By Corey Davis
Suwannee Democrat
Jasper —
ORANGE PARK-Before they even took the track, Hamilton County boys faced an enormous 28.5 point deficit.
However, thanks to several top five finishes in numerous events, the Trojans were able to overcome the deficit and win their first district title in two years and in the process end Branford's two-year title run.
Hamilton County held off Branford 190.0 to 180.50 to win the District 5-1A title April 15 at St. Johns Country Day. St. Johns Country Day was third with 87.5, Bell was fourth with 63.0, Lafayette was fifth with 57.0, Hilliard was sixth with 38.0 and Trenton was seventh with 16.0 points.
"What a great bunch of kids we have," Hamilton County coach Ron Hall said. "I have never spotted someone 30 points and come back and win. Hopefully this title will encourage more kids to come out for track next season."
Two days earlier in Branford, St. Johns and Branford were the lone representatives to compete in the pole vault competition. Branford swept the first three places behind Aubrey Sapp (7-06), Laz Hernandez (7-00) and Billy Peck (6-06) and Mason Tyler (6-00) tied for fourth to grab an early 28.5 lead heading into the rest of the meet completed Thursday at St. Johns.
Anthony Ingram (21-01) and Antonio Turner (20-10) went first and second in the long jump ahead of Branford's John Perry (20-09) and also got a seventh place finish from Alfonso Willis (19-01), to cut the lead quickly picking up 20 points in the first event. Lafayette's Austin Anderson (19-05) finished fifth in the event putting the Hornets on the board.
Hamilton surged ahead in the second event as the Trojans took first, fourth, sixth and seventh in the triple jump to gain an additional 20 points. Turner (43-03) won the event ahead of Perry (42-04), while Simmons (40-11), William Hill (40-02) and Willis (38-06) went fourth, sixth and seventh.
Ingram (6-04) and Gerald Bristol (6-02) finished second and third in the high jump just ahead of Branford's William Clemons (5-06).
Chester Bristol (40-09) placed second in the shot put ahead of fourth place Branford's Garret Herrin (35-06), while Destin Walker (35-06) was fifth ahead of Peck (34-04). Lafayette's Jared Sampson (33-02) picked up one point for the Hornets with an eighth place finish.
Simmons (111-06) finished third in the discus, five feet ahead of Branford's David Bass (106-07). Anderson (102-10) was sixth ahead of Peck (101-03) and Hamilton's Damon Bryant (101-00), who finished eighth.
Ingram (11.32) out leaned Perry (11.32) in a photo finish to win the 100 dash. Turner (11.33) lost a photo finish with Bell's Bradley Denham (11.33) to finish fourth.
Perry (23.42) avenged his 100 loss by winning the 200 over Hamilton's Ingram (23.64) , William Hill (24.39) and Richard Williams (24.54).
Clemons (54.38) won the 400 dash, however Kavin Dobson (56.82), Gerald Bristol (56.88), Saul Speights (57.46) and Williams (57.75) took fourth-seventh in the event ahead of Branford's Vincent Ruiz (58.79).
Ryan Horn (2:09.94) won the 800, five second ahead of runner-up Hamilton's Terry Humphrey (2:14.29). Anderson (2:15.29) and teammate Arturo Negrete (2:15.86) finished third and fourth for the Hornets ahead of Hamilton’s Walter Jones (2:18.49), Lafayette's Josue Diaz (2:23.80) and Branford’s Sapp (2:24.60).
David Bass (4:54.00) easily won the 1600 run ahead of Humphrey (5:02.30).
Bass (11:18.20) made it a sweep by winning the 3200 run ahead of Humphrey (11:38.00) and Daughtry (12:04.10).
Branford's Sebastian Smith (18.55) held off Hamilton's Daniel Harris (18.62), Lafayette's Devin McCarter (18.92), Hamilton's Deonte Simmons (18.93) and Branford's Matt Thody (20.62) to finish second in the 110 hurdles.
Thody (46.07) held off Hamilton's Harris (49.15) and Simmons (49.15) to finish third in the 300 hurdles, while Harris and Simmons finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Hamilton County (45.07) won the 4x100 relay over Bell (45.31), St. Johns (46.65), Branford (48.15) and Lafayette (49.45).
Branford (3:44.29) won the 4x400 relay ahead of Bell (3:46.60), St. Johns (3:48.18), Hamilton County (3:53.49) and Lafayette (4:15.59).
Lafayette (9:07.90) had the lead for nearly the entire race in the 4x800 relay before Branford (9:04.10) stormed back in the final lap to win the relay. Hamilton County (10:02.50) finished third well ahead of Bell (10:27.60) and St. Johns (11:58.50).
Girls
With only a few remaining events left, host St. Johns Country Day held a slim 1.5 point lead over Branford but the Spartans pulled away to hold off the Bucs 219.50-191.00 to win its seventh consecutive district title. Hilliard was third with 102 points, Bell was fourth with 41, Hamilton County was fifth with 39, Trenton was sixth with 11.50 and Lafayette was seventh with 11.0.
Logan Boss (4-10) and Montana Bailey (4-08) held off Hamilton's Jasmine Jackson (4-08) to finish second and third in the high jump. Baldeon (4-04) finished in a three-way tie for fifth to give the Bucs 16.50 points in the event.
Hamilton's Bria Davis (14-05) finished third, Branford's Olivia Boney (14-02) finished fourth, Branford's Tiffany Williams (13-09) was fifth, Hamilton's Jasmine Dobson (13-06) was sixth and Branford's Stephanie Copeland (13-05) was seventh in the long jump.
Williams (29-07) finished second in the triple jump ahead of Dobson (28-06) and Branford's Tiphani Whitley (26-03).
Copeland (35-00), Williams (27-09) and Erica Clark (27-06) finished first, third and fourth in the shot put, while Hamilton's Jasmine Daniels (27-03) finished fifth. Copeland (98-00) made it a sweep winning the discus.
Hamilton's Samantha Marcano (1:17.70) and Shelby Dodge (1:19.40) finished seventh and eighth in the 400.
Hamilton County (57.03) held off Branford (57.39) to finish third in the 4x100 relay. Branford (4:57.98) was second in the 4x400 relay and won the 4x800 relay with a time of 11:56.10, while Hamilton County (13:04.00) was third.
The top four in each event at districts advanced to the Region I-1A meet Friday at the Bolles School in Jacksonville. The top four at regionals move on to the Class 1A state meet Friday April 30 at Winter Park.
