FWB's Laughlin, Niceville's Spock win at short pentathlon

Fort Walton Beach’s Samantha Laughlin (2:54.39) and Niceville’s Ross Spock (2:29.94) emerged from Parkwood Pool with the fastest combined times to win Wednesday’s short pentathlon in their respective classes.

Swimmers from Choctawhatchee, Fort Walton Beach, Navarre and Niceville competed in the 50 free, 50 backstroke, 50 breastroke, 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle, with the winner being the individual who had the fastest overall time in the five combined events.

Spock edged Choctawhachee’s Alex Strom (2:34.09) for top honors on the boys’ side, while Laughlin fought off a tightly packed girls’ field in which the top three — Laughlin, Choctaw’s Cheryl Corvo (2:54.48) and fellow Viking Natalie Lenderman (2:55.33) — were separated by less than one second. Choctaw’s Olivia Strom (fourth, 2:57.79) and Niceville’s Alexa Birmingham (3:08.70) rounded out the girls’ field. Navarre’s top finisher, Kat Bower (3:11.10), finished sixth.

Fort Walton Beach’s David Stevens (2:35.76) and Choctaw’s Patrick Whitehurst (2:40.64) and Michael Whitehurst (2:41.89) rounded out the top five on the boys’ side.  Chris Hodge (2:55.52) placed 15th to earn Navarre’s top finish.