Locals take first step toward state track berths

PANAMA CITY — West Florida Tech by far was the dominant team Friday in both divisions of the District 1-2A track and field meet at Tommy Oliver Stadium.

Brittany Crittendon of South Walton was the top individual athlete, winning three events and Walton’s Tray Williams probably turned in the most brilliant single performance by dominating the boys 100-meter dash.

But the meet basically began the culling process for the upcoming state meet next month, only the top four finishers in each event moving on to the Region 1-2A gathering in one week at Jacksonville Bolles.

Using that barometer, Bay topped county schools by sending eight individuals and three relays ahead in the girls division. The Tornadoes’ boys, like the girls a distant runner-up to West Florida, advanced seven individuals and two relays.

West Florida won the girls title with 193.66 points to 136.50 to Bay, the Jaguars dominating every distance event past 800 meters and displaying their outstanding 4x800 relay.

Crittendon was the only girl or boy to win more than one event, and wound up claiming first in the 200 meters, 100 hurdles and the long jump.

Williams, a state qualifier last year for Walton in the 100, conquered the breezy conditions at TOS to take his specialty in 10.61 seconds, well ahead of runner-up Jamari Hughes of Arnold in 10.98.

The Jaguars’ boys won six individual events and two relays to total 190 points. Bay was second with 106, Arnold fifth and Rutherford sixth.

Bay is sending seven boys, four of them in multiple events, and two relays to the region. Rutherford and Arnold each qualified four individuals and two relays.

Bay did have three individual champions in Demetrius Barnes (200), Sage Guillory (high jump) and Thomas Williams (shot put). Arnold claimed the title in the 4x100 relay.