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Parents recall when they first got an inkling that their child was gifted athletically.

The mother of Savannah Christian track and field standout Jadyn Singleton tells the story of when her daughter made an early impression.

“When she was barely 2 years old, we went to the pool,” Margie Singleton recalled. “We had our little golf cart. We’re coming home. She wanted to run home from the pool to our house. I looked at my husband. There’s no way this child’s going to run home. She ran all the way down that sidewalk faster than anything I’ve seen any 2-year-old do. I said that child’s going to be a runner.”

Jadyn Singleton, now 17, has heard the story -- a lot -- about how fast she ran four blocks all the way home – a routine she continued through childhood. 

“Honestly, I think I just got bored of the golf cart,” Jadyn says now, not having a firsthand memory of this origin story. “I was a very active child. Anything I could do, I would do it. I think it started with Dad trying to race me.”

She might be onto something there. Whether it’s her father, Jason Singleton, “racing” a toddler, or more serious competitions in the years since then, Jadyn is always up to accept a challenge.

Her competitive streak is one reason why she has succeeded as a jumper and sprinter in track and field, in competitive and sideline cheerleading, as an honors student with a 4.2 grade-point average taking college-level classes and volunteering her spare time (what little she has) with several local charitable organizations.

She also has received awards for her leadership and community service. 

“It’s not just about athletics,” Margie Singleton said. “She’s a well-rounded kid.”

Last November, Jadyn was a member of Savannah Christian’s GHSA Class 3A state champion competition cheerleading squad. In May, she won the state long jump title with a leap of 18 feet, 4 3/4 inches to close out her junior year.

“She’s a winner. She doesn’t like losing,” Jason Singleton said. “She’s very determined once she does something to succeed at it. She’s very personally driven.”

Her personal track coach, Rephel Martin, said Jadyn is resolute to be at her best, and is committed to the training and preparation to accomplish her goals.

On a school day last spring, it would be routine for Singleton to train with him at 6 a.m. for 90 minutes, attend school, participate in SCPS track practice after school, go to her Savannah Sharks All-Star Cheerleading practice, and be home by 9 p.m. for dinner, homework and sleep perhaps by midnight.

“I’m very competitive,” Jadyn said. “If I’m going to work, I’m going to work hard and give it 100 percent to be the best I can be. I’ve always been a busy kid since I was little. I don’t think I can pick between each sport. I would rather do both and just work my best and learn how to manage time.”

The 5-7 Singleton is so motivated, she doesn’t need to be talked into such an ambitious schedule. 

“She hates losing,” Martin said. “I think that’s a great attribute to have, especially if you’re going to be a competitive person in any aspect of life, especially sports. When she’s challenged, she likes to overcome and rise to the occasion.”

Like in fifth grade during Field Day at Savannah Christian, when she defeated every girl and boy who raced her in a sprint on the asphalt track.

“I remember people chanting my name. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,’ ” said Jadyn, recalling the distance as probably 50 meters.

She didn’t join a track team until eighth grade at Savannah Christian. Jadyn was already busy since age 7 with competitive cheerleading and has since risen to Level 6 (the highest level) with her Savannah Sharks senior team, aptly named “Relentless.”

Martin said Jadyn’s experience in cheerleading translates to the track, as performing in high-pressure situations becomes normal. 

“They have to be, in their mind, perfect. There are no mistakes,” Martin said of the rigorous judging of cheerleading routines.

“At the end of the day, you’re going to go out on the stage, nervous or not,” Jadyn said. “I think as I’ve grown up, I’ve matured into pushing my feelings aside and just thinking about what I’ve learned and what I’ve done again and again and again so it’s muscle memory.”

Margie Singleton has explained to people that the parents haven’t pushed her. They’ve asked if she wanted to take a break. Instead, Jadyn schedules training sessions with coaches.

“From an early age, she’s been very organized, very determined, very focused,” Margie said. “From the time she was 4, she said she wanted to be a doctor, and to this day she has not changed away from that.”

Jadyn said she would like to become an anesthesiologist or radiologist. She was inspired by her mother’s successful battle against breast cancer.  Her mother started Margie’s Army Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for women in their fight against breast cancer. 

The foundation also raises awareness about the significance of knowing their breast density and the increased risk of cancer. To further the critical importance of this information, Georgia passed “Margie’s Law” in 2019. 

Jadyn is a team leader with the foundation, and she also is involved with the United Way Campaign, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, CURE Childhood Cancer and P.A.C.K., which distributes food and other items to children in the community.

She also has a summer job processing medical records at Southeast Lung Associates. She said they’ve been very understanding with her schedule, as when she competed June 15-18 at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Ore.

While excited and thrilled to be in “TrackTown USA” at the University of Oregon’s historic Hayward Field, Singleton produced a personal-best 5.72 meters (18 feet, 9 1/4 inches) for sixth place in the Girls Long Jump Championship division.

She also had won her heat in 12.29 seconds (her best is 12.09) in the Girls 100 Emerging Elite division. However, she ran into an unplanned schedule conflict. The long jump competition went long that afternoon, and Singleton decided to stay there rather than spend energy cutting over to the Girls 100-Meter finals, race and run back.

Jadyn said it was a tough decision but worked out with a podium finish in the long jump. And there’s always next year.

Jayden made a point during an interview to thank those who have helped her, from her parents to her coaches and teammates in cheerleading and track and many others in the community.

The Savannah native is an only child, and while she would love to have siblings, she understands there have been advantages as her parents have supported her interests and many activities.

“I definitely would say being the only child, a lot more focus can go into everything that I want to achieve in life,” Jadyn said. “My parents will do anything under the sun for me to achieve that. Flying all the way to Oregon, that’s crazy. They would go above the moon and stars just to make sure I have these. I’m blessed, for sure.”