Track athletes begin trek to state
This is one time where the integrity of the team pales in comparison to the benefit of the individual.
The District 1-2A track and field meet begins 11 a.m. Friday at Tommy Oliver Stadium as area athletes begin their annual quest to ascend to the state level.
The top four individuals in each boys and girls event, as well as the top four relays in respective races will advance to the Region 1-2A meet next week at Jacksonville Bolles. Therefore, while team totals will be accumulated in both divisions they really aren’t as important as how many athletes reach the next level.
“Right now it’s about moving on to region and moving on to state,” said Aaron Byas, coach of Bay’s contingents. “Team totals are not that important right now.”
Also scheduled today are the District 2-1A and 3-1A meets at Wewahitchka and Tallahassee Maclay, respectively. Area schools Blountstown, Cottondale, Graceville, Holmes County, Ponce de Leon and Sneads join host Wewa in 2-1A. Franklin County, Liberty County and Port St. Joe are in the 3-1A mix.
Mosley won’t compete in its District 2-3A meet until next week at Tallahassee Chiles.
Byas said that athletes from South Walton and West Florida could be among those depriving county representatives from Arnold, Bay, Bozeman and Rutherford in Friday’s meet at the stadium.
“West Florida has tremendous middle distance runners, they’re one or two in the region and in the state Top 10 in the 4-by-800 relay. Bay’s 4x400 quartet, he said, is in the Top 10 in girls Class 2A.
Bay’s girls have dominated recent local meets as a team, and Byas said that of the 16 girls on the squad there’s a chance of 12-14 advancing to region.
In the boys division, Byas said, West Florida, Bay and Arnold should lead the qualifiers.
“Arnold’s 4 by 1 is strong and the 4 by 4 is good,” he said. “The 4 by 4 should be pretty interesting with my team and West Florida. Arnold is very good in the 4 by 1, them and Rutherford.
“I hope our field guys do well. Something to watch, though, is West Florida is outstanding in the 4 by 800 in both the girls and boys.”
That will be the lone running event during the field portion of the meet that begins at 11 a.m. Preliminaries in other races begin at 1 p.m. with finals expected to start at 3 p.m.
Admission is $6.
- District 2-2A: (at Tommy Oliver Stadium) Arnold, Bay, Bozeman, Chipley, Marianna, Northview, Pensacola Catholic, Rutherford, South Walton, Walton, West Florida.
- District 2-1A: (at Wewahitchka) Blountstown, Cottondale, Graceville, Holmes County, Ponce de Leon, Sneads, Wewahitchka
- District 3-1A (at Maclay) FAMU, Franklin County, Jefferson County, Liberty County, Maclay, North Florida Christian, Port St. Joe, West Gadsden
