MOBILE, Ala. – Navarre has excelled in middle-distance running events most of the 2013 track season. On Saturday, April 6, the Raiders’ 4 x 800-meter relay tested its mettle in the Mobile Challenge of Champions invitational meet and finished fourth.

“That’s not bad,” coach Tom Lintz said of the finish. “That’s fourth against 11 of the best teams in the South; it’s an invitation-only meet and they invite the best.”

The foursome of Trent Beck, Jonah Griego, James Mullin and Tanner Wilcox finished in 8 minutes, 16.75 seconds. First-place finisher Baton Rouge, La., Catholic ran a blistering 7:59.65, McGill Toolen Catholic of Mobile was second in 7:59.73 and Niceville finished third in 8:07.56.

Navarre’s weren’t the only area athletes represented at St. Paul’s School in Mobile, site of the event. Austin Droogsma of Gulf Breeze, a senior committed to competing for Florida State University, won the shot put and discus events. His shot put covered 60 feet, 9 inches, a full 17 inches further than the second-place competitor. Andy Fryman of Mason County, Ky., holds the event record of 62-10, set in 2003.

Droogsma hurled the discus 176-1, almost 28 feet more than the next-best throw.

Other area athletes included:

n Johnta’ Whitaker, Pine Forest: 300-meter hurdles, first, 42.42; 100-meter hurdles, second, 13.73

n Lamia Miller, Pine Forest: shot put, first, 40-9; discus, second, 119-11.5

n Nicolas Morken, Niceville: one-mile run, second, 4:20.7

n Thomas Howell, Niceville: two-mile run, second, 9:26.94

n Sifa Finau, Pine Forest: discus, third, 147-5

n Loren Moorer, Pensacola: 400-meter dash, third, 57.69

n Christina Wiggins, Pine Forest: pole vault, third, 11-6

n Jessie Droogsma, Gulf Breeze: discus, fourth, 118-3.5

n Pine Forest girls 4 x 400, first, 3:54.70

n Niceville girls 4 x 800, third, 9:46.34

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