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SEHS’ Crofts continues to set high jump marks at Statesboro Relays
Crofts High Jump record
South Effingham’s Harrison Crofts clears the pole at 6 ft 8.5 in. setting a new school record. (Photos by Gilbert Miller/Effingham Herald.)

By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald


STATESBORO – South Effingham’s elite high jumper Harrison Crofts had a dilemma last week.

He looked forward to attending Grad Bash – a fun celebration for high school seniors at Universal’s theme parks in Orlando, Florida, four hours from home on Friday night– but the Annual Statesboro Relays, one of the bigger track and field meets of the spring, was only a few hours later on Saturday morning.

So, Crofts weighed his options and made the decision a lot of teenagers would make.

Forget about sleep. He went to both.

And he ended up with two pretty good memories – a night out with friends Friday night and a school-record high jump of 6 feet, 8.5 inches shared with his athletic friends on Saturday morning.

“It was a long day but a lot of fun,” said Crofts, who originally set his record at 6-7 last April at the South Effingham Invitational and added an inch to 6-8 at Game Changer Apex Invitational in Richmond Hill (March 21).

Crofts, who has signed to compete at Navy, has the highest jump in Class 5A, according to Mile Split.

Schoolmate Justine Nevels posted a jump of 5-4 to win the girls’ high jump.

“Just watching Justine and Harrison progress has been amazing,” SEHS assistant coach Haywood Ellison said. “What separates them is their willingness to compete. They want to win and they take it personally.”

Ellison helped lead the team with head coach Rico Campbell out recovering from a medical procedure during the week.

Overall, it was a good day for South Effingham and Effingham County in a meet that has a history spanning more than 50 years.

Mustangs hurdler Syraiah Wilkins continues to shine in sprint events. She broke her own school records with 25.47 (topping 25.55) in the 200 dash and a 45.37 (topping 45.59) in the 300 hurdles. She also won the 100 hurdles.

Other SEHS first-place finishers were Makenzi Polk in the triple jump, Lydia Alderman in the 800 and Ben Fluegel in the 1600.

Marcus Campbell placed second in the pole vault with a vault of 10-6 while tying his school-record.

For Effingham County, Theron Claridge posted a time of 10:09.21 in the 3200 to set a school record while finishing third.

Chloe Adkins continued to dominate the long-distance events with victories in the 1600 and 3200 runs.

Other Rebel first-place finishers were Kayden Gadson in the long jump and the 4 X 200 relay team of Kameryn Watson, Deymi Ramirez-Romero, Gadson and Kyla Hicklen.

South Effingham girls finished first in team points, 166.50, two points ahead of Brunswick. ECHS was fourth in the nine-team field.

In the boys meet, the Mustangs placed second to Brunswick with the Rebels seventh.

The Region 1-5A track and field meet will be held on the same track in Statesboro on April 24.


Here are the ECHS and SEHS athletes who scored points at the Annual Statesboro Relays on Saturday:


ECHS girls – Kayden Gadson (100, 13.00, 5th; LJ, 16-0.75, 1st), Deymi Tamirez-Romero (100, 13.32, 8th), Kyla Hicklen (200, 27.01, 8th), Jada Praylo (400, 1:02.27, 2nd), Natalie Nelson (800, 2:40.21, 4th), Chloe Adkins (1600, 5:28.22, 1st; 3200, 12:00.72, 1st), Braylin Nease (100H, 17.70, 6th; 300H, 54.72, 8th; HJ, 5-2, 2nd), 4 X 100 (52.32, 5th), 4 X 200 (Watson, Ramirez-Romero, Gadson, Hicklen, 1:50.54, 1st), Kinsley Cates (HJ, 4-4, 6th), Nakera Hawkins (Shot, 33-4, 4th), Kameryn Watson (LJ, 14-11.75, 3rd).


ECHS boys – Jaden Praylo (200, 22.50, 6th), Merlin Flores (200, 24.35, 8th), Cohlin Croy (800, 2:13.85, 5th), Andrew Moseley (800, 2:17.10, 8th), Theron Claridge (3200, 10:09.21, 3rd), 4 X 100 (46.43, 6th); Cory Dekle (LJ, 20-0, 4th; TJ, 41-4, 4th), Devin Aaron (Shot, 41-0, 3rd).


SEHS girls – Marquavia Williams (100, 12.99, 4th; 200, 26.14, 4th), Syraiah Wilkins (200, 25.47, 1st; 100H, 14.78, 1st; 300H, 45.37, 1st), Lyla Gergerich (400, 1:05.18, 6th), Lydia Alderman (800, 2:25.30, 1st), Olivia Johnson (800, 2:43.77, 5th), Natalia Melegari (1600, 5:46.29, 3rd; 3200, 12:17.01, 2nd), Rebecca Long (1600, 6:11.20, 6th; 3200, 12:59.49, 4th), 4 X 100 (51.40, 2nd), 4 X 200 (2:04.22, 5th), 4 X 400 (4:51.94, 2nd), Justine Nevels (HJ, 5-4, 1st), Danni Lynn (Shot, 33-8, 3rd; Discus, 109-4, 2nd), Brooklynn Hughes (Shot, 32-6, 6th; Discus, 101-4, 4th), Allie Grassi (Pole, 8-0, 2nd), , Adelyn White (LJ, 14-1, 7th), Makenzi Polk (LJ, 14-0.50, 8th; TJ, 32-4.50, 1st).


SEHS boys – Jayden Hair (100, 11.29, 7th; 200, 22.03, 4th), Jeremiah Chance (200, 22.18, 5th), Hayden Still (400, 53.44, 7th), Nathaniel West (800, 2:09.28, 3rd), Ben Fluegel (800, 2:09.71, 4th; 1600, 4:44.61, 1st), Adyn Easton (1600, 4:58.03, 4th; 3200, 10:08.74, 2nd), Bryson Bonorato (1600, 5:22.89, 7th), Kenny Carlton (110H, 15.50, 5th; 300H, 42.38, 4th), 4 X 100 (43.34, 3rd), 4 X 200 (1:39.18, 5th), 4 X 400 (4:05.75, 4th), Harrison Crofts (HJ, 6-8.5, 1st; TJ, 40-7, 5th), Marcus Campbell (Pole, 10-6, 2nd), Tyler Long (Pole, 9-0, 4th), Christopher Brewington (LJ, 19-7, 8th), Hayden Lloyd (TJ, 38-3, 7th), Gage Roberson (Discus, 129-1, 4th).