This past week marked the beginning of District competition for area 3A teams and the start of Regional battles for local 1A and 2A athletes. The competition grows tougher as State looms on the horizon, but the Big Bend’s finest proved they are up to the challenge.

On Thursday, Chiles, Leon, and Lincoln made the trip to Tommy Oliver Stadium in Panama City to compete in the 3A District 2 Meet. Chiles took both overall titles, while Lincoln took fourth on the girls’ side and third on the boys’ side, and Leon claimed seventh on the girls’ side and fifth on the boys’ side. Those who finished in the top four in their event earned a berth to the Region Meet. On the girls’ side, local qualifiers include but are not limited to: the Chiles 4x800m relay team (second in 10:05.61), the Leon 4x800m relay team (third in 10:24.53), Chiles runners, Lily Williams (5:33.99 and 11:45.00), Kaia Hampton (5:34.26 and 11:44.12), Kendall Andrews (5:34.48 and 11:44.70), and Carly Thomas (5:34.60 and 11:38.69), who took first through fourth in both the 1600m run and 3200m run, Lincoln’s Lacey Rivers (first in the 200m dash in 26.12), and Lincoln’s 4x400m relay team (third in 4:15.25).

On the guys’ side, qualifiers include both the Chiles (second with 8:31.16) and Lincoln (third with 8:36.26) 4x800m relay teams, Leon’s Matt Mizereck (4:31.60 and 9:43.48) and Will Stanford (4:32.78 and 9:42.98) who took first and second in both the 1600m run and 3200m run, Lincoln’s Jabriel Giddins (first in the 400m dash with a 50.71), and Lincoln’s Pat Olschlager (first in the 200m dash with a 22.23).

Tommy Oliver Stadium played host to the 2A Region 1 Meet on Friday. On the girls’ side, local qualifiers to look for include: Christine Poole, of Godby, who placed third in the 200m (25.28) and second in the 400m (55.79), Florida High’s Ena Johnson (first in the 300m hurdles in 44.01), and Florida High’s 4x400m relay team (third in 4:04.58). Local qualifiers on the boys’ side who look ready to make a splash at state include: Godby’s Lavorrie Johnson (first in the 100m in 10.94), Godby’s Terrell Bryant (second in the 800m in 1:59.05), Rickards runner, Darius Jones, who finished first in both the 110m hurdles (14.86) and the 300m hurdles (39.02), and Godby’s 4x800m relay team (first in 8:07.10).

Local 1A competitors got the home-track advantage, as Godby hosted the 1A Region 1 Meet on Saturday. On the girls’ side, local qualifiers include: Maclay’s Stefanie Kurgatt (first in the 800m in 2:18.30 and second in the 1600m in 5:23.65), NFC’s Raven Diggs (fourth in the 100m in 12.80 and first in the 400m in 59.16), Maclay’s Kristin Sweeney (third in the 1600m in 5:36.42), and Maclay’s Jana Stolting (first in the 3200m in 11:10.25). On the guys’ side, the state-ready-studs include: Maclay’s Lee Williams (first in the 100m in 11.24, first in the 200m in 22.88, and first in the triple jump with a mark of 43-08.00), NFC’s Whitney Strickland (first in the 800m in 1:56.82), Wewahitchka’s Billy Naylor (second in the 800m in 1:57.75 and first in the 1600m in 4:35.03), FAMU High’s Leonard Barrington (first in both the 110m hurdles in 15.35 and in the 300m hurdles in 40.70), Maclay’s Austin Stevens (second in the 1600m in 4:40.49 and first in the 3200m in 10:33.82), and Maclay’s Patrick Swain (first in the 3200m in 10:34.06).

This Friday, 1A athletes will compete in the State Meet in Winter Park. The following day, 2A competitors will battle in their State Meet at the same venue. 3A athletes will face their all-state competition in two weeks. Track season may be winding down, but phenoms of the Big Bend are poised to make every last second count.