By Donald Heath
Special for the Effingham Herald
It was a banner cross country season for Effingham County’s Theron Claridge.
The junior broke the school record in the five-kilometer run in his first meet this season and bettered that mark two more times.
Friday, Claridge ran the much-tougher course in Carrollton in 17:03.16 to place 12th at the GHSA Class 5A State Cross Country Championships.
Claridge, who ran a personal-best 15:58.5 to place seventh at the Class 5A Sectional 1 meet at Toombs County on Nov. 2, was the top local finisher at state. His teammate, Joseph Esco, was 14th with a time of 17:06.23.
In the girls’ state championship, ECHS sophomore Chloe Adkins ran a 21:33.20 to finish 29th as the top local female runner.
Claridge, Esco and Adkins advanced to the state by placing among the top 20 individually at Sectionals.
South Effingham’s girls team also competed at state after finishing among the top 12 teams at Sectionals. The Mustangs, who had five underclassmen scoring points, were 20th among 24 teams in the Class 5A championships.
Individually, freshman Natalia Melegari led the group by finishing 78th at 22:50.27. Sophomore Lydia Alderman ran a 23:04.55 for 87th place. Freshman Rebecca Long was 96th with a time of 23:22.70.
Another freshman, Brenna Kicklighter, placed 99th at 23:25.93 and junior Patricia Backlund was 112th at 23:42.13.
Seniors Magdeline Morgan (25:18.29, 147th) and Jenna Hotz (25:59.00, 156th) didn’t crack the top five Mustang runners for team points.
FLAG FOOTBALL
Mustangs blank ECHS in local showdown
South Effingham registered its third straight shutout and extended its winning streak to eight games this season with a 25-0 victory over visiting rival Effingham County on Nov. 7.
South (8-2) remained in first place in Division 3 Area 1 play with a 4-0 record.
Arden Thompson threw touchdown passes to Tyra Guyton, Valencia Collins and Malaya Signal for the Mustangs. Thompson and Signal also hooked up on an extra-point pass.
Signal also had a 41-yard punt return.
Defensively, Jordyn Young and Morgan Hetzel had interceptions and Allie Grassi had three sacks.
South defeated Glynn Academy 25-0 on Nov. 5.
ECHS dropped to 7-8 overall, 2-1 in the area.
WRESTLING
Rebels to host Blue Line Duals
Effingham County will host its season-opening Blue Line Duals – a team competition – Nov. 16.
Two-time defending state champion South Effingham is slated to compete.
The Mustangs opened their season last Saturday at the Harlem Kickoff Classic. Adam Hardeman, Andreo Manlove, Tahrik Bailey, Mayson Young, Alarik Gibson, Bear Bringer, Moose Bringer and Bobby Craun went undefeated as the team won all five matches.
