Mays, coach of the Sprint South AAU track team, was more than pleased with the event. Competitors ages seven to 18 showed their stuff for over two hours in running and field events.

            “I didn’t really know what to expect,” said Mays. “Just having the amount of kids we had out here is great — just seeing the kids out here having a good time.”

            Most of the sprint races were hotly contested, and Southeast Bulloch’s Gerald Williams stole the show. Williams’ high-stepping, light-footed style had spectators thinking he might take flight towards the finish line.

            Williams — who plans on running for Fort Valley State — ran seven seconds flat in the 60-meter sprint, 10.78 in the 100m and held off a late rally from Statesboro’s Patrick Jenkins in the 200m with a 22.01. He won all three events.

            Jenkins had a good showing as well. The reigning region champion in the 1600-meter relay and the triple jump, Jenkins ran the fourth leg of Saturday’s 400-meter exhibition relay and came from behind to help Statesboro to the win.

            In the 800-meter event, Tay West exploded down the homestretch to overtake Ray Dyal (third, 2:35) and Andrew Zuber (second, 2:32). West ran a 2:30 and Robbie Spivey came in fourth at 2:49.

            In girls’ action, middle-schooler Mahagony Lanier continued to impress. The future of Bulloch County track ran a 7.79 in the 60m and a 12.40 in the 100m, winning both.

            “(Sprint South) has opportunities for kids of all ages,” said Mays. “Just to see them come out, enjoy it and get something out of it is what it’s all about.”

            Mays added he hopes not only to make the Sprint South Invitational an annual event, but to add more events year round.

            “I want to host meets like this throughout the year,” he said. “I want to have a series of meets like this and by this time next year — this meet will be even bigger.”

Other finishers

            In the boys’ shot put, Thomas Kirkland’s best throw landed at 43 feet while Willis Brooklin came in second at 31-4.

            In the girls’ discus, Emily Herndon threw a 81-10.

            Andrew Zuber won the 3200m with a 12:42.53.

            In the boys’ discus, Spivey’s throw of 106-3 was good enough for first. Kirkland was second (92-8 1/2) and Brooklin was third (64-5).

            In the girls’ primary 60m run, Shekinah Smith was first (10.37), Jazmyn Davis was second (10.63) and Samariah Smith was third (10.96).

            In the boys’ primary 60m run, Cameron Lockett ran a 10.22 to win, Decato Brown placed with a 12.81 and Eric Campbell was right behind with a 12.82.

            In the girls’ bantam 60m, Latica Fonseca ran a 9.25 and Dykeria Wilkerson ran a 9.86. The boys’ race saw Dylan Harris run a 8.69, Justin Holland a 10.04 and Demetrius Page a 10.36.

            In the 60-meter middle school race, Nijaya White ran a 8.16 for second and Andrea Kirkland ran a 8.95 for third. De’Quan Daniels won the boys’ race with a 8.54, Ladarian Fonseca was second (9.69) and Ian Roark was third (10.16).

            In the primary 100-meters, Davis ran a 17.15 and Lockett ran a 16.50. In the girls’ bantam 100m, Fonseca came in first with a 15.41 and Wilkerson was in second with a 16.31. Harris won the boys’ race with a 14.35 and Page was second with a 16.93.

            In the middle school race of the girls’ 100m, Nira Byrd took second (13.12), White was third (13.47), Andrea Kirkland was fourth (14.53) and Breyanna Wimberly was fifth (15.00). Devin Budgett won the race on the boys’ side with a 14.43 while Fonseca was second at 16.65.

            In the boys’ 100m high school run, Justin Raymond was second (11.59), Lamar Stimage was third (12.00) and Clark Kirkland was fourth (12.01).

            In the 400-meter middle school race, Amber Houston ran a 1.10, Bishop Daniels a 1.17.28 and Destinee Lanier a 1.36.18. In the boys’ high school race, West was first (57.06), Xavier Mercer was second (57.19), Blake was third (1.02.84), Dyal was fourth (1.03.20) and Spivey was fifth (1.08.72).

            In the 200m bantam race, Fonseca ran a 35.18 and Wilkerson ran a 38.63 for the girls. Dylan Harris won the boys’ race with a 33.10. In the middle school race, Byrd ran a 27.78, White a 29.34, Lanier a 30.69, Kirkland a 32.50 and Daniels a 32.66.

            In the high school 200m, Clark Kirkland was third at 26.01, followed by Kevin Parrish (26.03) and Alesha Mercer (26.60).

            Chad Bishop can be reached at (912) 489-9408.