Sebring sets pace in early track meet

It's early in the season, but the Sebring girls and boys track and field teams are proving they will be a force in the Heartland this season.

The Blue Streak girls finished first in Thursday's four-team meet at Joe Franza Stadium with a score of 78 points, while Hardee placed second with 72, Avon Park came in third at 69 and Lake Placid finished fourth with 34.

Sebring freshman Taylor Tubbs led the way with first-place finishes in the 800- and 1,600-meter events and was runner-up in the 400 meters.

Tubbs, who is also a standout cross country runner, won the 800 meters in a time of 2:45, came back to win the 1,600 meters in 6:14 and took second in the 400 in 1:11.48.

Lake Placid's Shelby Smith placed second in the 1,600 meters in 6:24.62, while Green Dragon senior Kay Fort finished the 110 hurdles in 20.91 and Blake Fort came in at 21.81.

Avon Park was led by Chquen Wilmot, who won the 100-meter dash in a time of 13.67, finished first in the 200-meter dash in 28.19 and came in fourth in the long jump competition with a leap of 13-feet, 1-inch.

Avon Park's Zakia Hart won the pole vault competition by clearing 8 feet, while Lake Placid's Blake Fort came in third at 7 feet and Kay Fort also cleared 7 feet.

The multi-talented Hart finished first in the triple jump with a leap of 29-feet, 5-inches, while Lake Placid's Rhonwen Gavangi claimed third place with a leap of 26-feet, 1-inch.

Hart completed her long day by placing second in the shot put with a throw of 25-feet, 1-inch.

Hardee won the 300 intermediate hurdles in 55.76 and Blake Fort came in third in 58.47, while Kay Fort finished in 1:00.27.

Hardee finished first in the four-team boys meet with 89 points, Sebring came in second at 69, Avon Park had 67 and Lake Placid totaled 43.

Avon Park's Stephen Robinson won the 110-meters hurdle event in 16.79, finished first in the 300 hurdles in 45.02 and placed second in the high jump by clearing 5-feet, 8-inches.

Red Devil Travious Knight won the long jump competition with a leap of 17-feet, 61/2 inches, finished first in the 100-meter dash in 11.8 and the Avon Park speedster also won the 200-meter dash in 24.57.

Avon Park senior Dwayne Council placed second in the 400 meters in 56.57.

Sebring senior Connor Bauer finished first in the 800 meters in a time of 2:04 and he also won the 1,600 meters with relative ease.

Lake Placid senior Stephen Guelff placed second in the triple jump with a leap of 38-feet, 1/2-inch.

Sebring's Rodney Harvey finished first in the pole vault competition by clearing 12-feet, 6-inches and Avon Park's Clint Faircloth placed second at 11-feet, 6-inches.

Sebring's Tijah McCullors won the shot put with a toss of 46-feet, 9-inches and the discus event with a throw of 120-feet, 7-inches.

Lake Placid is hosting a track meet at 4 p.m. today at the high school.