Epps Places At AAU Nationals

Vidalia's track and field pipeline has a new name to watch.

Rising sixth-grader Jayden Epps put the local program on the national radar last week, earning AAU All-American honors in two distance events at the AAU National Club Championships held at the University of North Florida from July 7-11.

Competing in the 11U division on Wednesday and Thursday, Epps proved he can pace with the country's elite young runners. He captured second place in the 800-meter race, crossing the finish line in 2:24. He also took on the 1500 meters, securing a third-place finish with a time of 4:54.

Securing dual All-American status at this age is a heavy accomplishment, but local coaches have seen his daily effort firsthand.

'We are extremely proud of Jayden and his hard work throughout this season, and we can't wait to see what his future holds in store,' Vidalia High School Head Track and Field Coach Mandy Godbee said.

With national hardware already in hand, Epps heads into his middle school career with plenty of momentum.