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Third annual Rebel Invitational set for March 14
Jordan Brown
Effingham County track coach Jordan Brown will be directing the third-annual Rebel Invitational on Thursday.

By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald


SPRINGFIELD – Effingham County boys and girls track coach Jordan Brown calls his third-annual Rebel Invitational, “the picnic track meet.”

The track still lacks stands for seating, but fans and onlookers find comfort by bringing lawn chairs and blankets to sit on.

The athletes, however, won’t be duped into thinking Thursday’s meet will be a walk in the park. Richmond Hill and South Effingham headline a talented nine-team field.

And the hosts should be competitive after a strong showing at Savannah Country Day on March 6.

It will be ECHS’ Senior Night as well.

“We’re hoping for a good, smooth meet and everyone has fun,” Brown said. “At this point in the season, we want to see progress.”

Freshman long-distance runner Chloe Adkins has been progressing nicely for the Rebels. Adkins, who also plays soccer, won both the 1600 and 3200 runs at the 13-team SCD meet.

She’s won the 3200 in all three of the Rebels’ meets this season and lowered her time by about 24 seconds with an 11:41.76 in Savannah.

“She’s just getting used to running on a track,” Brown said. “We’re teaching her how to pass people.”

In the cross country season, Adkins was third at region, despite sharing time with club soccer. At State, she posted the best time among county runners.

Other Rebels have shown improvement. Sprinter Dionna Rivers had a personal-best 13.12 in the 100 and Jada Praylo shaved another second off her 400 time with a 1:02.21 at SCD. 

The Rebel boys had several strong performances at SCD as well. Dakarai Walker won the 400 with a 52.23. He also teamed with Cory Dekle, Shawn McKnight and Jaden Praylo to produce the winning time of 3:37.47 in the 4 X 400 relay.

 

Here are Effingham County’s scorers (top eight finishers) at Savannah Country Day on March 6:

ECHS girls: Dionna Rivers (100, 3rd, 13.12), Kyla Hicklen (100, 8th, 13.39), Kameryn Watson (200, 6th, 28.23; TJ, 6th, 31-9), Kayden Gadson (200, 7th, 28.45), Jada Praylo (400, 3rd, 1:02.21), Gabrielle Hudson (800, 8th, 2:57.98), Chloe Adkins (1600, 1st, 5:37.28; 3200, 1st, 11:41.76), Ellie Forwood (3200, 6th, 17:07.91), Braylin Nease (100 hurdles, 6th, 18.26; HJ, 2nd, 5-0), 4 X 100 relay (3rd, 50.76), 4 X 400 relay (4th, 4:31.55), Sarah Hinely (TJ, 7th, 30-8; Discus, 3rd, 86-10).


ECHS boys: Dakarai Walker (400, 1st, 52.23), Andrew Moseley (800, 4th, 2:11.71), Theron Claridge (1600, 3rd, 5:03.81; 3200, 2nd, 10:39.07), Joseph Esco (1600, 4th, 5:11.03), Jacob Conaway (1600, 5th, 5:23.62), 4 X 100 relay (4th, 43.84), 4 X 400 relay (1st, 3:37.47), 4 X 800 relay (7th, 10:25.51), Cory Dekle (LJ, 8th, 19-2.5; Triple, 2nd, 41-2), Berry Randolph (Discus, 3rd, 128-5).

 

Crickard wins third-straight 800-meter run

South Effingham freshman Brooke Crickard continued her domination in the 800-meter run by winning again at the 15th-annual Parkview Need for Speed track and field meet on March 8.

Crickard ran a 2:24.48 for her third straight victory in the event. She’s circling in on the school record of 2:20.08 set by Pricilla Cartwright in 2016.

Crickard had a 2:20.85 at Mustang Madness the previous week.

Lily McDonald set a school record in the 1500 although it’s not an event often run in high school meets. McDonald’s time of 5:19.82 bested Cheyenne Ryan’s 5:35.03 in 2022.

Freshman Justine Nevels won the high jump with a leap of 4-6. Pole vaulter Aubrey Edge had a winning vault of 9-0.

In the boys’ portion of the meet, Tyler Phillips won the 1500 with a 4:38.20.

 

Here are South Effingham’s scorers (top eight finishers) at Parkview’s Need for Speed meet on March 8:

SEHS Girls: Zoe Robinson (60-meter dash, 6th, 8.39), Syraiah Wilkins (100, 6th, 13.32; 300, 7th, 46.59; 60 hurdles, 4th, 10.43), Brooke Crickard (800, 1st, 2:24.48), Lydia Alderman (800, 4th, 2:33.88; 1500, 5th, 5:46.46), Lily McDonald (1500, 3rd, 5:19.82), Olivia Johnson (1500, 7th, 5:49.32), Valencia Byrd (60 hurdles, 8th, 10.77), 4 X 200 relay (3rd, 1:58.75), 800 medley relay (5th, 1:58.75), Justine Nevels (HJ, 1st, 4-6), Makenzi Polk (TJ, 3rd, 31-1), Emily Thompson (TJ, 7th, 29-3), Aubrey Edge (Pole, 1st, 9-0), Allie Grassi (Pole, 2nd, 8-0), Jamie Grooms (Pole, 6th, 6-6), Danni Lynn (Discus, 3rd, 100-5; Shot, 5th, 30-7.5).

 

SEHS Boys: Q’Ron France (200, 4th, 23.89; LJ, 3rd, 20-6.5), Alejandro Higareda (200, 5th, 24.03), Caiden Mason (1200, 6th, 3:39.39; 1500, 2nd, 4:41.74), Tyler Phillips (1500, 1st, 4:38.20), Ben Fluegel (1500, 7th, 4:52.84), Kenny Carlton (60 hurdles, 2nd, 8.72), 4 X 200 relay (5th, 1:38.80), Harrison Crofts (HJ, 4th, 6-2), Hayden Purvis (LJ, 8th, 19-6; Triple, 4th, 40-3.5).