Jayla Lawrence is more than a pretty face.
The versatile Richmond Hill track standout was the school’s Homecoming queen last football season and there was no one in the packed stadium who could disagree with the decision.
Lawrence, however, could care less about being remembered for that honor. Her legacy, six years in the making, is for her accomplishments in track which earned her a scholarship to Georgia Southern.
When Lawrence signed with the Eagles, along with teammate Julia Wilson, she became part of a group of 18 Wildcats who have signed with Division I programs since Coach Levi Sybert took over the program in 2010 including current boys’ runners Memphis Rich (Appalachian State) and Noah Sybert (Kennesaw State).
“That was a great night,” Lawrence said of being selected Homecoming queen. “But I definitely want to be remembered for what I’ve accomplished in track.”
Lawrence played a major role in the Wildcats girls' winning the Region 1-7A title last week. She won the 100-meter dash, was second in the 200 and won the 300-meter hurdles, which she considers to be her best event, in a personal best 46.23 seconds. The sectional meet is Saturday at Valdosta with the top eight advancing to the state meet May 9-11 at Carrollton.
Hyperactive as a child, Lawrence said she got into running on her mother’s orders.
“When I was little, I was diagnosed with ADHD and sitting down was something I really couldn’t do,” Lawrence said. “Eventually my mama was just like, ‘Why don’t you just go outside and run,’ and I was like ‘Okay.’
“So, I went out and kept running and running and the ADHD calmed down and it just became a good sport for me.”
And Lawrence became good at the sport which she took up seriously once she reached Richmond Hill Middle School.
“In the sixth grade it was just trying things and seeing how much fun it was,” Lawrence said. “In seventh grade it was ‘Ooh winning,’ and I was like I’m just going to keep going.”
Covid cost Lawrence her eighth-grade season but once she got to the high school and came under Sybert’s tutelage she flourished.
“It was easy winning the region this year,” Lawrence said. “But it’s a big step up going to the sectional. The competition is much better and then the state is really big because of the Atlanta schools. Now it’s now or nothing.”
“I’m excited and I feel like I’m really lucky for my team and I to have made it this far. I believe we can keep it going and make it to state.”
In addition to Lawrence and Wilson, other Richmond Hill girls who have signed with DI programs include Nikki Shields, Kennesaw State; Amanda Elliott, Air Force Academy; Hannah Bryan, Indiana State; Kayla McGuire, U.S. Naval Academy; Kayla Gholar, Tennessee, and Reese Wilson, Kennesaw State.
Along with Rich and Sybert, other boys’ DI signees include Shaquille Walker, Brigham Young; Daryl Dunham, South Carolina; Corey Jones, Savannah State (DI at the time), Rakim Gonzalez, Akron; Daryn Pettit, Delaware; Jalen Murray, Alabama; Jasai Taylor, Troy, and Garrison Gilbert, Elon.