By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
SEHS’ Purvis using track competition to improve athleticism
Hayden Purvis
South Effingham's Hayden Purvis jumps 19 feet, 9 inches to place third in the long jump at Mustang Madness on March 2. (Donald Heath for the Effingham Herald.)
Published: Mar 7, 2024, 9:08 PM

By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

 

GUYTON – Hayden Purvis is just a few months away from spring football practice so how is the South Effingham sophomore getting ready?

By participating in track and field.

Saturday, he was second in the triple jump and third in the long jump and ran a leg on two relays at SEHS’ Mustang Madness.

“In the offseason, I’m working on stuff to improve my endurance, my footwork and movement and this helps,” said Purvis, who saw time at running back last football season and will be the second leading returnee with 134 rushing yards for SEHS’ wing-T offense.

Purvis displayed versatility in the football preseason last summer when he won a team Lift-a-thon medal as the sophomore class champion in the competition of strength, speed and agility.

Purvis had a team-best 117-inch broad jump and was third with a 4.39 40-yard dash time.

“I’m all for people playing different sports and competing for us in track,” SEHS boys and girls track coach Rico Campbell said. “Just in my family, I’ve seen (my son) Isaiah love basketball, but then get a scholarship to run track at South Carolina State.”

Campbell said the Mustangs boys track team is comprised of athletes who ran cross country, played tennis and several from football, basketball and lacrosse.

“We can work out practices with other coaches and usually meets are on different days than their games so there’s not much conflict,” Campbell said.

 

Wilkins shines at Mustang Madness

South Effingham freshman Syraiah Wilkins won the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, placed third in the 100 hurdles and helped the 4 X 100-meter relay team take first to earn the girls’ high-point medalist at Mustang Madness on Saturday.

Wilkins posted a time of 12.63 in the 100, 26.70 in the 200 and helped the relay team turn in a top time of 50.30 in the eight-team meet.

Wilkins also had a 17.10 in the 100 hurdles.

Other Mustang girls registering first-place showings were Christeon Lewis in the 100 hurdles (15.88) and 300 hurdles (50.80), Brooke Crickard in the 800 (2:20.85, just a second off the school record) and Aubrey Edge in the pole vault (9-6).

Harrison Crofts led the SEHS boys with first place in the high jump. South’s 4 X 200 relay team also took first.

Effingham County’s Chloe Adkins took first in the 3200 run with a time of 12:08.65. She was also second in the 1600 with a 5:29.48.

Sarah Hinely scored in three events, including a first in the discus with a throw of 94-1.

Dakarai Walker had the Rebels’ top boys finish with a third in the 200 with a time of 22.68.

Mustang Madness scorers (top eight)

SEHS girls – Syraiah Wilkins (100, 1st, 12.63; 200, 1st, 26.70; 100H, 3rd, 17.10; 100H, 3rd, 17.10), Madison Mills (100, 5th, 13.41; Triple, 4th, 30-6.5), Makenzi Polk (400, 8th, 1:06.91), Brooke Crickard (800, 1st, 2:20.85), Lydia Alderman (800, 7th, 2:34.91; 1600, 5th, 5:49.68), Lily McDonald (1600, 4th, 5:41.20; 3200, 2nd, 12:21.48), Olivia Johnson (1600, 8th, 5:57.62; 3200, 3rd, 12:45.63), Patricia Backlund (3200, 5th, 13:51.47), Magdeline Morgan (3200, 6th, 15:17.20), Christeon Lewis (100H, 1st, 15.88; 300H, 1st, 50.80), Valencia Byrd (100H, 4th, 17.74; 300H, 6th, 55.83); Khalimah Watts (300H, 4th, 55.15), 4 X 100 relay (1st, 50.30), 4 X 200 relay (2nd, 1:52.62), 4 X 400 relay (3rd, 4:33.43), 4 X 800 relay (1st, 10:20.12), Justine Nevels (HJ, 2nd, 4-10), Zoe Williams (LJ, 7th, 14-4), Emily Thompson (Triple, 6th, 28-11), Aubrey Edge (Pole, 1st, 9-6), Allie Grassi (Pole, 2nd, 8-0), Mia Fitzpatrick (Discus, 2nd, 88-3.5), Danni Lynn (Discus, 3rd, 77-6; Shot, 3rd, 31-2), Layla Guerrier (Shot, 7th, 26-5).

 

SEHS boys -- Q’Ron France (200, 6th, 23.51; 400, 5th, 52.73), Alejandro Higareda (200, 8th, 23.61; 400, 6th, 53.28), Hayden Still (400, 8th, 53.94), Aderius Gibson (800, 8th, 2:14.13), Caiden Mason (1600, 7th, 4:55.53; 3200, 4th, 10:44.96), Kenny Carlton (110H, 4th, 15.79; 300H, 3rd, 42.35), Damien Washington (110H, 8th, 18.24), Marcus Campbell (300H, 7th, 46.01), 4 X 100 relay (4th, 48.53), 4 X 200 relay (1st, 1:33.72), 4 X 400 relay (4th, 3:39.95), 4 X 800 relay (3rd, 9:03.50), Harrison Crofts (HJ, 1st, 6-4), Hayden Purvis (LJ, 3rd, 19-9; Triple, 2nd, 42-3), Hayden Lloyd (LJ, 4th, 19-8; Triple, 3rd, 39-8.5), Kaizen Elam (Triple, 4th, 39-6.5), Nicholas Garrett (Pole, 2nd, 7-6), Camren Turner (Pole, 4th, 6-0), Tanner Hughes (Discus, 4th, 123-4), Shane Alvin (Discus, 6th, 114-4; Shot, 6th, 38-6.5).

 

ECHS girls – Dionna Rivers (100, 4th, 13.39), Kameryn Watson (100, 7th, 13.49), Jada Praylo (400, 3rd, 1:03.52), Chloe Adkins (1600, 2nd, 5:29.48; 3200, 1st, 12:08.65), Ellie Forwood (3200, 7th, 16:29.80) Braylin Nease (100H, 6th, 18.77; 300H, 5th, 55.77), 4 X 100 relay (5th, 53.07), 4 X 200 relay (3rd, 1:53.55), 4 X 400 (5th, 4:39.16), Jessica Cooper (HJ, 4th, 4-4), Sarah Hinely (Triple, 7th, 28-9; Discus, 1st, 94-1; Shot, 4th, 30-1).

 

ECHS boys – Dakarai Walker (100, 5th, 11.35; 200, 3rd, 22.68), Theron Claridge (800, 7th, 2:13.93; 1600, 5th, 4:47.74), 4 X 100 relay (3rd, 46.13), 4 X 200 relay (4th, 1:49.47), 4 X 400 relay (3rd, 3:38.36), 4 X 800 relay (5th, 10:06.59), Cory Dekle (Triple, 5th, 38-9), Te’Andre Watkins (Triple, 8th, 35-7), Berry Randolph (Discus, 5th, 119-8).