FWB boys, Niceville girls win at County Championships ( with PHOTOS)

By WILL PARCHMAN

Northwest Florida Daily News
315-4484 | willp@nwfdailynews.com

FORT WALTON BEACH - After two months of unbeaten domination, Fort Walton Beach proved that the Niceville 4x100 relay team isn't invincible after all.

The Fort Walton Beach boys track team took home top honors and ultimate bragging rights with a 108 overall score at the four-team County Championships on Tuesday while the Niceville girls squad will hold that same honor for at least another year after posting a meet-best 93.

Choctawhatchee pulled in at No. 2 on the girls' side with 76 points while Fort Walton Beach finished third with 48 and Crestview was fourth with 40. On the boys' side, Niceville finished second with 82 1/2 points, Crestview finished third with 40 1/2 and Choctaw was fourth with 21.

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Perhaps no group epitomized the Fort Walton Beach boys team's day like the 4x100 relay team, which is comprised of four sophomores who ran together in an event competitively for the first time ever on Tuesday.

Judging by their performance after besting the Eagles' vaunted outfit, the four-man crew could have a long and distinguished future.

"It was pretty hard fought," said Deiontrez Mount, who not only won as a member of the 4x100 team but also won the 110 and 300-meter hurdles. "We had to push through it as a team and put a good group effort."

For Niceville coach Sherman Eller, the only lingering disappointment from the day was that performance, which he said was doomed by a bad handoff early on.

"I'm really pleased with the performances, I really am," said Eller, who expressed surprise at the large margin of victory for the Vikings on the boys' side. "The only thing I'm disappointed with was the 4x100 relay. You just wish we would have done something. It wouldn't have made the difference, but you still want to see us win."

The Niceville girls' squad was equally as impressive and was led by Rachel Klinger, who won the 100 and the 300-meter hurdles as well as the high jump. Monique Gaubron (100, 200) and Kaitlin Davis (discus) were also top finishers for the first-place Eagles. Niceville also swept the 4x800 relay, an event that the Vikings have traditionally owned on the boys' side. For the Niceville boys, Zeus King took the long jump and Charlie Tidwell won both discus and shot put while Stephen Haynes took his customary position atop the boys' sprinting champions, owning the title for the 100 and 200 meters.

Individual winners for the Vikings were Grace Fuller and Josh Storbeck on pole vault, Matt Bevil (400) and Luc Lawrence (800). In addition to its 4x100 win, the Vikings also won the 4x400 relay on the boys' side.

"Great competition by both teams," Vikings coach Lissette Moller said of her squads. "One of the things that really helped us out was the field of kids who were injured and we stepped them out of the last meet so that they were ready for the state series."

Choctaw was led by long-distance specialist Hakeem Tarpley, who won the 1600 and 3200 as Choctaw's lone two-event winner. Jasmine Jones (shot put), Kaysie Hanle (triple jump), Devonte Lawson (high jump) and Valerie Dixon (800) were also winners for Choctaw.

For Crestview, Lauren Day swept the long-distance runs, taking home top marks in the 1600 and the 3200, while Asten Lopez was No. 1 in the girls' 400. The Bulldog girls also won the 4x100 relay.