Entering Saturday’s competition at Womack Field, it had been 10 years since a Southeast Bulloch track and field squad had won the Statesboro Relays.
Last season, the La
dy Yellow Jackets went out in front early, only to see rain wash things out before the meet was complete.
This time around, SEB finished what it started in 2012 as the Lady Jackets narrowly edged out Bradwell Institute to take this year’s championship.
“This is big for us,” SEB coach Jolie Britt said. “To come to such a well-respected meet with so many good teams and win — it’s a thrill. We were a little disappointed last year when it looked like we could win it before the rain came. I felt like we were a strong team again this year and we went out and proved it.”
Most of the time, the drama of a team title at track and field meets is settled before the day is over. With so many points up for grabs throughout the competition, it is routine for teams to know that they have won with a few races left to go.
That wasn’t the case for SEB.
The Lady Jackets were nursing a slim lead into the final event — the 4x400 meter relay — and needed a fourth place finish to ensure the overall win. SEB was in sixth as Breanna Gates took the baton for the final leg, but Gates ran down two opponents to seal the victory.
“We were all screaming pretty good at the end,” Britt said. “What a way to end a great day for us.”
The winning day was also a record setting day for SEB. Philicia Batton took the top spot in the girls’ high jump and her leap of 5-feet, 6-inches added two inches onto the best mark in the Statesboro Relays record book.
Other first place finishers for SEB included Gates in the 100 meter dash and Jasmine Roberts in the long jump. The Jackets’ boys squad had no individual winners, but improved from last year’s showing to finish eighth in the field of 11 schools.
The Statesboro Blue Devils had just one top performer amongst its boys and girls teams as Keiyonna Gusby took home the 300 meter hurdles. The Devils didn’t take home the most medals, but plenty of top-5 finishes throughout the day allowed the girls and boys to finish third and fourth overall, respectively.
“We weren’t able to win the team competition, but I’m still pretty happy,” SHS coach Rico Campbell said. “I saw a lot of our times improving on what we have been turning in. That’s what we really wanted to accomplish today.
“As for where we finished, that just shows that we have a solid team. We weren’t winning a lot of events, but we were still getting a lot of points. That’s what will help us in at region.”
The Devils are now done with competition until they host the Region 3-AAAA meet April 17-19. Southeast Bulloch hosts a pair of home meets this week and will also be the home of the Region 1-AAA meet beginning April 15.
Mike Anthony may be reached at (912) 489-9404.
