Vidalia High School Track Teams Shine at GHSA State Championships

Courtesy of VHS

The Vidalia High School track and field program delivered one of its most memorable performances in recent history at the GHSA State Championships, with both the boys’ and girls’ teams claiming State Runners-up finishes behind powerhouse Bleckley County. The Indians brought home multiple state titles, shattered state records, and produced a wave of standout individual performances that highlighted the depth and talent of the program.

Relay Dominance and Record-Breaking Runs The girls’ squad got off to a flying start in the sprints, capturing gold in both the 4×100 and 4×200 relays. The quartet of Kayden Love, Dreshiya Jackson, Ze Rollins, and J’Miyah Hunt proved unstoppable. In the 4×200, they didn’t just win — they demolished the state record with an outstanding time of 1:42.11, etching their names into Georgia high school track history.

The boys answered in kind. The 4×200 relay team of Jaydyn Young, Ja’Marre Wiggs, Tyler McKinney, and Andre Jackson broke the state record as well, clocking a blazing 1:47.45 to claim the state championship. Their performance capped a championship meet filled with highlightreel moments for Vidalia.

Individual

State Champions

Several Indians stood atop the podium as individual state champions. Andre Jackson sprinted to victory in the 100m dash, while Jaydyn Young dominated the 110m hurdles, adding another gold to Vidalia’s haul. Takaiyah Bacon continued her legendary career by winning the triple jump for the third consecutive year, cementing her status as one of the most continued from page

accomplished athletes in recent Vidalia history.

Additional Standout Placers

The girls’ team showed remarkable depth across multiple events. Adding to her gold in the triple jump, Takaiyah Bacon took second in the long jump. Dreshiya Jackson claimed third in the long jump and fifth in the triple jump. In the sprints, Ze Rollins and Kayden Love finished fifth and sixth respectively in the 100m dash, and J’Miyah Hunt placed fifth in the 200m.

Mischa Wardlaw took fifth in the 300m hurdles, and Emilynn Campbell crossed sixth in the 800m. The 4×400 relay team of Mischa Wardlaw, Takaiyah Bacon, Messiah Salem, and Emilynn Campbell also secured valuable points with a sixth-place finish.

On the boys’ side, field events and distance runners delivered crucial points. CJ Monroe had a monster meet, finishing second in the shot put with a strong throw of 50-0 and third in the discus at 157-3. The 4×800 relay team of Simon Collins, Adrian Brewton, Wyatt Vassey, and Cash Driggers set a new school record, placing third with a time of 8:27.13.

Cash Driggers also earned individual bronze in both the 1600m and 800m events, while Tyler McKinney placed eighth in the 100m. In the shorter relays, the 4×100 team of Tyler McKinney, Jaydyn Young, Ja’Marre Wiggs, and Jamarion Lanier finished fourth, and the 4×400 relay team of Kashun Coney, Jamarcus Bouyer, Cash Driggers, and Andre Jackson placed sixth.

A Historic Day for Vidalia Track

Head Coach Mandy Godbee and the entire Vidalia staff should be immensely proud of this group. From recordbreaking relay performances to multi-event standouts like Takaiyah Bacon and versatile contributors like Cash Driggers and CJ Monroe, the Indians competed with heart, precision, and excellence throughout the meet. With both programs finishing as State Runnersup, the future looks bright for Vidalia track and field. These athletes not only represented their school with pride but also left an indelible mark on Georgia high school athletics.

Congratulations to all the athletes, coaches, families, and supporters who made this championship run possible. The 2026 GHSA State Championships will be remembered as a banner year for Vidalia High School.

The VHS boys finished as State Runners-up at the GHSA State Meet.Photo by VHS