Every week we’re spotlighting a program from around Lincoln County for our Team of the Week, presented by Bank of Brookhaven.

(Photos by Elizabeth Iles)

Last season the Brookhaven High girls’ cross-country team made history, winning the first MHSAA 5A state championship in program history on a thrilling day at Choctaw Trails in southwest Jackson.

With four key seniors graduating from that team, the expectations coming into the 2025 season might not have been at a championship level for this group of Panthers.

Any doubters might not realize that year in and year out, the Panthers are always going to run at the head of the pack in 5A cross-country.

BHS head coach Shannon Knott saw his team build depth and improve throughout the season, which culminated with a second-place finish last weekend at the state meet. Knott is assisted in coaching by Kevin Bower.

“We started the year unranked,” said Knott. “I trust the program we use and know if I can get the girls to buy in then we can put a competitive team together and normally we progress better than most teams.”

Brookhaven High junior Isabella Iles finished fifth overall on the5K course with a time of 21 minutes, 16 seconds.

Isabella Iles

Addie Shepherd of Caledonia won the overall race in 20:21 and Pontotoc took the team competition, outpointing BHS 57-69 in a tight finish.

Junior Abby Slay, the other returnee from the state championship team, finished seventh with a time of 22:43.

Abby Slay

“Abby really stepped it up this year and was a huge part of our success,” said Knott.

Eighth grader Leni Spray, who joined the junior high program for the first time this season, finished ninth overall with a time of 22:59.

Leni Spray

Freshman Abby Fernald was the 23rd overall finisher in 24:11 and sophomore Brooklyn Lenoir finished 32nd in 25:38.

Brooklyn Lenoir

Abby Fernald and Jade Berry

Freshman Jade Berry finished 36th for BHS in 26:16.

“We had five new girls this year that have never ran cross country in a mix of 8th through 10th grade that really helped us to be competitive,” said Knott.

There were 60 total runners entered in the race and in the best news for the Panthers, none of their runners will be graduating at the end of this school year.

“The good thing about this team is there are no seniors, so next year should be fun too,” said Knott.