By By Tim Cottrell
The Northview High School and Escambia Academy track teams opened their seasons Thursday evening in Molino while experiencing some resistance. Temperatures dipped into the high 40s and a light rain started as the meet came to an end.
The meet began at 3 p.m. and ended at 8 p.m. as the rain began to fall.
"I thought it was a good meet, as far as we were concerned" Escambia Academy track coach Bert Rice said. "I was pleased. There were some good early season performances."
Northview coach Mark Heaton was also pleased with his team's performance.
"I thought they did a good job," Heaton said. "The first meet is usually a bit rocky. We've got a lot of work to do before district (tournaments) though, but our kids are working hard and I think we'll be ready."
Mobile Christian Academy and Edgewood Academy also competed in the meet.
Northview's boys track team won the boys side of the meet, compiling 97 points. Escambia Academy finished third with a total of 31 points. Mobile Christian and Edgewood Academy finished second and fourth, with 75 and 8 points, respectively.
Mobile Christian dominated the girl's side of the meet with 91 points. Northview edged EA for second, 47 to 42. Edgewood brought up the rear with 12 points.
Individual winners for Northview were Nakita Myles, who won the 100-meter dash and the long jump; Kyle Sebestyen in the pole vault; Joe Strobaugh in shotput; Wes Leathers in the 400-meter dash; Genevieve Ramsey in girl's 300-meter hurdles; Emily Wiggins in girls 400-meter dash; Anna Baker in girl's 100-meter dash; Krysten Sanders in pole vault, and the boy's 4×800-meter relay team.
Individual winners for Escambia Academy were Andrea Nall in girl's long jump and the 1600-meter dash; Alan Ash in boy's 1600-meter dash, and Dalton Murphy in boy's 200-meter dash.
Both coaches were pleased with the results of the tournament.
"I thought we learned a lot about the team," Rice said. "What they can do and what they can't do. Mobile and Northview are both much larger schools than us. We know they'll score points just because of numbers, but good competition allows a chance to compete against good athletes."
Heaton is confident that his team would improve.
"We'll be able to compete in some areas," he said. "There are a couple of spots that need a lot of work. We can progress well. We've got a young team and a lot of ninth graders, but we're heading in the right direction."
Both teams will compete next Thursday in another track meet in Jay.