The 2024 cross-country season locally kicks off on Thursday when Brookhaven High hosts its annual Ole Brook Invitational at the Hansel King Sports Complex.

Coach Shannon Knott and his Panthers will welcome runners from Loyd Star, West Lincoln, Bogue Chitto, Wesson, St. Andrew’s Episcopal, Warren Central and North Pike to the competition.

A two-mile junior high girls’ race will get things started at 4:30 p.m. and will be followed by a junior high boys’ race, covering that same distance, at 5 p.m.

The varsity action gets started at 5:30 p.m. with the girls; race and the finale is set to begin at 6 p.m. with the varsity boys’ race. Both varsity races cover a 5K distance of 3.1 miles and finish up in front of the soccer concession stand at the complex.

There is a $5 entry fee per vehicle for the meet.

Brookhaven High finished as the MHSAA 5A runners-up last season in the girls’ competition. The team has an experienced senior core in Natalie McKinney, Annabelle Summers, Ella Thompson, and Ariyana Graham.

Sophomore Isabella Iles was the top local finisher last year in the girls’ competition at the Ole Brook Invitational. Iles, who would go on to finish fourth at the 5A state meet for BHS, ran the course in 21 minutes, 44 seconds. She finished behind a St. Andrew’s athlete who’s now since graduated.

Summers, McKinney, Thompson, and Graham all finished in the top 10 last year at the Ole Brook Invitational as well.

The boys’ high school race last year was won by Gauge Montgomery of Loyd Star. Now a senior Montgomery ran the 2023 Ole Brook Invitational course in a time of 17:45.

Montgomery went on to capture first place at the MHSAA 2A state championship, a title he’ll look to defend in 2024.

The boys’ team from Brookhaven High finished third last year at the 5A state championship.