Invitional showcases track and field athletes

The Evans Invitational track and field meet will be held Saturday at Blanchard Stadium, with running events set to begin at 10 a.m. For safety reasons, shot put competition takes place outside the stadium, near the football practice field.

The second-annual event has expanded by two teams this year, although Evans High School athletic director Lee Chomskis hopes to find a late addition this week.

"We had six teams last year, and we have eight this year," Chomskis said. "If we can find a ninth, that would be a plus."

Teams scheduled to compete in the Evans Invitational are: Burke County; Thomson; North Augusta; Lovejoy; Richmond Academy; Cross Creek; Greenbrier; and, Evans.

Champions will be decided for girls and boys squads, and an early favorite on the girls' side is Greenbrier. The well-balanced Lady Wolfpack has dominated local teams this season, and easily won its own Greenbrier Invitational last month at the Brierpatch.

The Evans Lady Knights will counter with discus and shot throwers Taylar Stallings and Ashley Brodhecker, along with standout freshman runner Bekah Gibbs.

Another wild-card is Lovejoy High School. The Atlanta-area school and Evans both compete in Region 4-AAAAA, so the Knights and Lady Knights will have a chance to measure their skills against a region opponent for the first time in 2002.