FOLEY – Two of Foley High School’s school record holders signed to join the track and field team at the University of South Alabama on Tuesday morning.

Senior thrower Trevior Graves and runner Shakeria Williams will join the Jaguars next season.

Williams holds the school record for the long jump and was a member of a school-best 4x200 relay team. She was part of a 4x100 team that won a state title in 2006.

“Today means so much to me,” Williams said. “It is a tremendous blessing to get to this point after working so hard for so long.”

Foley track and field coach D.D. Andersen said she leaned heavily on Williams as a team leader starting in her sophomore season.

“I leaned on those who I felt were my elite athletes and Shakeria was one of them. That was a lot to ask of a 10th-grader, but she stepped up and took that leadership role.”

Williams plans to study physical therapy in college.

“I love helping people,” she said.

Andersen said she also leaned heavily on Graves that same year.

“He stepped up tremendously his 10th-grade year,” Andersen said. “The other people on the team started to listen to him. He is an exceptional young man.”

Graves finished second in the discuss throw in Class 6A in last weekend’s state track and field meet in Gulf Shores. He also holds the school record in the discuss throw with a throw of 142-5.

“Today means a lot to me because I know I made the right decision,” Graves said. “This was the best decision I have ever made. South is the right place for me.”

Graves, who had 50 tackles and four sacks for Foley’s football team last season, also plans to walk on to South Alabama’s new football team.

Andersen said that she sees Graves and Williams being successful at South early on.

“I have no doubt they will do well,” Andersen said. “They will benefit tremendously from South’s intense weight training program. That will really pay off with their hard work. I think they will perform well very quickly.”