Mississippi Future Stars: Sawyer Sitzes
Sawyer Sitzes Crossing the Line at the NMPHC Cross Country Classic 2025
Photo by Harrison Wampler
---
For any new readers, welcome to Mississippi Future Stars. In this series, we feature young runners who are making waves in Mississippi running. Whether they are breaking records or climbing the rankings, this series is the place where we get to showcase what our younger athletes have been doing and put them on the map!
In this edition of Mississippi Future Stars, we have Sawyer Sitzes from Senatobia High School! Sawyer is currently in the 8th grade and is already opening his season strong.
Coming onto the scene last year, Sawyer put together an impressive seventh-grade season, capping his cross-country campaign with a personal best of 18:44. On the track, he focused solely on the 3200m, closing out his season with a 10:57 at the MHSAA Region 2-4A meet.
Fast forward to the 2025 cross-country season, and Sawyer is shifting into another gear. He opened at the South Panola XC Opener, placing 3rd in 18:54. Just a week later, he delivered a breakout performance at the NMPHC Cross Country Classic, where he placed 12th overall and ran a new PR of 17:21, cutting well over a minute off his previous best. This run not only marked a major personal milestone but also moved him into the MHSAA 4A spotlight as the 3rd fastest runner in the classification.
It may still be early in the season, but Sawyer has already proven that he is not just one to watch for the future. He is a contender right now, and if his trajectory continues, he could be a major factor at this year's state championships and beyond