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SEHS’ Wilkins, Crofts set school track records at Apex Invite
Harrison Crofts
South Effingham’s Harrison Crofts clears a record 6’8” in the high jump. After a few tough competitors, Crofts pulled away as the bar was moved up higher. (Photos by Gilbert Miller/Effingham Herald.)
Published: Mar 26, 2025, 7:12 PM

By Donald Heath

 

Special for the Effingham Herald

RICHMOND HILL – It was a record-breaking Friday night in Richmond Hill at the Game Changer Apex Invitational for South Effingham track standouts Syraiah Wilkins and Harrison Crofts.

Wilkins, a sophomore, shattered her previous school record in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.79 seconds while Crofts took his jump skyward 6 feet, 8 inches to add an inch to his previous school high jump record.

Both performances met the MileSplit US second-team standard.

Wilkins now owns five school records – 200-meter dash (25.55), 300-meter hurdles (45.67), the 100 hurdles (14.79) and two college events (the 300-meter run (46.59) and the 60 hurdles (10.43).

Crofts peaked at 6-6 in the high jump this season at Mustang Madness and the Bob Hayes Invitational, but the added competition in Richmond Hill may have helped. Two jumpers reached 6-6 Friday before Crofts went up another notch.

Overall, it was a strong meet for the SEHS girls who placed second in team points behind Richmond Hill in the 11-team field.

The Mustang boys were eighth among 12 teams.

Justine Nevels
Lady Mustang high jumper Justine Nevels makes what could be a record jump at 5’ 2”.
For the girls, high jumper Justine Nevels, second at state last season, jumped 5-2 to win the event with teammate Kymberlea Coppin second at 4-10.

Allie Grassi topped the pole vaulters with a vault of 9-0 and Danni Lynn won the discus with a throw of 106-4.

Lydia Alderman (800), Natalia Melegari (3200) and the girls’ 4 X 100 relay team each turned in season-best times.

For the SEHS boys, Alarik Gibson had a winning height of 9-6 in the pole vault.

Adyn Easton (1600 and 3200), Josh Brooks (200), Nathaniel West (800), Hayden Lloyd (long jump and triple jump), Gage Roberson (discus) and the 4 X 800 relay team each posted season-best times or distances.

The SEHS boys and girls will be back in action on Wednesday (March 26) at Savannah Country Day and on Friday at the Colony Bank Invitational in Fitzgerald.

Effingham County was off last weekend because of the prom. The Rebels will compete at Ware County on Thursday and in Fitzgerald on Friday.

Here are the South Effingham track and field athletes who scored team points (a 1-through-8 finish) at the Apex Invitational.



SEHS Girls – Marquavia Williams (100, 13.12, 6th; 200, 27.35, 6th), Lydia Alderman (800, 2:30.58, 2nd; 1600, 5:45.09, 6th), Natalia Melegari (1600, 5:46.41, 7th; 3200, 12:26.63, 5th), Rebecca Long (3200, 12:54.85, 7th), Syraiah Wilkins (100H, 14.79, 2nd; 300H, 46.90, 1st), 4 X 100 (50.25, 2nd), 4 X 200 (1:48.29, 2nd), 4 X 400 (4:59.01, 7th), 4 X 800 (10:42.90, 2nd), Justine Nevels (HJ, 5-2, 1st), Kymberlea Coppin (HJ, 4-10, 2nd), Makenzi Polk (TJ, 31-6.75, 8th), Allie Grassi (Pole, 8-0, 1st), Carmen Neidlinger (Pole, 6-0, 8th), Danni Lynn (Discus, 106-4, 1st; Shot, 33-8.5, 4th), Brooklynn Hughes (Shot, 32-9.75, 5th).

SEHS Boys – Nathaniel West (800, 2:07.32, 6th), Adyn Easton (1600, 4:46.01, 8th; 3200, 10:29.70, 4th), Damien Washington (110H, 16.48, 8th), 4 X 100 (44.48, 4th), 4 X 400 (4:26.72, 7th), 4 X 800 (8:36.34, 5th), Harrison Crofts (HJ, 6-8, 1st), Hayden Lloyd (TJ, 41-0, 7th), Alarik Gibson (Pole, 9-6, 1st), Tyler Long (Pole, 8-0, 8th), Gage Roberson (Discus, 124-1, 6th).