A long spring of competition comes down to one day in Pearl for the Brookhaven High Track and Field teams as they compete for MHSAA 5A titles on Saturday at the state championship meet.
The BHS girls are two-time defending 5A champs while the boys won a state title in 2022.

The Panthers will be among the favorites in the competition as they won both the girls’ and boys’ titles last week at the MHSAA 5A South State Meet hosted by Hattiesburg High.

First place finishers for BHS on the girls’ side of competition in Hattiesburg were senior Chrisiyona Quarles in the 200-meter dash and 300-meter hurdles, senior Jasmine Robertson in the 800-meter run, freshman Isabella Iles in the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs, senior Sierra Edwards in the 100-meter hurdles and sophomore Kema Roberts in the discus throw.

Quarles also finished second in the 100-meter hurdles and Edwards was second behind her in the 300-meter hurdles. Additionally, Edwards also finished second in the high jump and is the defending 300-meter hurdle state champion.

BHS also took first place in the 4×400 meter relay and the 4×800 meter relay and second in the 4×100 meter relay and the 4×200 meter relay.

Quarles, Edwards, freshman Jay’Sha Johnson and junior Jasmine Roberston make up the 4×400 team. Iles, Robertson, junior Ariyana Graham and eighth-grader Brooklyn Lenoir make up the 4×800 team.

Other podium finishers for the ladies from BHS at south state included Johnson (second in the 400-meter dash), Robertson (second in the 1,600-meter run), Summers (third in the 3,200-meter run), Graham (third in the 800-meter run, second in the triple jump), junior Aniyah Williams (third in the 400-meter dash), sophomore J’Kariya Williams (third in high jump) and junior Kontasia Stepney (second in the discus).

Jessi’Auna McCalup, Christiana Smith, Anila Harris and J’Kariya Williams make up the 4×100 relay team and McCalup, J’Kariya Williams, Aniyah Williams and Johnsno run the 4×200 relay.
Edwards gold medal last year in the 300-meter hurdle was the only induvial title for the Panthers, but BHS was able to capture its second straight championship by winning the 4×800 relay and having a total of nine second or third place finishes throughout the other events.

On the boys’ side of the action in Hattiesburg at south state, senior Xavier Gayten took first place in the high jump and senior Nathan Lewis won the triple jump for the Panthers. Lewis also finished third in the long jump.
Other podium finishers for the BHS boys were junior William Buie (second in the 400-meter dash), sophomore Dylan Bracey (third in the 800-meter run), freshman Coleman Knott (second in the 1,600-meter run and third in the 3,200-meter run), freshman A’semiyon Smith (second in the 110-meter hurdles), senior Jamien Wright (third in the 110-meter hurdles), junior Kemarion Brown (third in the 300-meter hurdles), freshman Jaden Allen (third in the high jump), senior Waltrelle Smith (second in the long jump, second in the triple jump), senior Kelan Quarles (second in the pole vault), freshman Coderro McDaniel (third in the discus throw and second in the shot put).

The guys from BHS also got first place finishes in the 4×100, 4×200 and 4×400 relays. The 4×800 relay team finished in third place.

Caden Quarles, Lewis, Allen and Zeden Williams make up the 4×100 relay team. Caden Quarles, Kelan Quarles, Lewis and Willims ran in the 4×200 relay and Buie, Williams, Wright, and Joshua Wing make up the 4×400 relay team for the Panthers. Bracey, Williams, Wright and Brown are the participants in the 4×800 relay.

The Brookhaven High track and field teams are coached by Darien Dorsey, Tonya Johns, Jocelyn Robinson and Peter Kettle.