OHS Cross Country
The Oxford High School Cross Country Team is coming off a strong 2024 season, with the boys’ team securing an impressive 3rd place finish at the State Championships and aiming to build upon that success. The Lady Chargers finished 13th, and they are focused on improving and making strides toward a higher finish in 2025.
The top 5 returning boys are Barrett Milner, Aston Pearson, Grady Lewellen, Graham Vaughan, and Rowan Thompson, all of whom are eager to lead the team to even greater heights this season. These athletes have consistently demonstrated dedication, discipline, and the mental toughness necessary to push through tough competition and achieve their best performances.
On the girls' side, the top 5 returning runners are Maggie Irwin, Claire Kariuki, Madalyn Sullivan, Aubrey Wigginton, and Hannah Kariuki. Each of these athletes has shown great promise and is ready to help elevate the Lady Chargers to new levels of success, contributing to the team’s overall strength and growth.
With a strong core of returning talent, combined with a commitment to developing each runner’s potential, the Oxford Cross Country Team is focused on achieving team and individual goals and striving for excellence throughout the 2025 season
OHS Cross Country News
OHS Cross Country competes in one final meet before State Championships
Jared Redding
Before closing out the 2025 season with the state championships, the OHS boys and girls cross country teams had one final tune-up by going down to Clinton (Mississippi College trails) and competing in the 2025 Watson Classic.
The boys team finished seventh overall (5000m) with 267 points at the end of the day. Graham Vaughn was the top finisher for the OHS boys team with a final time of 16:30.76. He was followed by Barrett Milner (45th, 16:57.21), Ashton Pearson (47th, 16:58.74), Rowan Thompson (62nd, 17:15.19), Kenneth McNees (17:31.60), Henry Hewitt (17:44.92), Liam Mills (17:46.40) and Sam Bradley (18:37.78).
The girls squad was paced by Maggie Irwin (20:23.30), who finished 32nd overall. She was followed by Emerson Bondurant (23:59.00), Paz Cohn (24:00.70), Chloe Liebenberg (24:31.80), Anna Bradley Noel (25:41.60) and Julia Way (26.25.20).
The MHSAA Class 7A State Championships will take place on Saturday, Nov. 1 in Clinton (Mississippi College trails).
OHS cross country teams earn top 10 finish in Jesse Owens Classic
Jared Redding
Over the weekend, the OHS boys and girls cross country teams earned top 10 finishes among the Red group of teams at the 2025 Jesse Owens Classic.
The boys finished No. 6 in said group, with Will Hewitt leading his pack with a No. 12 overall finish and a time of 18:10.24 (5000m). He was followed by Hamahdan Hassan (No. 19 overall, 18:42.70), Jasper Parsons (No. 23 overall, 18:45.75), Dylan Carlisle (No. 40 overall, 19:07.14). William Vanderford (19:46.80) and Grady Lewellen (20.17.29).
On the girls side, they finished No. 10 overall in Red, led by Maggie McClendon (No. 37 overall, 24:42.82). She was followed by Juliana Felker (No. 58 overall, 25:39.16), Madalyn Sullivan (No. 64 overall, 25:56.67), Claire Kariuki (26:38.59) and Avery Parsons (27:05.01).
Both teams will be back in action on Oct. 18 for the Watson High School Classic in Clinton, MS.
OHS Cross Country compete in Saltillo XC Invitational
Jared Redding
Over the weekend (Sept. 20), the OHS boys and girls Cross Country teams both placed seventh overall at the Saltillo XC Invitational.
On the girls side, Maggie Irwin was a top 10 overall finisher with a 5000m time of 19:58.80. The boys team was led by Rowan Thompson with a time of 17:09.00.
Both teams will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 4 when they partake in the Jessie Owen Classic (OHS Top 14) in Danville, Ala.
OHS Cross Country runs through first three meets of 2025 season
Jared Redding
Through the first three weeks of the 2025 Cross Country season, the OHS boys and girls cross country teams have participated in three meets, beginning the season in Memphis with the Memphis Twilight XC Classic, Tupelo Invitational on Sept. 6 and South Panola Invitational on Sept. 13.
In Memphis, the boys squad finished ninth overall, the highest among Mississippi schools that participated. Graham Vaughn finished 20th overall with a 5000m time of 16:36.79. Rowan Thompson (17:13.27), Barrett Milner (17:29.36) and Ashton Pearson (17:33.87) all placed among the top 100 finishers. On the girls side, Maggie Irwin was Oxford's top finisher in Memphis with a time of 20:36.20. The girls team finished 19th overall.
In Tupelo, Vaughn finished runner-up on the boys side with a time of 16:22.80. He was followed by Ashton Pearson (17:05.00) and Barrett Milner (17:10.90) among the top 20 finishers among classes 5A and 7A. On the girls side, Julia Way led the way with a 22:49.00 finish.
Then in Batesville, the boys squad finished first overall (26 points) after placing four runners in the top 10. Carter McNees was Oxford's top finisher with a time of 18:37.48. He was followed by Hamahdan Hassan (18:52.18), Jasper Parsons (19:04.46) and Bryce Hickerson (19:05.42). The girls squad finished runner-up in Batesville (45 points), as Olive Thomas (23:19.81) and Anna Bradley Noel (25:29.29) both finished among the top 10 runners.