The Richmond Hill track and field team enters GHSA Class 6A State Track and Field Meet in Carrollton on Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, with some serious star power in the lineup.
On the girls side, the Wildcats are led by senior Mmekom Inyang, who is coming off sectional titles in the 100 and 300- meter hurdles, with a second place finish in the shot put behind her teammate and close friend, Jada Brown.
Inyang’s range of skills is set to carry on in college as she has signed as a heptathlete at Howard University in Washington D.C.
One of the most versatile overall athletes in the South, Inyang was also a star on the Wildcat basketball team as she was named region Defensive Player of the Year the last two years. She grew up playing soccer until entering high school, and was also a standout volleyball player for her first three seasons at Richmond Hill.
“Mmekom is very much into her craft,” said Richmond Hill track and field coach Levi Sybert. “She is so focused on whatever event she is competing in — there is no playing around, she’s all business. I think she has the maturity level of an elite college athlete and that’s what makes her so successful.”
Inyang is looking forward to competing in college in the heptathlon — an event that combines the 100 meter hurdles, the high jump, shot put, 200 meters, long jump, javelin and 800 meters. She said the hurdles are her favorite event.
“I love a good challenge, and I wasn’t very good at the hurdles when I started as a freshman. But there wasn’t anybody doing the hurdles, so I thought it was my best chance to make the varsity and I went after it.
“The hurdles are so technical, and there are so many aspects to the event — that’s what intrigues me,” she said.
Inyang holds top five times in Class 6A in the state in the 100 and 300 hurdles and her best throw in the shot put of 44-6.5 is the tops in the state across all classifications. She has went back and forth — trading the top state throw with Brown, who was second in the state meet in the event last year and fourth in the discus.
Inyang said she is shooting for top three finishes in each event.
On the boys side, the Wildcats are led by another top-notch hurdler in junior Kendrick Joshua. He holds the top times in the Georgia, across all classifications, in the 110 hurdles, where his best time of 14.01 is matched by classmate Timothy Alston Jr. Joshua’s personal best time of 36.55 in the 300 hurdles is the best in Georgia across all classifications and ranks seventh nationally,
“Kendrick is just a freak athlete,” Sybert said. “When it comes time to run, he is 100% focused and very confident. He can be aggressive sometimes in the 300 hurdles and get off his step count, but he has the athleticism to adjust on the fly and have a great race.”
Joshua has Alston Jr., whose best event is the 110-hurdles, pushing him every day in practice. A false start in the 110 at sectionals took away Alston’s chance to medal at state in the event, but he came back to run a personal best in the 300 hurdles of 38.37 to finish fifth and qualify for state.
Joshua is pumped about competing at state because a Georgia track and field coach is set to be on hand to watch his races as he is drawing national recruiting interest.
“I definitely like the 300 hurdles the best because it tests my skill level more, and I can use my flat speed in that event,” Joshua said. “My goal is to double and win both events at state and I think I can do it.”
Stafford looking to repeat
Jenkins senior Coray Stafford, who won the Class 5A state crown in the 100 meters last year, is looking to repeat in Class 3A Saturday in the meet held in Albany.
Stafford, who has signed to run track and play football at Dodge City Community College in Kansas, won sectional crowns in the 100 meters and 200 meters (with a personal best time of 21.22) last week. His sizzling personal best time of 10.30 in the 100 from April 16 in the Region 3-3A meet is tied for third this year across all classifications in the state.
Benedictine’s Frazier peaking at right time
Benedictine junior Chris “Bubba” Frazier, who recently announced his commitment as a receiver to play football at Notre Dame, ran a personal best 100-meter time of 10.54 to win a Class 4A sectional crown last week and was third in the 200 meters in 21.78.
He enters the state meet with the fourth best 100 meter time in 4A. Benedictine’s 4×100 meter relay team — featuring Frazier, Stanley Smart Jr., Eron Mallard and Stephen Cannon, is also expected to contend for a gold medal, along with the 4×200 relay squad.
Wesley leads Bethesda to SCISA State crown
Bethesda Academy junior Raleigh Wesley led the Blazers to a SCISA state title last week as he was the high-point winner in the Class 2A meet.
He ran a personal best time of 10.65 to win the 100 meters and took the 200 meter crown in 21.57, while also running legs on two relay teams that won gold medals.
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN