The Swainsboro High School track and field teams delivered an impressive showing at the Region 3A meet held April 24, as the Tigers claimed the Region Runner-Up title on the boys’ side while the Lady Tigers secured a strong third-place finish overall.
Leading the charge for Swainsboro was standout performer Shannon Benjamin, who earned High Point honors for Region 3A Boys. Benjamin turned in a dominant performance, capturing first place in both the high jump and triple jump, while also adding third place finishes in the long jump and 110-meter hurdles.
The Tigers saw strong contributions across multiple events. Javarri Archie captured first place in the 400-meter dash, and Chris Tarver took home first in the boys shot put. Sprinter Marco Danford earned second-place finishes in both the 100-meter and 200-meter races, while Jabius Smith placed second in both the triple jump and long jump. In field events, Derrick Hughes added a third-place finish in the discus.
Swainsboro’s relay teams also played a key role in the boys’ runner-up finish. The 4x1 and 4x2 relay teams both placed second, with the 4x1 team consisting of Jabius Smith, Marco Danford, Daveyion Williams, and Kyle Johnson. The 4x4 relay team also secured second place, while the 4x8 team finished third.
On the girls’ side, the Lady Tigers continued to show growth and competitiveness. Kali Brown led the way with a first-place finish in the high jump and added a third-place finish in the 400-meter dash. Naveih Hamiel placed third in the 100-meter hurdles, and Kaitlyn Hughes earned third place in the high jump.
The Lady Tigers’ relay teams contributed valuable points as well, with the 4x2, 4x1, and 4x4 teams all earning third-place finishes. Team members included Kimora Freeman, Lay Freeman, McKinley Walden, KK Murphy, Paris Spann, and Zybrionna Ford.
The boys’ 4x8 relay team, made up of Brandon Brumfield, Qua McClendon, Cayden Watson, and Marri Holmes, also earned a third-place finish.
In addition to top three finishes, several Swainsboro athletes qualified for the sectional meet by placing in the top four of their events. Those advancing include Jamorri Holmes (4th, high jump), Ajontae Floyd (4th, discus), Jalaya Freeman (4th, 200m), Zybrionna Ford (4th, 1600m), Kali Brown (4th, long jump), and McKinley Walden (4th, triple jump).
The Sectional Meet is scheduled for May 2 at Bleckley County, where Swainsboro athletes will compete for spots in the state championships.
With a strong showing at the region meet, the Tigers and Lady Tigers now turn their focus to sectionals, carrying momentum and confidence into the next stage of competition.
