Mmekom Inyang, a senior at Richmond Hill High School, is a multi-sport athlete for the Wildcats. She alternates between small forward and guard for the girls basketball team, and as a member of the girls track team, Inyang competes in four different events: 100-meter hurdles, 4×100 relay, javelin, and shot put.
She holds the Richmond Hill High School record in the 100 hurdles and the 4×100 relay. Her 100 hurdles record-setting time was 14.31 seconds, and her 4×100 relay record-setting time was 47.22, set at last year’s state competition.
Inyang won the bronze medal last year at the Junior Olympics, competing as a member of the Coastal Georgia AAU track team.
At the time of writing, Inyang is competing in the New Balance Nationals Indoor competition.
After receiving college offers for her track abilities from programs across the country, including South Carolina State, Kennesaw State, Norfolk State, and Howard University, she made her decision last November. She chose Howard University.
As a member of the Howard track team, Inyang will actually compete in the heptathlon, meaning she will increase the number of events she competes in from four to seven. Heptathlon athletes are rare, as only the best athletes are suited to take part in seven different events – 100 hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200 dash, long jump, javelin, and 800 run – at a single track meet.
As good as Inyang is on the track, she is pretty good at her other sport too.
“Mmekom is a great defender, and I constantly called on her to guard our opponents’ best offensive player, regardless of position,” said Sarah Jones, Richmond Hill girls basketball head coach.
Inyang was named the Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year in the state’s largest classification two years straight, for Class 7A in 2024 and Class 6A in 2025.
She was an All-Region First Team selection this past season for her performance on the Richmond Hill girls basketball team, where she averaged 8.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.5 deflections, and 2 steals per game while shooting 35% from the floor.
“Mmekom joined our basketball program when she moved to Richmond Hill her sophomore season,” Jones said.
Jones said Inyang made an immediate impact with her skills and her demeanor, which helped her win over her teammates.
“She instantly made a big impact just by her positive attitude, her work ethic, and her ability to be coached,” Jones said. “She has been a great teammate, which has made her a great leader for our basketball program.
“Her main position was small forward, but she would move out to play guard if that’s what we needed at the time.”
Jones said Inyang will be quite the addition to the Howard University track program.
“I know she’ll be as great an asset there as she was here for our Richmond Hill basketball program,” Jones said.
Stacy Bennett, Richmond Hill athletic director, said that while he is excited for Mmekom Inyang, it will be tough to see her leave.
“She is special, and we will miss her,” Bennett said.
