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Richmond Hill sweeps track invite
RH steeplechase
Left to right: Jacob Collins, Cooper Williams and Lucas Van Ginkel, who swept the 2,000-meter steeplechase for Richmond Hill at Friday's Georgia Game Changers Apex Invite.

The Richmond Hill boys’ and girls’ track and field teams swept the Georgia Game Changers Apex Invite they hosted Friday.

Jacob Collins, Cooper Williams and Lucas Van Ginkel swept the top three spots in the boys’ 2,000-meter steeplechase, while Avery Waters won the same race for the girls.

Daryn Petitt won the girls’ 1,600-meter and 800-meter runs, while Rachel Hammesfahr and Jacob Hedgepeth won the girls’ and boys’ 3,200-meter races.

Demond Fleming won the boys’ 400-meter race, while Fleming, Sam James, Shane Rowand and Jordan Perkins took the boys’ 4x400.

The top eight finishers in each event scored for their team, with first place getting 10 points, second place eight points and third through eighth scoring six, five, four, three, two and one. The Richmond Hill girls’ team finished with 113 points, besting second-place Effingham County by 17 points. The boys’ team finished with 163 points, more than doubling runner-up Savannah Christian Prep.

“We filled all of our events with what the athletes will be competing in at the region meet in order to get a feel on how well they could handle the load,” Coach Levi Sybert said. “I saw some consistent and strong performances. The invite was intended to be a meet in the season that sets the standard of what the performances should be like for the rest of the season.”

Tuesday’s meet with Liberty County and Bradwell Institute has been cancelled, so the Wildcats will next be in action April 20 and 22 at the regional meet hosted by Statesboro.

“We should have our best showing in numerous years for both the boys and girls this year at regions,” Sybert added. “Ultimately, our eyes are fixed on top performances at the most crucial time of the season.”

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