Addison Rainey Lays Down Historic Distance Performances
At the Mobile Challenge of Champions, Ocean Springs senior Addison Rainey delivered one of the most impressive back-to-back performances in Mississippi distance running history. Competing against some of the top runners in the South, Addison took on both the one-mile and two-mile races-and left her mark on each.
She kicked off her day with the one-mile, settling into a steady rhythm early on. Through the first two laps, she stayed tucked in with the lead pack, cruising through the 800m mark in 2:29.40 while holding fourth place. Over the final half-mile, she matched that effort nearly identically with a 2:29.66 split, maintaining her position through the finish. When she crossed the line, the clock read 5:00.12, just 0.12 seconds shy of breaking the elusive 5:00 barrier. While she narrowly missed sub-5 in the full mile, her time converts to a 4:58.38 in the 1600m, well under the mark for that distance. This performance ranks her fifth all-time in Mississippi for the one-mile.
Notably, finishing just two spots behind her was Madison Central's Alex Lee, who ran a strong 5:03.52 for sixth place. That time converts to a 5:01.76 1600m, placing her sixth on the all-time list right behind Addison.
Later that afternoon, Addison returned to the track for the two-mile, again facing a highly competitive field. From the start, she ran with poise, leading the chase pack as they pursued Lowen Averi of Bowdon, Georgia. The group powered through the first 1600m in 5:33.81, with remarkably even splits. Addison stayed composed, slipping into third with one lap to go. In the final 400m, she closed with a strong 1:18.86 to finish fourth overall in one of the deepest two-mile fields in the country this year. Her official time was 11:05.68, which converts to an 11:01.82 3200m. This mark now ranks her fourth all-time in Mississippi for the two-mile.
Just last week, I wrote that Emerson Yelverton was emerging as the dominant force in middle-distance races. But when it comes to long-distance, the question remains: who's the top dog? In my eyes, Addison Rainey just made an undeniable case for being the best girls' distance runner in the state. There's still plenty of season left, but it's going to take something big from the rest of the field to even come close to what Addison just pulled off.
Ja Saria Harris Breaks Through Major Barriers at Mobile
She's already dominated the sprint rankings, but last weekend, Ja Saria Harris hit two marks that almost no one else has touched this season. At the Mobile Meet of Champions, Harris competed in the 100m and 200m, two of the most competitive events at this elite invitational.
She kicked off her day with the 100m, where strong competition and ideal conditions helped her chase a new state-leading time. Blazing through the finish, she clocked an impressive 11.97, placing 4th overall in a stacked field. With that, she became the first Mississippi girl this season to break the 12-second barrier.
Later that day, she returned for the 200m dash, which historically is one of her best events. Facing off against top-tier talent again, she took full advantage of the moment. This time, she finished 2nd overall with a 24.76, shaving time off her previous personal best. Just a day earlier at the Jaguar Invitational, she had broken 25 seconds for the first time with a 24.98. Her Mobile performance not only cut another quarter-second off that time but also made her just the second Mississippi girl this season to dip below 25.00-and by far the fastest.
Ja Saria's performances were incredibly impressive, but don't overlook what happened at the Jaguar Invitational the day before. Warren Central's Adria Burrell managed to edge out Harris with a breakout win in the 200m, running 24.96 to beat her by just 0.02 seconds. While Adria only held the state lead for 24 hours before Ja Saria reclaimed it in Mobile, her performance was a massive breakthrough. Her 24.96 marked nearly a full-second personal best, a huge drop for someone already competing in the 25-second range. It may prove to be a one-off, or it may signal a new level. Either way, don't forget her name as we head into the postseason.
Erik Lindmark Hammers Another State Lead in the 800m
During indoor season, I mentioned that Erik Lindmark from Pass Christian was not yet a household name in Mississippi track, but that he was well on his way to becoming one. Now, two months into outdoor season, it's safe to say that Erik is that guy. Earlier this season, he became the first Mississippian to break two minutes in the 800m. Now, he's come back even stronger at the Mobile Challenge of Champions.
At Mobile, Erik was seeded in the back of the pack, but he didn't let that slow him down. Running a smart, conservative race, he split a 1:00.35 through the first 400m, sitting in sixth place. That patience paid off, as he stormed home with a 57.39 final lap to finish fifth overall. His final time of 1:57.74 is a new state lead by nearly two seconds.
More Top Marks at the Mobile Meet of Champions
While not all were state-leading marks, several other Mississippians put up elite performances in Mobile.
In the 400m, Ocean Springs' Jax Coleman dominated the field with a blazing 47.85 to take the win. That mark moves him up to second in the state, just behind Kentravian Kinkle of Holly Springs. Coleman now edges ahead of Clinton's Howard Banks, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown at the MHSAA 7A State Championships in May.
Another dominant performance came from Pearl's Kingi McNair, who swept the jumps with impressive wins in both the long jump and triple jump. He recorded a mark of 23-1.5 in the long jump and followed it up with a season-best 47-6 in the triple. That performance moves him to second in Mississippi, trailing only Schyler Chambers' monster 48-7.25 jump from March.
Boys and Girls Hurdles Improve Upon State Leads
On the girls' side, we have a new state leader in the 100m hurdles. Ja'Niyah Taylor, a rising talent from Murrah High School, blazed to a 14.47 at the Canton Invitational, winning the race and setting a massive personal best in the process. Her previous best was more than half a second slower, making this a breakout performance that puts her squarely on the radar heading into championship season.
Meanwhile, on the boys' side, Markeith Thompson continues to impress. At the Bulldog Relay Showcase, he improved upon his own state lead in the 110m hurdles with a 13.92. This marks his second time this season going under 14 seconds, a threshold few Mississippi hurdlers ever consistently reach. With his combination of explosive speed and technical precision, Thompson is looking in top shape heading into May.