St. Al’s Edwards stays perfect with sweep at PCS Invitational

Published 9:18 am Friday, April 11, 2025

Samantha Edwards’ perfect season continued unabated on Wednesday.

The St. Aloysius senior remained undefeated in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meter distance races by winning all three events at the PCS Invitational IV track meet in Hattiesburg.

Edwards won the 800 meters in 2 minutes, 34.28 seconds; the 1,600 meters in 5:33.01; and the 3,200 in 12:07.70. She is a combined 14-0 in the three events at five meets this season.

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Wednesday’s meet included athletes from 18 MAIS and MHSAA schools. There were 21 runners in the field for the 800 and 14 for the 1,600.

Edwards won the 3,200 meters by more than a minute, but had her stiffest competition yet in the 800 and 1,600. She beat Presbyterian Christian’s Olivia Gerald by about a second in both events.

Edwards was St. Al’s only winner in the high school meet, but it did have a few top-three finishes. Marley Gibellino finished third in the 3,200 meters with a time of 14:10.89, and Julia Moberley threw the discus 88 feet, 2 inches for another third-place finish.

Annslee Averett also placed third in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 18.59 seconds.

St. Al’s junior high girls and boys teams also did well. Kelci Bingham finished second in the girls’ 100 and 300 meter hurdles, and fifth in the 200 meter dash.

On the boys’ side, Dru Gleese won the long jump with a mark of 17 feet, 7.5 inches and Jake Walker won the discus with a throw of 118 feet, 10 inches.

Sam Ashley and Gleese finished second and third, respectively, in the triple jump. Ashley leaped 32 feet even and Gleese 31-9.

Ashley added a third-place finish in the 400 meters and Gleese a second in the 200 meters, as well.

The PCS Invitational was the last of the regular season for St. Al. It will return to action Thursday, April 17, at the MAIS District 4-5A meet at Centreville Academy.