The MAIS AAAAA East Rankin Academy (ERA) Patriot Cross Country Team concluded their 2022 season on Monday, October 24, at the MAIS State Finals at Choctaw Trails in Clinton.
Coming into the final weekend as the No. 1 ranked MAIS girls’ team and the No. 2 ranked girls’ team in the entire state, public and private, the team defended their MAIS 5A state championship in a tie-breaker with Columbia Academy. By rule, the tie-breaker was decided by a team’s sixth finisher, with Lady Patriot Kaylynn Ramirez in 16th place achieving that honor.
The state championship victory was led by sophomore Audrey Mayatte finishing fifth, and eighth grader Leah Collipp, finishing seventh, both girls earning All-State honors among the Top 10 finishers. Adding to Mayatte and Collipp’s efforts were the following Lady Patriots finishing in the Top 25: seventh grader Emma Raines (12th); freshman Emily Williams (13th); freshman Arin Hawk (15th); freshman Kaylynn Ramirez (16th); sophomore Rachel Smith (23rd); and freshman Jensen Baker (25th).
The varsity men did not run a full team, but featured sophomore newcomer Jackson Fountain, finishing in 15th in his first ever cross country season; and veteran junior Grayson Blair, finishing 27th out of 84 athletes in the MAIS 5A class.
The JV teams, competing in the 3K open inclusive of all MAIS JV teams (regardless of class size), featured the Patriot JV boys finishing 4th out of eighteen teams and the Patriot JV girls finishing 6th out of twenty teams. The JV boys’ fourth place team finish included Top 25 performances from seventh grader Zack Price (6th); freshman John Parker Pierce (15th); and eighth grader Jon Riemann (16th). The JV girls’ top finisher was sixth grader Haley Headrick, in 25th.
As a result of this season’s performance and ranking, the varsity girls’ team once again qualified by time (21:35 5K average) and state final results to post-season competition at the 2022 Mississippi All-State Meet of Champions, to be held on November 12 at Choctaw Trails. This meet will pit the best public and private schools in the state for All State honors and cross country swag.
2021 MAIS 5A Coach of the Year and Patriot head coach David Hopper stated, “I am extremely proud that our girls were able to repeat their 2021 efforts and win another state championship for 2022. Their commitment and passion for our program was evident throughout our season, and it all came together in the state championship. Our boys’ program is on the cusp of reaching a similar level. Overall, our running program is a force in the state of Mississippi, and the goal of being a top program in the southeast is within our reach.”
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