Over the last few days, Mississippi track and field athletes dominated their respective events and are now all over the national rankings. With everything from jumps to hurdles, there are some insane performances to unpack from this weekend. Jump straight into the action below and catch up on all of Mississippi's track and field news!
Markeith Thompson Slides to a Historic Mark in the 300mH
At the Southern Miss High School Invitational, the returning state leader in the 300mH got down to business. After already opening his season with an impressive 39.30 and 38.14 for the 300mH, Markeith has found another gear and entered the history books. Coming out of the blocks hot, he broke the stagger before he even hit the first curve. After that point, the rest was pure dominance and technique as he came down the final straightaway. Coming through the line in 37.43, Markieth earns himself a half-second personal best and a big jump in the rankings. He now holds the third-fastest 300mH time in state history and is currently ranked U.S. #3.
If he can follow the same trajectory as last year, then we may see Markeith get even faster. It is still early March and he is already putting out some of the best times in state history. Only time will tell, but we could see Markeith Thompson become only the second Mississippi high schooler to ever go below 37.00 in the 300mH.
McNair and Chambers Elevate Mississippi Jumps to the National Level
Like clockwork, Mississippi jumps are getting better and better every week. These guys are becoming some of the best jumpers in the country and don't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
This weekend, the Southern Miss Invitational was the epicenter of all the top jumps in the state. Starting off with long jump, Kingi McNair was back in action and ready to go. With a chorus of claps sounding off his jump, Kingi flew to a new personal best of 25-0, winning the day by almost three feet. If anyone was doubtful of his 24-10.5 season opener in February, then there is not much to doubt now. He has now hit two of the nation's top jumps this season, and is currently tied for a U.S. #3. For those keeping track, he is now only 4 inches away from tying the state record held by Kennedy Stringfellow. After Kennedy hit his historic mark of 25-4 in 2023, I don't think anyone was prepared for another challenger to try and break his record so soon. In the last decade, only three athletes have jumped over 24-4 in the state of Mississippi, including Kennedy.
Over in the triple jump, there is a new top dog leading the rankings. Hailing from Jackson Academy, senior Schyler Chambers hit a massive personal best at the Southern Miss Invitational. Something must have clicked in his head that day, because he managed to hit 48-3, good for a 5-foot personal best and a new state lead. Not only is this a state lead, but it is currently a U.S. #8 for all conditions, and a U.S. #2 for FAT/Wind Legal jumps. Schyler has put himself on everyone's radar with this jump, and everyone will be watching to see if he can match this insane jump later on in the season.
Julie Segroves Ties for U.S. #2 in Pole Vault
In her second meet of the season, Julie Segroves from Biloxi High School had herself a day. At the Biloxi High Invitational, she hit a new season best by 5", cresting 13-0. With this massive improvement, she jumps up to U.S. #2 for the pole vault. She is currently tied with three other athletes from across the nation, all of them teetering at 13-0.
Moody and Kinkle Lead 400m Rankings as Competition Heats up
Last week, we had two boys break 50 and two girls break 60 in the 400m. After this weekend, the rankings have been flooded with even more impressive performances.
Leading the charge on the girls' side, Jordyn Moody from Oak Grove High School opened up her season at the Carey High School Challenge. At this meet, she took a decisive victory and new state lead, running a 57.28. The returning MHSAA 7A state champion has started off her season strong, but she will have company this year. With Emerson Yelverton from Biloxi only half a second behind her in the rankings, the MHSAA 7A 400m race is anyone's game. Looking past state leads, Tamea Miller, Jocelyn Randle, and Kamiah Mounger, and Lamya O'Bryant all dipped below the 60-second mark this weekend. There are now six girls below this mark in the 400m, and they have a lot of season left to improve upon their times.
For the boys, there is a new top 400m runner for the state of Mississippi. Kentravian Kinkle from Holly Springs High School threw down a huge personal best for the win at the Oxford Relays. Coming through the line in 47.66, Kentravian earned himself a new state lead and a U.S. #12. In a different part of the state, Mississippi State commit Howard Banks opened up his season with the 400m, splitting a 48.45. This time is good for second best in the state. With the graduation of Cooper Rodgers, it looked like Howard had a clear path to being the best 400m runner in the state. However, Kentravian's early season performance now puts him in the running as the state's top 400m runner.
Distance Competition Showcases New Leaders
The distance rankings are beginning to take shape, with many familiar names leading the charge. At the Oxford Relays, Bailey Kosko lived up to expectations, dominating the 1600m on his home track. Lining up against a field of 15 competitors, he wasted no time asserting himself as the frontrunner, crossing the line in 4:22 for a new state lead. While not a personal best, this performance sets the stage for what could be a stellar senior season. At that same meet, Dylan Reed from Caledonia High School continued his strong progression this season with another personal best. Coming in second-place behind Kosko, Dylan ran a time of 4:30.16, barely missing the beloved 4:29 mark.
However, Kosko isn't the only one making waves. At the Southern Miss High School Invitational, Pearl's Jaquavion Bryant showed why he's one of the state's top distance runners. He took the win in the 1600m and 800m, posting times of 4:32 and 2:02, respectively. Though a strong early-season mark, it's clear Bryant has more in the tank. In the 1600m, Oak Grove's Grayson Taylor and Louis Schramm finished within three seconds of Bryant, making it clear that the competition in the South is heating up.
On the girls' side, it was another thrilling matchup between Emerson Yelverton and Lilly Overby, two of Mississippi's top middle-distance runners. Coming into the race, Overby had the advantage on paper, but as soon as the gun fired, it was anyone's race. The two battled stride for stride through the final stretch, but this time, Yelverton edged out the win in a personal best of 2:16, an 18-second improvement from her previous best this season. Despite the loss, Overby remains the state leader with her 2:15 mark, and given how close this race was, their rivalry is far from over.
With these early-season performances, Mississippi's distance scene is shaping up for an exciting year. The competition is deep, the times are dropping, and we're just getting started.