Saturday, 04 May 2013 05:12
Written by Ken Garner
JACKSONVILLE – Sixty-four boys’ teams scored points Friday at the FHSAA Class 3A State Track and Field Championships, including Navarre High School – with one half of one point.
Nicholas Benton finished tied for eighth place in the long jump, soaring 21 feet, 11 inches on his final attempt. Rapheal Webb of Gainesville won the event, jumping 23-4.5.
The eight best finishers in each event earned points for their teams.
The Raiders’ Elijah Appel, a newcomer to competitive jumping, just missed adding a point in the triple jump. The senior, who hadn’t competed in the event until late March, bounded 42-9.5 and finished ninth overall. Benton was 10th with a jump of 42-4.5.
Hillsborough’s Jeremiah Green won the championship with a 48-2 effort.
Rain delayed the beginning of the championship meet at the University of North Florida. Bartram Trail earned the boys’ team championship with 47 points, followed by Miami Northwestern with 39. Niceville finished seventh with 24 points and Gulf Breeze was 10th with 20.
No Lady Raiders qualified for the state meet, won easily by Miami Northwestern with 74.5 points, 20.5 more than runner-up Hallandale. Panhandle powerhouse Pine Forest finished third with 43 points.