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Rakeem Littles signs to run for Augusta University
Rakeem Littles
Richmond Hill's Rakeem Littles, center, signs to run for Augusta University Thursday afternoon, seated between his parents Melody and Tony. Behind him, left to right, are brothers Akeem and Jakeem and Levi Sybert, track and cross country coach for the Wildcats. - photo by Ted O'Neil

The pipeline from Richmond Hill High School to Augusta University expanded Thursday.

Rakeem Littles signed a national letter of intent to run cross country and track for the Jaguars starting in the fall.

“Their program is very similar to what we do here, so I think I’ll continue to do well,” Littles said.

Levi Sybert, Richmond Hill’s track and cross country coach, agreed.

“Rakeem has been a humongous asset to us in so many different ways,” he said. “I’ve never grown so much as a coach. He changed my heart and mind from being about individual athletes to being about group goals.”

Littles said he remembers qualifying for sectionals as a freshman, but failing to make it to the state meet.

“On the trip home, coach told me I was going to change the program,” he said. “I’m beyond grateful.”

Littles also thanked his family, his twin brother Akeem in particular, for his success.

“You never want to be last in our family,” he joked of his eight siblings. “Akeem was always there to motivate me. He made me what I am today.”

Littles has had a successful athletic career so far as a Wildcat. He was a member of the wrestling team that won both the team dual and traditional team state titles this season. He was also on the cross country team that had a top 10 finish in the state last fall and the track team which finished second last spring at the state meet.

“It’s great to know I can do something not many can,” he said. “Wrestling and running is an unusual combination for a two-sport athlete.”

Littles, who intends on majoring in business management, will join six other former Wildcats who now compete for Augusta, a Division II school in the Peach Belt Conference. Will Hammesfahr, Rachel Hammesfahr and Shane Rowand all run cross country and track for the Jaguars, while Andre Walker is on the track team, Chloe Allen is on the volleyball team and Morgan Hunter is on the softball team.

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