Arnold's Edgecombe spurs Marlins

PANAMA CITY - Off she goes.

A day after winning two events and finishing second in another at the District 1-2A track meet at Tommy Oliver Stadium on Wednesday, Arnold freshman DeeDee Edgecombe and her military family are relocating to South Carolina today.

"Wow," Arnold girls coach Tyrone Bolware said. "She really did what we knew she could do all year. She's really peaking."

The Marlins' coaching staff had hopes of Edgecombe winning all four of her events. It almost happened. She captured the 200-meter title in 26.44 seconds and was part of the winning 4-by-100 team. She also finished second in the triple jump, with an effort of 35 feet - in just her second try at the event.

Edgecombe, who moved from Andros, Bahamas to America in 2005, was the favorite in the 100 but was disqualified for moving her body after trying to adjust her foot in the blocks.

"I wanted to make up for the 100 so I did in the 200," Edgecombe said.

Her individual prowess wasn't enough to land Arnold the district crown. Gulf Breeze ran away with it, winning the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 races. It won with 175 points. West Florida was second with 139, Arnold third with 100, Pensacola Catholic fourth with 81, Marianna and Bay tied for fifth with 54. Walton was seventh with 28.3 and Chipley eighth with 7.6

Bay captured the boys district title with 154 points and sent nine athletes plus three relay teams to the Region 1 meet at Jacksonville Bolles on April 16.

West Florida was second with 134 points, Gulf Breeze was third with 105, Pensacola Catholic fourth with 73, Arnold fifth with 54 and Marianna sixth with 51. Chipley came in seventh with 38, Northview was eighth with 27 and Walton ninth with 9 points.

Reigning state 400-meter champion Jordon Byas started his quest for a repeat performance in easy fashion. He won the 400 in 47.86 seconds. Teammate Terrance Lowder was second in 51.42. Byas also won the 200. Bay also swept through the 4x100, 4x400 and 4x800 relays.

The best race of the meet was the girls 4x400. With the results all but in the books, Gulf Breeze and West Florida were running first and second through most of the first three laps. Down the final 100 meters of the third lap Gulf Breeze's Katie Albridge and West Florida's Jasmine Sutton were running side by side as they handed off the baton to the anchor legs.

From the moment they look the handoff, West Florida's Haleigh Sport and Gulf Breeze's Lauren Musick were running shoulder to shoulder throughout the final lap. Sport kicked it up during the final 20 meters and West Florida won by a step in 4:15:09. Gulf Breeze finished second in 4:15:15.

Edgecombe may be back with Arnold next week in Jacksonville. Bolware said Edgecombe's father is planning on driving her to the meet.

"She's just a natural talent," Bolware said. "She's just really going to explode in the next few years."