Cousins bask in Hughes' record-setting performance

PANAMA CITY — T.J. Lowder graduated from Bay a few months early to hasten the beginning of his football career at Florida International University.

His cousin, Arnold’s Jamari Hughes, showed Lowder what he’s been missing — at least on the track.

Hughes set a new county meet record in the 100-meter dash, breaking Lowder’s old mark with a 10.89-second sprint at the county track meet on Monday. Lowder ran a 10.99-second 100 on the stadium’s track a year ago to set the previous standard.

“And I’ll try to go lower next year,” said Hughes, a junior.

Lowder, 17, congratulated his cousin with a high-five and a hug on the track’s infield after Hughes’ time was announced. Hughes joked it was time to remove Lowder’s name from the sign outside the stadium detailing the records set on the track over the decades. Lowder bristled at that suggestion, but he acknowledged he was pleased it was Hughes who set the new mark. Hughes’ mother and Lowder’s mother are twin sisters.

The two enjoyed a spirited rivalry last year. Lowder set the stadium record while defeating Hughes by four-hundredths of a second at the county meet last April, but Hughes came back by edging Lowder at districts.

“We grew up together,” Lowder said. “It feels good that my cousin was the one who took it from me. I’m glad he did it. I’m proud of him. … He’s a nice guy, genuine, humble. He’s a prime example of a role model for kids.”

Hughes couldn’t prevent Bay from capturing the boys’ county championship with 119.5 team points. Arnold was second with 101 points, followed by Rutherford (59), Bozeman (41) and Mosley (29.5).

The Tornadoes completed a sweep of the team titles with a victory on the girls’ side, too. Bay tallied 146 points and blew past Mosley (95), Rutherford (53), Arnold (16) and Bozeman (16).

Bay shot putter Shytiarra Webb fell short of her goal of breaking the county meet record, but she still secured first place with a heave of 39 feet, 9 inches. She held off teammate Anissa Martin, who was second at 37-5, but Webb was hoping to surpass her throw of 41-9 in the North Florida Invitational on Saturday.

“I had one throw past it, I think, but a big (gust) of wind knocked me out” of the thrower’s circle, Webb said. “At the beginning of the season, I threw 33 (feet). The furthest I’ve thrown this year is 42-9. That’s 9 feet difference. It’s hitting weights, getting my kick-slide down, and my (rotational) speed.”

A junior, Webb said she hadn’t thrown the shot for a couple years until picking it up last year. She admitted that she wants to see how much she can develop, and she said her best throw this year ranks second in the state at any classification.

“At first I just came out here and threw it,” she said. “Mostly it was just natural strength. … When I went from 35 to 38 feet, it made me want to push myself harder.”