STATESBORO, Ga. – South Effingham freshman Kyla Shuman broke the school record in the 400-meter run for the third time this spring, and Mustangs junior Justine Nevels continued her dominance in the high jump to highlight a long Thursday at the Class 5A Region 1 Track and Field Championships at Statesboro High School.
The top four finishers in each event advanced to Sectional A (Regions 1, 2, 3 and 8) at Greenbrier High School on May 2.
Shuman posted a time of 56.59, eclipsing her previous best of 57.23 by nearly three-quarters of a second.
“This is just the second time she’s been pushed. I think she can go lower,” SEHS coach Rico Campbell said.
High jump duel
Nevels, who has won the high jump in every meet this season, cleared 5 feet, 6 inches on her third attempt to surge ahead in a tense showdown with Glynn Academy’s Alyssa Martin, who was even before missing all three attempts at 5-6.
“Justine’s like a pro. She works hard, doesn’t miss a practice, and she’s motivated to win,” Campbell said.
Team results
The day included both highs and lows for athletes who either advanced or saw their seasons end.
The SEHS girls finished second as a team behind Lakeside Evans, 173-103. Effingham County was ninth with 41 points.
In the boys competition, Glynn Academy won with 132 points. South Effingham placed sixth (70.5), and Effingham County was ninth (25.5).
Key performers
SEHS’ Syraiah Wilkins advanced in four events — the 100, 200, long jump and 4x400 relay. The 4x400 team of Lyla Gergerich, Lydia Alderman, Kyla Shuman and Wilkins, together for only a few weeks, placed second.
South Effingham sprinters Jeremiah Chance and Jayden Hair had strong performances, advancing in both the 100 and 200 while also running legs on the first-place 4x100 relay team.
Danni Lynn advanced in the shot put and discus, and first-year pole vaulter Anya Vazquez tied her personal best of 8-6 to place fourth and qualify.
Gage Roberson recorded a personal-best discus throw of 134-2 to finish fourth.
ECHS’ Chloe Adkins advanced in the 1,600 in just her second meet back after a month sidelined by a foot injury.
Braylin Nease, the state runner-up in the high jump last season, finished fourth at 5-0.
Rebels teammates Darnell Washington and Devin Aaron placed second and fourth, respectively, in the shot put to advance.
Qualifiers list
Here are the SEHS and ECHS athletes advancing to Sectional A:
SEHS Girls – Danni Lynn (discus, 2nd, 111-0; shot put, 3rd, 35-9), Brooklynn Hughes (discus, 3rd, 109-3), Syraiah Wilkins (long jump, 3rd, 16-10.5; 100, 2nd, 12.36; 200, 4th, 24.51), Anya Vazquez (pole vault, 4th, 8-6), 4x800 relay (Lydia Alderman, Jaelyn Brown, Olivia Johnson, Becca Long, 3rd, 10:15.35), 4x200 relay (Giselle Lattany, Zoe Robinson, Khalimah Watts, Marquavia Williams, 4th, 1:46.58), Kyla Shuman (400, 2nd, 56.59), Justine Nevels (high jump, 1st, 5-6), 4x400 relay (Lyla Gergerich, Lydia Alderman, Kyla Shuman, Syraiah Wilkins, 2nd, 4:06.67).
SEHS Boys – Gage Roberson (discus, 4th, 134-2), Jeremiah Chance (100, 2nd, 10.84; 200, 2nd, 22.08), Jayden Hair (100, 4th, 10.99; 200, 3rd, 22.49), 4x100 relay (Fabian Lucas, Holden Lloyd, Jayden Hair, Jeremiah Chance, 1st, 42.23).
ECHS Girls – Chloe Adkins (1,600, 4th, 5:42.10), Braylin Nease (high jump, 4th, 5-0).
ECHS Boys – Darnell Washington (shot put, 2nd, 46-9), Devin Aaron (shot put, 4th, 45-7).
