Above: Moments before the start at the NMPHC Cross Country Classic
Photo by Bennett Ferguson
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Cross country season is officially here, and Talk of the Town is back to spotlight the very best of Mississippi's XC action. Each week, we'll bring you the standout stories, races, and performances that are currently taking over the state.
In this week's Talk of the Town, we're going to highlight who's dominating the rankings early, what races had the best performances, and what to expect for next week.
Freshman Autry Foster Kicks Off Season With Big PR at NMPHC Cross Country Classic
At the NMPHC Cross Country Classic, Lewisburg High School's Autry Foster opened up his season with a dominant win.
Starting out conservative, the freshman tucked into a pack of four runners through the first mile. By the two-mile mark, Autry had surged to the front and gradually pulled away. Over the final stretch, he dropped the remaining challengers and sealed the win with a blistering 16:20.
This race marks a 21-second personal best for Autry, and it's only his first meet of the season. His time makes him the third fastest freshman in state history, trailing only Tupelo's Andrew Brown and Taylor Brown. Andrew set the current record with his 15:39 at the Southern Showcase in 2023. Already, Autry is stamping his name among Mississippi's all-time great freshmen. The only question now is how far up the record books he will climb.
Teammates Lilly Overby and Jayden Smith Dominate at the Victors Kickoff at the Quarry
Coming off her incredible track season, Simpson Academy's Lilly Overby added another win to her long list of accolades at the Victors Kickoff at the Quarry. Leading from the gun, Lilly never looked back, running away from the field to secure a 30-second victory in 18:42.
This time mirrors her strong opener at the same meet last year, signaling that she is once again on pace for another season of Mississippi XC dominance.
At that same meet, her teammate Jayden Smith turned in one of the biggest breakthroughs of the weekend. Entering with a seed time of 17:30, Jayden was not expected to be in the top three. But months of hard work through spring and summer showed, as he crushed expectations. Crossing the line first in 17:00, he claimed his first XC victory since 2022 while also chopping 30 seconds off his PR in the very first race of the season.
Last year at this same meet, Jayden ran 18:05 for 4th place. This year, he dropped over a minute to take the win. If this form holds, Jayden could establish himself as one of the top contenders in the state, particularly at the MAIS level.
Trio Jewel Baker, Layla Warren, and Kate Miller Showcase Early Season PR's
At the Victors Kickoff at the Quarry, three standout athletes made headlines with big PR's after their first meet.
Finishing runner-up to Lilly Overby, East Rankin Academy's Jewel Baker clocked 19:13, a ten-second PR that also places her as the fourth fastest 8th-grader in Mississippi history. With only one race in the books, she is already carving her spot in the record books.
Simpson Academy's Layla Warren also impressed, taking 3rd place with a time of 19:35. That is already a full minute faster than her best from last season and nearly identical to her breakout opener of 19:46 in 2023. With consistency and health on her side, Layla looks ready to return to sub-19 territory and reassert herself among the state's elite.
Perhaps the most eye-catching performance came from Hartfield Academy's Kate Miller. She chopped well over a minute from her previous best, finishing 4th in 19:37. Last year, she did not break 22 minutes in her opener, making this improvement monumental. Whether this is just the beginning of a breakthrough or a one-off, time will tell. If she continues trending like last year, Kate could soon push below 19 minutes and compete with the very best in the state.
Big Week Ahead: Memphis Twilight and TCPS Twilight Previews
Looking ahead to the rest of the week, two major meets are set to highlight Mississippi cross country. Across the state line in Tennessee, some of Mississippi's top athletes will return to action while others make their season debut.
At the Memphis Twilight, big names on the girls' side continuing their seasons include Lilly Overby, Layla Warren, and Jewel Baker. Joining them will be Alex Lee of Madison Central, making her highly anticipated season debut. On the boys' side, Autry Foster will look to build on his victory at the NMPHC Classic. The Corinth trio of Nathanial Wilbanks, Silvestre Lopez, and Braxton Stevens will also open their seasons. Rounding out the list is David Lee of Madison Central, who will be toeing the line for the first time in 2025.
Meanwhile, in Tupelo, the TCPS Twilight will also feature several prominent runners. Trace Thornhill and Harlan Tagert will open their seasons in the boys' race, while on the girls' side, Hernando's Kyleigh Carter will look to set the tone in her first outing of the year.
Stay tuned for complete coverage, including results, photos, and interviews, once the action wraps up at both meets.