Terrell County relay team sets school record; Kaleb White wins long jump

PEMBROKE — Years before they were chasing school records beneath the lights of a state sectional track meet, Symauri and Je’Cayden Smith were just two brothers wearing Terrell County Red Devils T-ball jerseys on dusty recreation fields in Dawson.

They won together then.

Now, they are hoping to do it one more time together on Georgia’s biggest high school track stage.

The Smith brothers helped lead a strong showing by the Terrell County Greenwave earlier this week at the GHSA Class A Division II sectionals at Bryan County High School, where the Greenwaves qualified multiple athletes for the state championships while rewriting part of the school record book in the process.

And when the final time flashed across the scoreboard in Pembroke, the celebration around the Terrell County team area said everything.

The Greenwaves had not only qualified for state.

They had made history.

The quartet of Symauri Smith, Je’Cayden Smith, Kaleb White and Daniel Williford blazed to a third-place finish in the 4×200-meter relay while setting a new school record with a time of 1:31.08.

For the Smith brothers, the moment carried far more meaning than just another medal or another time posted beside their names.

“The last time they were on the same team, they played T-ball together,” those close to the program recalled this week, remembering the brothers’ days with the Terrell County Red Devils recreation team that produced three undefeated regular seasons and a tournament championship.

Now, years later, the brothers are preparing for one final race together before Symauri’s Terrell County career comes to an end.

Earlier this season, freshman sensation Je’Cayden Smith broke the school record in the 100-meter dash with a blazing time of 10.76 seconds. Before the sectional meet, Symauri challenged his younger brother with one final goal.

“Before it’s over, we will break that 1:29 mark,” he told him.

In Pembroke, they added another chapter to Terrell County track history together.

The relay record was one of several major moments for the Greenwaves, who will send a strong group of athletes to the GHSA State Track and Field Championships scheduled for May 11-14 at the University of Georgia in Athens.

“There was a greater hunger this year in our kids and it showed,” one of the coaches said. “But they are not satisfied. There’s one more meet to complete.”

The team is coached by Marco Kirk, Dennis Smith and Eric Gervin.

Kaleb White continued his remarkable season by winning the sectional championship in the long jump while also placing seventh in the 100-meter dash. White’s versatility and explosiveness have made him one of the Greenwaves’ top point producers throughout the season.

Keyon Huckaby delivered another strong performance by finishing third in the high jump and eighth in the 110-meter hurdles, while Karson Greene added a sixth-place finish in the shot put.

The Lady Greenwaves matched that momentum with several standout performances of their own.

Alexis Parimon captured first place in the high jump, while Lynesha Hill soared to a sectional championship in the long jump. Britney Hill placed fifth in the shot put and seventh in the discus throw, and Malia Lewis earned a fifth-place finish in the 800-meter run.

Terrell County’s girls 4×100-meter relay team of Jakeira Asberry, Lynesha Hill, Kamya Marshall and Alexis Parimon finished fourth overall to advance to the state championships.

Now the Greenwave head to Athens carrying confidence, momentum and unfinished business.

For the Smith brothers, the clock stopped being just numbers a long time ago.

This season became about memories, family and one final opportunity to wear the same uniform together before the finish line finally arrives.

And now, with a school record already secured, the brothers head to Athens chasing something even bigger — a state championship for Dawson.