The Watson High School XC Classic will partner with RunningLane for this year's edition of the renowned meet, bringing additional awards, gear and opportunities for athletes competing at Choctaw Trails.
As part of the partnership, the top 14 finishers in every race will receive an exclusive Watson Classic T-shirt, continuing one of the meet's longstanding traditions.
RunningLane will take the awards another step further in the championship Gold Division. The individual boys and girls Gold Division champions will receive a pair of RunningLane shoes and a backpack, while the winning boys and girls Gold Division teams will receive RunningLane hats and shirts.
RunningLane will also be on site throughout race day, selling running apparel at a discounted rate for athletes, coaches and spectators.
"We're extremely excited to have RunningLane become a part of the Watson Classic," said Chris Webber, meet director. "Watson has continued to grow into an event that attracts some of the best athletes and programs in the region, and we want the experience surrounding the competition to continue growing with it. RunningLane understands our sport and the athletes in it, and we're excited about what their presence will add to race day."
The partnership will accompany what is shaping up to be another loaded edition of the Watson Classic.
Among the headliners currently slated to compete is defending boys champion Shrey Shah, who will return to Choctaw Trails looking to defend his Watson crown.
He'll be joined by some of the region's top talent, including Tupelo's Andrew Brown, Mississippi's 3200m state record holder, and Catholic's Augustin Juneau, last year's runner-up .
On the girls side, Hoover's Sub-18 5K performer Reece Gonzales and Parkview Baptist's Cramer sisters are among the names expected to highlight the field.
The team competition could be just as deep.
Alabama powerhouse Hoover High School is scheduled to make the trip to Mississippi, while Louisiana will be represented by perennial powers Catholic High School and Parkview Baptist.
They'll meet a strong contingent from the Magnolia State, with Oxford, Tupelo, Clinton and Coastal Mississippi Wildcats among the Mississippi programs currently scheduled to compete.
And the field is still taking shape.
The Watson Classic has established itself as one of the Southeast's marquee high school cross country events, annually bringing together many of the region's top programs and individuals at Choctaw Trails.
The meet drew national attention a year ago when Aiden Monistere clocked 14:33, producing one of the signature performances in Watson Classic history.
With another deep field assembling and RunningLane joining the race-day experience, the stage is set for another memorable morning at Choctaw Trails.
The 2026 Watson High School Classic is set for Saturday, Oct. 17 at Choctaw Trails with a start time of 8:10 AM.
