It was a picture-perfect start to the MHSAA Cross-Country season Thursday afternoon.

Brookhaven High Cross- Country coach Shannon Knott and his team host one of the top opening season events in the state with their annual Ole Brook Invitational at Hansel King Sports Complex.

In the varsity competition it was a clean sweep for the Panthers as they claimed first place trophies in the girls’ and boys’ races.

Teams from Neshoba Central, Madison Central, Wesson, Loyd Star, Clinton High, Vicksburg High and North Pike also participated in the event.

Brookhaven swept the top three spots in the varsity boys’ race with Grayson Childress, Sam Arnold and Jake Thompson winning first, second and third respectively.

Fellow seniors Trey Knott (6th) and Collin Kellum (9th) rounded out the top-10 finishers for BHS.

Madison Central was second in boys’ team competition and Clinton High finished third.

Loyd Star senior Aubrey Britt won first place overall in the varsity girls’ race. Freshman Ella Thompson of Brookhaven High set a personal record with a time of 22 minutes, 47 seconds to capture third place.

Senior Amy Mabile also had a strong showing for BHS as she came in sixth overall. Other top ten finishers for BHS were Annabelle Summers (7th), Raney Scott (8th) and Ellie Slay (9th).

Clinton finished second and Madison Central third in the girls’ team standings.

Brookhaven seventh grader Isabella Isles won the 2-mile JV girls’ race with a time of 13:28. Seventh-grader Coleman Knott finished ninth in the 2-mile JV boys’ race. Madison Middle School swept both middle school team races.

The next race on the schedule for BHS is the Mississippi College Opener on Sept. 4.