Bay County track and field meet set for Thursday

PANAMA CITY - Track coaches are typically reserved people.

They train their athletes with moderation and progression in mind until the race, then hope they peak when the gun is shot.

Running fast and wining are the goals. Breaking records are a bonus.

Not at today's county meet hosted by Rutherford at Tommy Oliver Stadium.

"I'm hoping that some of the records are going to fall," Rutherford boy's coach Mike Stanton said. "I'm just hoping it's going to be a competitive track meet from the field events to the final 4-by-400 event."

The field events begin at 1 p.m. followed by the track events at 3 p.m.

Mosley is aiming for its seventh straight boys' title and Rutherford looks for a fourth straight girls' crown.
For the first time in county meet history, Stanton said, the entire event will be timed electronically.

"We will have precise records," Stanton said. "If some of the records do fall, it will be a heck of a feat, because all of the other records were timed handheld. If they can break some records that are up there right now with a fully automated meet, we got some fast kids."

Breaking records is Bay coach Aaron Byas' goal today.
The Tornadoes already hold the county record in the 4x800 and 4x400 relays. Today's goal is to set a new mark in the 4x100. Byas will run DeAnthony Levins, Justin Manchester, DeAndre Richardson and defending 400-meter state champion Jordon Byas in the 4x100.

"We basically plan on winning all the relays," Byas said. "I think our biggest challenge will be from Rutherford in the 4x100 but in the other ones I think we have a clear advantage."

Records could fall in a few girls races, as well.
Rutherford girls coach Anthony Collier believes senior Adrianna Hill could break the 200-meter mark. Se'von Mills and Demetrica Daniels also will be factors in the sprint races.

Most eyes will be on the 4x400 girls race. Rutherford and Mosley have split their last two meetings in the relay, with the Rams winning at the North Florida Relays and the Dolphins taking the most recent battle.

Mosley's Brittany Montgomery and Candice Hilton will try to bring a 4x400 title to the Lady Dolphins.
Hill, however, could be the story of the girls' meet.

She's favored in the 100- and 200-meters.

"I don't know if we're going to be able to pull it off again for the fourth straight year," Collier said. "The competition is just spread out. There's a lot of points out there that a lot of kids from the other schools have a shot at getting."

Besides the relays, one of the most anticipated boys races is the 100-meter dash. Football players dominate the fastest times in 100, led by Arnold's Jeremy Hester, who has run an 11.36-second 100-meter dash, Stanton said.

Mosley running back Tristen McCathern ran an 11.38 and Rutherford's John Franklin, the only non-football player among the fastest times owns a time of 11.4 seconds. Bozeman's Brett Shumate also will compete.

Bay's Jamal Cain and Franklin are expected to battle for the high-jump title. Cain has been jumping around 6-feet, 4-inches this year and Byas thinks he can get to 6-6.

During their seven-year run, the Mosley boys team has won mostly on sheer size. This year, Bay will try to take the reigns with a 17-man team, records or not.

"There's a lot of records with the handhelds that's going to be hard to beat," Collier said. "There's a lot of opportunities out there. There's a good field."