Weekend Preview: An Action-Packed Weekend Ahead

Chris Webber, Editor

Aug 25, 2023

NMPHC Cross Country Classic

New Albany Sportsplex New Albany, MS

Aug 26, 2023

Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: New Albany Sportsplex

High School Boys: Gabe McElwain - 15:58.00
High School Girls: Katelyn Cartwright - 19:22.00

Reigning Champions

Small School Boys: Gabe McElwain
Small School Girls: Noel Selph
Large School Boys: Brent Lyons
Large School Girls: Jessica Cartwright

Entries

Teams Entered

Quick Takes

North Mississippi is heating up, not just with the summer sun, but with the sheer competitive intensity that the NMPHC Cross Country Classic promises. Held at the scenic New Albany Sportsplex, this event is set to separate the great from the elite, especially with a split between small school and large school competitions.
The Small School Boys 5K features a headline-grabbing duel. Homeschool dynamos Sam Johnson and Jeb Hamilton are about to make their 2023 debut. The formidable MAIS 3A Bryan brothers, Samuel Bryan and Tristan Bryan, are in the mix too, each boasting sub-17 5K(XC) credentials. Add MHSAA's small school sensations Brodie Moore and Bounds Simmons to this equation, and you've got an explosive race brewing.
Small School Girls will see a budding MHSAA 1A rivalry. Myrtle's Ally Murphy and Baldwin's Eliza McCarley, both young but ferocious contenders, will be vying for early-season dominance. Their anticipated duel could give us a glimpse into the future title races.
The Large School Boys Varsity Race promises nothing short of a thriller. Parker Shannon, the 5K-1600m-3200m MHSAA 5A triple crown holder from the 2022-23 school year, faces off against Hernando's Graham Weiss, last year's runner-up at this meet. Their history, with just seconds apart in their PRs from the previous Saltillo Invitational, guarantees edge-of-the-seat excitement.
Speaking of star power, the Saltillo High School boys, currently sitting pretty at No. 2 in state rankings, is kickstarting their season. Expectations? Sky-high.
Finally, the Large School Girls category could well be a Hernando showcase. Kaitlyn Burge, fresh from a record-setting win, and teammate Riley Jackson might dominate the podium. Toss in Kyleigh Carter, and Hernando might just sweep the top spots. And who knows? Maybe even another course record...