By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Statesboro boys, girls finish second
042018 SHS TRACK
South Effingham's Jone Gantt, right, just edges out Statesboro High's Jaden Adams during the 200M event Friday.

If the Region 2-AAAAA track meet were a race, it came down to a photo finish. Only nine points separated first place South Effingham from second place Statesboro, and a single point separated Statesboro from third place Wayne County on the boys side of things.


For the girls, the Blue Devils also finished as region runners-up. Ware County placed first with 176 points, Statesboro was second with 149 and New Hampstead placed third with 142 points.


“Our boys performed well, and I’m really proud of those kids,” said Statesboro coach Josh Coleman. “We had some major injuries on the girls side of things, but they still managed to place second, which was quite an accomplishment.”


Next up for Statesboro are the state sectionals. Among those qualifying for state on the girls side were: Maggie Ponder who placed second in the 100 meter dash, Jania Joseph and Emma Jayne Godbee in the 100 meter hurdles, Jamiah Jones won the discus and the shot put, and the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay teams.


“Maggie Ponder turned in a personal best in the 100,” Coleman said. “I was also impressed by our girl’s relay teams. Our ‘B” team actually qualified and beat our “A” team in the mile relay. In the field events I was impressed by our freshman like Jania Joseph, Jamiah Jones and Antonia Prescott.”


On the boys side, sectional qualifiers included: Jaden Adams who placed second in the 100 and the 200 meter dash, Noah Caplinger won the 800 and the mile, Keshawn McArthur won the discuss and Greg Edwards was second, and the Statesboro 4x100 meter relay team and the 4x400 meter relay teams both qualified for sectionals.


“Dee Lipsey did a great job in his leg of the 4x400 relay, and we moved him from the 200 to the 400 and he did really good,” Coleman said. “I was also proud of Noah Caplinger for winning the 800 and the mile, and Jaden for his work in the 100 and 200. In the field events Keshawn and Greg did a good job in the discus.”


Next up for Statesboro is the Class-AAAAA sectionals, which will be held April 27 in McDonough GA at Eagles Landing High School.