as exciting, as the MHSAA 5A Track and Field Championships showcased some of the best hurdlers Mississippi has to offer.
In the 110-meter hurdles, Jamari Page, potentially the best short hurdler in the state, hurdles his way to a lifetime best of 14.26 seconds, defending his MHSAA 5A title in the process and making it look easy. Vicksburg's Koury Vample also had a good run, securing the silver medal and lifetime best of 14.72 seconds.
In the 300-meter hurdles, Rkhyzon Cleveland, a senior from Callaway who had a breakthrough race at last year's MHSAA 5A Track and Field Championships, pulled through yet again, stopping the clock in a blistering 38.84 seconds, now No. 2 in all of Mississippi.
Section written by Chris Webber, Editor