This past weekend, a handful of local athletes followed up the previous weekend’s FSU Relays with another college-high school hybrid meet, this time, in Gator Country. The UF Relays provided an excellent book-end for spring break, delivering both strong competition and outstanding performances.

The fun began on Friday night, with the high school distance carnival. Jana Stolting, the lone Maclay competitor, ran a 4:57.64 in the girls’ 1600m to take third place. Chiles runners, Carly Thomas (5:22.05) and Jodie McGuff (5:23.30) finished fifteenth and twenty-first respectively. In the boys’ 1600, Branden Lingerfelt, of Chiles, ran 4:37.98, for thirty-fourth place. Later that night, in the girls’ 3200m, Chiles phenom, Lily Williams, made her comeback from bronchitis with a sixth place showing in a time of 11:05.05. Teammate, Taylor Buzzard ran a 9:57.93 to take twenty-first place in the boys’ 3200m. Fellow Timberwolf, Raven Otway, made a statement in Friday’s discus throw, taking third place with a distance of 119-01.

Otway returned on Saturday to take eighth in the shot put (35-08.00). Her teammate, Haley Watts, vaulted a height of 10-00.00, good enough for ninth place in the girls’ pole vault. Chiles also had strong showings in Saturday’s relays (it is the UF Relays, after all!). Their girls’ 4x800m team ran a 10:07.95, finishing in sixteenth place. Their boys’ 4x800m team ran a time of 8:28.13, finishing in twenty-first place. In the 4x100m relay, their girls finished twenty-fourth overall in 50.32. Their boys took thirty-sixth in 44.38.

With spring break drawing to a close, it is almost time to head into post-season competition. Before the quest for State glory begins, however, local runners, jumpers, throwers, and vaulters will be on the hunt for City glory. The City Championship Meet will take place this Tuesday at 5 P.M. at its new home, the Chiles track. With the change in venue comes a change in atmosphere as well; in order to enjoy this apparently “enhanced” atmosphere, you will have to pay admission, unlike in years past when the meet was held at FSU. So, say “so-long” to Mike Long (and five dollars) and “hello” to Chiles. Enjoy the change in scenery and cheer on the Big Bend’s best as they go head-to-head one last time.