MISSISSIPPI STATE MEET

Pearl Boys Withstand Tupelo Threat But Win 25th Boys Cross Country Title; Tupelo Girls Retain 7A Title

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

The Tupelo boys cross country did everything in their power to make a run at the 7A Mississippi state title on Saturday at Choctaw Trails course — from sophomore Andrew Brown winning the race in (15:42.1) to placing three runners in the top eight.

But when you’re up against powerhouse Pearl, you have to be near perfect. The Pirates claimed their 25th crown with all seven runners placing in the top 20 to finish with 47 points. The team was paced by senior Jaquavion Bryant’s second-place finish (16:02.67). Tupelo was second with 73 points.

Brown won his first state title after riding out a suspension by the state's activities association that prevented him from competing in track and field for his school due to entering a national indoor championship meet last March.

The Tupelo girls defended their 7A crown with 81 points as senior Brookelyn Morgan placed second (19:40.13).

Madison Central’s Alex Lee won in 19:08.38. 

Neshoba Central boys scored 42 points to win the 6A crown, and Saltillo, last year’s champion, was runner-up (59 points). Sophomore Preston Mundy of Olive Branch was the top finisher (16:32.84).

Junior Kennedy Neal led Saltillo to another 6A title as she won the race in 21:17.66. The Saltillo girls put up 38 points with four runners in the top 11. 

Corinth swept the 5A individual races as freshman Silvestre Lopez (17:09.42) claimed the boys title and senior Elsie Wilbanks won the girls race (20:27.83). Corinth boys nearly ran a perfect race scoring 19 points and placed five in the top seven.

Brookhaven edged Corinth for the girls team title, 35-36. 

The West Lauderdale boys easily won the 4A team title again as junior Hunter Walton won the race (17:10.63) and all five runners were in the top 12. 

The West Lauderdale girls almost won as well, but lost in a tie-breaker to Caledonia. Caledonia, which finished second a year ago, was led by senior Ella Shepard’s victory in 20:40.13.

3A-1A Thursday, October 31 - Choctaw Trails, Jackson, Miss

Led by senior Sarah Childs’ third place finish, Kossuth captured four of the top six spots and all five in the top 13 to score 30 points and easily repeat as the 3A state champs on Thursday at Choctaw Trails. Seventh grade standout Halle Clair Held of Enterprise won in 21:00.5 on the 5,000-meter course. Jayden Ware of Saint Patrick Catholic was a close second in 21:02.6.

In the boys 3A race, Saint Patrick held off Mooreville, 35-40 to win the team title again. Junior Joseph Ross paced Saint Patrick with an impressive win in 16:37.8, more than 40 seconds ahead of the next runner. 

It was another sweep in Class 2A with the St. Andrew's Episcopal girls and boys each producing low scores.

The girls were paced by eighth grader Lily Halter’s first-place finish in 20:43.4. The team had four in the top six.

The  boys team was the epitome of consistency with all seven in the 10. Individually, Loyd Star senior Gauge Montgomery was first in 17:12.4, winning the race by more than 50 seconds. 

The Myrtle Attendance girls claimed the 1A title again with a 1-2 freshman finish, with Allie Murphy winning in 19:49.5 and teammate Madylynn Hogue second in 20:36.8. 

Resurrection Catholic’s George Foster won the 1A race in 17:42.1, the only runner under 18 minutes. Tupelo Catholic claimed the trophy with 59 points and placed four in the top 13.

Team Champions 

Class 7A - Pearl boys 47 points, Tupelo girls 81 points

Class 6A - Neshoba Central boys 42 points, Saltillo girls 38 points

Class 5A - Corinth boys 19 points, Brookhaven girls 35 points 

Class 4A - West Lauderdale boys 33 points, Caledonia girls 85 points (won tiebreaker over West Lauderdale)

Class 3A - St Patrick boys 35 points, Kossuth girls 30 points - RESULTS

Class 2A - St. Andrew's Episcopal boys 21 points, St. Andrew's Episcopal girls 24 points  - RESULTS

Class 1A - Tupelo Christian boys 59 points, Myrtle Attendance girls 34 points  - RESULTS