Panhandle Open to kickoff track season

PANAMA CITY - A pair of defending state champions will headline the first track meet of the season as Bay hosts the Panhandle Open Saturday at Tommy Oliver Stadium.

The meet gets under way at 10 a.m. with the 3,200-meter relay followed by the field events. Finals of the running events will begin at 12:30 p.m.

Jordon Byas, Bay’s returning 400 meter champion, and Kayla Parker of Port St. Joe, who won the 100 meters, was second in the 100 hurdles and third in the long jump headline the meet, which will be for Class 1A and 2A schools only.

Meet coordinator Aaron Byas of Bay explained that the larger schools aren’t eligible to start their season until next week, because their state meet occurs one week later in May.

In addition to Bay and Port St. Joe, schools competing include Wewahitchka, Gulf Breeze, Bozeman and Arnold.

A total of 17 events will be held in both boys and girls divisions.

Primavera fifth: Mosley High School senior, Zach Primavera took over the points lead in the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour last weekend in the weather-shortened Craft Farms Junior Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Primavera posted a 3-over 75 the first day as a weather front moved in during the round. Severe weather on Sunday then caused play to be suspended, and Primavera’s 75 earned fifth place and moved him into the points lead. He is the defending SJGT tour champion.

Arnold sophomore Tyler Chavira carded a 90 for ninth place in the 14-15 division. Mosley sophomore Michael Riley was forced to withdraw due to illness.