The Magnolia State

Olympic legend visits MSU, forges Nigerian track connection (The Reflector)
Posted by TheRunning
Normally when top-notch athletes visit Mississippi State, it is in the form of a recruiting visit. However, for the last week, Starkville has served as the temporary home for Lee Evans -- USA Track and Field Hall of Famer, Olympic coach and one-time world record holder.

The Tupelo Marathon (and half) is hilly, but a good experience (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
Posted by TheRunning
Area runners Terrey Perrault and Byron Adams recently ran the completed the Tupelo, Miss. 14.2 mile event (part of the Tupelo Marathon) and then drove back to compete at the Crescent Connection Road Race that same evening. Here is their race report.

Blues marathon runners attend post-race party (WLBT 3 Jackson)
Posted by TheRunning
Many of the marathon runners are winding down at a Jackson restaurant Saturday night. A post-race party is being held at Hal and Mal's. Participants can enjoy live blues music, food and beverages. Performers include Gearshifter, Homemade Jams, and Jesse Robinson.

2nd Annual Mississippi Blues Marathon (WJTV Jackson)
Posted by TheRunning
Runners from across the country are invited to take place in the 2nd annual Mississippi Blues Marathon and Half-Marathon.

Miss. Blues Marathon To Run Through Fondren (WAPT Jackson)
Posted by TheRunning
Thousands of people are expected to gather for the Mississippi Blues Marathon.

Girls capture Mississippi 8 cross-country crown (Monticello Times)
Posted by TheRunning
Five Monticello Magic girls’ cross country runners cracked their way into the Top 20, leading the squad to its first conference championship in nearly a decade.

Girls capture Mississippi 8 cross-country crown (Monticello Times)
Posted by TheRunning
Five Monticello Magic girls’ cross country runners cracked their way into the Top 20, leading the squad to its first conference championship in nearly a decade.

Ole Miss XC runner Barnabas Kirui among hosts for presidential debate
Posted by Matt
Mississippi (Ole Miss) selected cross country and track student-athlete Barnabas Kirui to represent the school to the national media in Oxford for the planned presidential debate Friday night. Kirui was one of 23 students selected to represent the school in student interviews.

USM cross country coach quits (Hattiesburg American)
Posted by TheRunning
Cassandra Goodson has resigned from her position as University of Southern Mississippi cross country coach.

Brittney Reese wins LJ, HJ, 2nd in TJ and 6th in 60m at SEC Champs
Posted by Matt
Lady Rebel junior Brittney Reese claimed the Commissioner’s Trophy and set two school records in leading the Ole Miss women’s track and field team to a sixth place finish and the most points scored in school history Sunday afternoon at the SEC Indoor Championships.

Great feature on masters runner Brian Pope
Posted by Matt
Brian Pope reaches a cruising mile-pace of 5:45, running along an old railroad bed in lushly wooded trails, when he hears a rifle shot. The six-foot-three, 145-pound Pope has run these trails daily since he came to Oxford from Jackson in 1981 for college at Ole Miss.

Brittney Reese of Ole Miss tabbed USATF Athlete of the Week
Posted by Matt
Brittney Reese of Ole Miss has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning the women's high jump and long jump Saturday at the Arkansas State Kickoff Classic in Jonesboro, Ark.

Mississippi College senior Al Winsley a true natural to the sport
Posted by Matt
Al Winsley is a so-called natural athlete. Sports always have come easily to him. If you're into athletics, you know the type."He's probably the best all-around athlete I've been around, and I've been around a lot," said Butch Ard, Winsley's coach for the Mississippi College track and field team.

Southern Miss promotes assistant Stephen as new track and field (WJTV Jackson)
Posted by TheRunning
Southern Miss's new track and field coach is Kevin Stephen.

Flotrack: Interview with Tiffany McWilliams
Posted by TheRunning
Tiffany McWilliams Gentse Feesten Meeting July 17, 2007

Mississippi Marathon gets new name, sponsor (The Clarion-Ledger)
Posted by TheRunning
The Mississippi Marathon has a new name - the Mississippi Blues Marathon.

Tiffany McWilliams, last to first
Posted by TheRunning
2003 NCAA 1500 Champion, Tiffany McWilliams explains how she went from last at nationals her freshman year to winning the next year.

OHS boys track: Lehman a key for MVC chances? (Onalaska Community Life)
Posted by TheRunning
Onalaska High School sprinter Caleb Lehman didn t score in an individual event at Friday s Mississippi Valley/Big Rivers track and field meet at Holmen. But the sophomore could be a key player in Onalaska s bid for the top spot at this year s Mississippi Valley Conference meet at Central, which is just 11 days away.

Tiffany McWilliams runs 4:06.61/2:05.85 double against men
Posted by TheRunning
Tiffany McWilliams runs 4:06.61/2:05.85 double against men. Results only - PDF from the FSU Snowbird Invitational

Former JSU track coach under investigation
Posted by LG
Former Jackson State University track and field coach Edmond Donald is the subject of a forgery investigation by Trustmark Bank, a bank assistant vice president said.

The “Magnolia State” is named because of the abundance of magnolia flowers and trees in the state. The magnolia is the official state flower and the official state tree.
source: State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols by Benjamin F. Shearer, Barbara S. Shearer