Track and field at Escambia County High School will be tested this year when they open their season on March 8 in Pensacola.

The Blue Devils track and field team will begin their season by traveling into Florida to take on teams at an event being hosted by Pine Forest High School.

“Our team will be competing against tough opponents this season,” ECHS assisant track coach Karl Smith said. “We will not only compete against T.R. Miller, but we will also venture into Florida to compete against traditional powerhouses such as Pine Forest and Pensacola Catholic.”

The Blue Devils have begun practice and there was not tryout for students to take part in.

Smith’s reasoning for not having a tryout is he wants anyone to come join the team as long as they want to work.

“We are not having tryouts,” he said. “If a student signed up then they are on the team. If you want to run track then you can come out, but it’s about dedication. Overall, things have been good, but they could be better. We are dealing with some kids who don’t have a work ethic, so we are trying to instill that in them as well as character.”

For more on this story see Saturday’s edition of The Atmore Advance.