Walnut, Hickory Flat Earn Silver at State XC

Walnut and Hickory Flat both took second place at the 2026 MHSAA State Cross Country Championships in Jackson.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Track & Field

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a single cross country runner in red mid-stride on a wooded trail, with blurred runners behind. — Walnut and Hickory Flat both took second place as teams at the 2026 MHSAA State Cross Country Championships in Jackson. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Walnut and Hickory Flat each finished second as a team at the 2026 MHSAA State Cross Country Championships held in Jackson. Walnut's boys team took silver in Class 2A, while Hickory Flat's boys did so in Class 1A.

Why it matters

The results give Mississippi high school cross country programs a strong showing from northeast Mississippi at the state level. Multiple runners from both schools placed in the top ten, reflecting depth across their rosters.

McConnell's 17:57.70 finish led Walnut's Class 2A scoring, with Landon Jones and Jeremiah McAlister placing ninth and tenth. Team point totals and margins behind the champions were not reported.

The players

Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA)

The MHSAA is the state body that governs interscholastic athletics and sanctions the state cross country championships for Mississippi public and private schools.

The details

Walnut placed three boys runners in the Class 2A top ten, while Hickory Flat's boys earned silver in Class 1A with six runners in the top 30. Hickory Flat's girls finished fifth in Class 1A, and Evelin Aguilar placed 13th in the Class 2A girls race.

The 2026 MHSAA State Cross Country Championships were held in Jackson in 2026.

Season Trajectory

The silver finishes for Walnut and Hickory Flat show northeast Mississippi programs competing near the top of their classifications at the state meet. Their depth across multiple top-ten finishes suggests competitive strength within the MHSAA's class structure.

Walnut's three top-ten boys finishers and Hickory Flat's six top-30 Class 1A runners give both programs multiple scoring contributors heading into future meets. Fans tracking Mississippi high school cross country can use these state results to gauge each school's depth.

The takeaway

Strong depth across several runners, not just one standout, produced both silver finishes at state this year. Programs looking to replicate that success often build scoring strength through consistent top-30 finishes across the full roster.