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SEHS’ Justine Nevels wins high jump at Bob Hayes Invitational
Nevels and Crofts
South Effingham's high jumpers Justine Nevels (left) and Harrison Crofts (right) take a timeout from practice for a photo before the state track championships last spring. Nevels won the girls high jump at the prestigious Bob Hayes Invitational on Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla. Crofts placed second in the boys' high jump. (Donald Heath for the Effingham Herald.)

By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald


South Effingham’s Justine Nevels began competing in the high jump in middle school. Now, as a high school sophomore, she’s topping the competition in prestigious track and field meets.

Nevels cleared 5 feet, 3.75 inches on Saturday to win the high jump at the Bob Hayes Invitational at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

A year ago, Nevels set the girls’ school record with a jump of 5-6 at Effingham County High School’s Rebel Invitational. Two months later, she placed second at state.

Nevels was one of several Mustangs who stood out at the Bob Hayes Invitational. The meet attracted 83 schools, mostly from the Southeast.

SEHS’ Harrison Crofts, who recently signed with the Naval Academy, tied his season-best high jump with a 6-6 and placed second. Crofts holds the boys school record at 6-7.

Kimberlea Coppin had a sixth-place finish in the girls' high jump with a jump of 4 feet, 9.75 inches.

The SEHS girls’ long distance running group was well-represented with scoring performances by sophomore Lydia Alderman and freshman Natalia Melegari. The duo finished third and fifth respectively in the 1600 run with times of 5:43.33 and 5:48.01.

Alderman and Melegari also teamed with Patricia Backlund and Rebecca Long to run a 10:42.61 and place seventh in the 4 X 800 relay.

Here are the results for South Effingham’s boys and girls in Jacksonville:


SEHS Boys – Jayden Hair (100, 11.52, 30th), Ben Fluegel (1600, 4:53.52, 15th; 3200, 11:05.80, 20th), Adyn Easton (3200, 10:32.94, 11th), Kenny Carlton (110H, 16.03, 19th; 400H, 1:04.65, 34th), Damien Washington (110H, 17.47, 34th), 4 X 100 relay (43.83, 21st), 4 X 400 (3:55.36, 24th), 4 X 800 (8:45.36, 14th), Harrison Crofts (HJ, 6-06, 2nd; TJ, 38-8.25, 31st), Hayden Lloyd (TJ, 39-1, 28th).


SEHS Girls – Syraiah Wilkins (400, 1:06.36, 38th), Lydia Alderman (800, 2:37.06, 11th; 1600, 5:43.33, 3rd), Natalia Melegari (1600, 5:48.01, 5th; 3200, 13:12.13, 13th), Rebecca Long (3200, 13:48.64, 14th), 4 X 100 (54.30, 24th), 4 X 400 (4:47.61, 22nd), 4 X 800 (10:42.61, 7th), Kimberlea Coppin (HJ, 4-9.75, 6th), Justine Nevels (HJ, 5-3.75, 1st), Madison Mills (LJ, 13-4.75, 34th), Danni Lynn (Discus, 103-3, 18th; Shot, 33-6, 17th), Brooklynn Hughes (Shot, 31-4.75, 30th).