New Hope has Good Showing at State Track Meet
New Hope High School’s student athletes shone at the MHSAA 5A State Track Meet held at the Woody Barnett Track & Field Complex in Pearl, MS on May 10, 2023. The school had seven students place in various categories, with Kadyn Bell, Madison Taylor, Megan Neeb, and DeAireal Williams taking second place in the Girls 4×800. Je’Kerria Ivy came sixth in the Girls 100m Hurdles, DeAireal Williams took seventh in the Girls 400m, Jakayla Smith was sixth in the Girls 300m Hurdles, Megan Neeb placed fourth in the Girls 800m, and RJ Cunningham finished seventh in Boys Discus.
New Hope’s student athletes scored one Top 3 Finish, one Top 5 Finish, and four Top 10 Finishes in 5A. Kadyn Bell, who was part of the Girls 4×800 relay team that took second place, is in seventh grade. Moreover, Jakobe Smith signed a letter of intent with Mississippi University for Women to run track and field at the next level on the same day that New Hope sent seven athletes to compete in the state competition.
The girls track coach, Lissette Neeb, boys track coach, Johnthan Banks, and assistant track coach, Yusuf Karriem, played instrumental roles in coaching the athletes. Holli McBrayer, the Athletic Director of New Hope’s athletic program, oversaw the school’s impressive achievements at the state track meet.
