Vidalia Indians Track & Field Launch 2026 Season in Statesboro
The Vidalia High School Indians track and field teams kicked off their 2026 campaign this past Saturday, February 21, making the short trip to the Statesboro High Pre-season Invitational. Competing against a packed field of 20 teams, the local squads showed they are already in midseason form. The boys’ team secured an impressive second-place overall finish, narrowly trailing Bradwell Institute, while the girls claimed third place behind May River and Lakeside Evans.
Girls
The Vidalia girls highlighted their speed and endurance with standout performances across the relays. The 4x100m team of Kayden Love, Dreshiya Jackson, Samyri Dixon, and J'Miyah Hunt earned silver with a solid 49.68. That exact same quartet then commanded the 4x200m relay, taking second again with a time of 1:47.81. The distance crew also stepped up, as the 4x800m team of Cannon Sharpton, Judith Hussey, Elizabeth Sowell, and Emilynn Campbell secured second place in 11: 25.
Campbell was a major individual standout for the Indians, delivering a massive early-season breakthrough in the 800m run. She placed third with a personal best of 2:35, shaving a full ten seconds off her previous mark. In the field events, Chanterrella Miller added crucial points with a 34'6' leap to take third in the triple jump.
Boys
On the boys' side, the Indians opened the year ahead of last season's pace with improved execution. The 4x100m relay team powered through some shaky handoffs to capture a season-opening victory in 42.11. The 4x200m quartet of Jaydyn Young, Tyler McKinney, Jamarion Lanier, and Andre Jackson left absolutely no room for doubt, winning by a landslide in 1:28.9. Young kept his momentum going over the hurdles, claiming first in the 110m event at 14.84. Meanwhile, Jackson had a breakout day in the sprints, earning second in the 100m dash with a personal best of 10.67 and second in the 200m at 22.22.
The boys' distance runners also made their mark, with the 4x800m relay team of Simon Collins, Jamarcus Bouyer, Kartel Lane, and Jaylen Shanklin taking third in 9:31. Iron-man Cash Driggers proved his toughness by matching his state-meet time from last year in the 800m, placing third at 2:01. Just 15 minutes later, he returned to the track to anchor the 4x400m relay— alongside McKinney, Bouyer, and Marquis Harvey—to another third-place finish. In the throwing circle, CJ Monroe had a career day, shattering his personal bests to earn two silver medals with a 42'3' shot put and a 137'8' discus throw.
This pre-season meet served as a perfect rustbuster for the program. With multiple event winners, high placements, and several personal records already in the books, the Vidalia track and field teams are poised for a highly competitive spring.
