The 2026 Charleston High School Tigers have accomplished a feat unmatched by any other CHS boys track team ever: winning at the Mississippi High School Activities Association Track and Field State Championships.
Charleston captured the Class 2A boys state title Tuesday at the Woody Barnett Track & Field Complex in Pearl.
Twice before, in 2016 and 2004, the CHS boys had been state track runners-up, with those achievements occurring in Class 3A.
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As a Top 5 unit at the Class 2A state track meet since 2022, including as third-place finishers the past two years, the Tigers broke through during this magical season that saw them sweep championships at the regionals, super regionals, north half and, now, state.
“This championship was not won by a single performance or a single meet — it was built over the entire season,” CHS boys head coach Wesley Love said in a statement Tuesday night. ... “This title belongs to every member of this team, not just those who crossed the finish line at state.”
Added Love, “This is a special moment for Charleston High School, and I couldn’t be more honored to coach this group of young men. They have represented our school and community with pride, and they’ve earned every bit of this championship.”
Charleston’s girls, who are four-time state champions (2012 and 2013 in Class 3A, and then 2023 and 2024 in Class 2A) placed fifth overall at this year’s state meet. The Lady Tigers finished with a third-place state ranking one year ago.
Overall, CHS athletes brought home two gold, five silver and four bronze medals from competition at state this week.
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The following Charleston boys finished first, second or third in their respective events to reach the podium:
» 4x100 meter relay: Deandre Booker, Demarion Johnson, Daevon McCord and Lezelrick Taylor, first place, 43.58
» 4x800 meter relay: Lapatrick Goliday, Aybekia Bradley, Amarius Hudson and Laryce Bradley, second place, 9:00.38
» Triple jump: Demarion Johnson, second place, 45-06.75; and Quay Kimble, third place, 44-08.25
» Long jump: Demarion Johnson, third place, 22-00.25
» 200-meter dash: Deandre Booker, third place, 22.71
» 400-meter dash: Mac Crawford, third place, 51.51
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The following Charleston girls finished first or second in their respective events to reach the podium:
» Discus throw: Shamiya Bass, first place, 107-06; and Zyon Moody, second place, 91-07
» 4x400 meter relay: Carmis Hill, Alilliana Kuykendall, Ke’Asyah Lee and De’Moria Shannon, second place, 4:24.73
» Shot put: Shamiya Bass, second place, 32-03.00
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The following Charleston boys also competed at the state meet:
» 110-meter hurdles: Ta’amarcus Taylor, fourth place, 16.06
» 100-meter dash: Deandre Booker, fourth place, 11.41
» 4x200 meter relay: Deandre Booker, Demarion Johnson, Daevon McCord and Tristen Flowers, fourth place, 1:32.26
» 4x400 meter relay: Mac Crawford, Lezelrick Taylor, Aybekia Bradley and Ron’darius Stamps, fourth place, 3:38.91
» 300-meter hurdles: Quay Kimble, fourth place, 41.62
» 800-meter run: Lapatrick Goliday, fourth place, 2:10.64
» 400-meter dash: Aybekia Bradley, fifth place, 52.53
» Discus throw: Demoria Shannon, eighth place, 99-00
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The following Charleston girls also competed at the state meet:
» 4x200 meter relay: Jady Leavy, Ke’Asyah Lee, Alilliana Kuykendall and Kassidy James, fourth place, 1:50.41
» 4x100 meter relay: Jady Leavy, Keasia Goliday, Kassidy James and Francheska Robey, fifth place, 51.50
» Pole vault: Tambria Price, fifth place, 36-06.00
» Long jump: Keasia Goliday, sixth place, 15-11.25
» High jump: Jady Leavy, sixth place, 34-06.00
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East Tallahatchie School District Athletic Director LaDon Taylor said he was "overly excited" to see another Charleston High School team bring another state championship back to the city of Charleston.
"We're happy about our boys and girls," Taylor added. "They all fought hard."
He noted that although the boys track team finally accomplished the goal of reaching No. 1, "we're not going to be satisfied with one boys state championship. We want to build on it and, hopefully, do the same things with the girls."
Taylor said he and the coaches want to build a "championship fever" in Charleston that will spill over into every sport.
"We have a lot that we want to focus on building," he stated.
