Alonso Henry

Choctaw Central was a different situation for junior Alonso Henry, but cross country provided a constant for the recent Neshoba Central transfer.

Henry moved to Choctaw Central prior to this past school year having already built up a running background, and there was no way he wasn’t going continue participating in cross country after transferring.

The Warriors are glad he did, as Henry finished third in the MHSAA Class 3A state cross country meet with a time of 18:31.8. Because of this, Henry was named the Premier Preps Male Cross Country Athlete of the Year.

“It’s my first award, so I’m excited about it,” Henry said. “I’m also a little bit nervous, but it’s a good achievement.”

At first, there was an adjustment period when he joined Choctaw Central’s cross country team, but Henry said it wasn’t too difficult or too long.

“It was a new surrounding and a new environment, so I had to adjust to it and trust the process,” Henry said. “In a way, there was more stuff to it, like new workouts, more mileage and more training.”

Choctaw Central cross country coach Gwynn Grant said she could tell Henry was a natural runner when he arrived at the school and is grateful to have coached someone so talented.

“He looked like he had been doing it for quite a while,” Grant said. “Having him come here and adjust to the different kinds of workouts, I think it took about a week or two to finally get adjusted, and after that, he really did well throughout the season.”

Henry said he feels like the program Grant and the other coaches put him through made a big difference this past season.

“I believe it made me become a better runner,” Henry said. 

By the time he got to the state meet, Henry said he thought he was more focused when he began to run.

“I’m not sure I could have done anything more,” Henry said. “I wasn’t quite satisfied with my time, but I was content with my place.”

Specifically, Henry said he was hoping to get under the 17-minute mark, a goal he still has going into his senior year.

“It would make me a couple of minutes closer to the college level,” Henry explained.

Running cross country in college is a dream of Henry’s, and he said he wants to keep participating in the sport as long as possible.

“You can improve by yourself or with the team,” Henry said. “I feel like my stamina is good because I run, but it could also be better.”