The goal is to get better every day, every week, every month and every year.
It’s safe to say Navarre’s track team improved quite a bit from last season to this season and from the starting line of this season all the way through to the finish line.
Just look at what the Raiders did at the 3A state track meet earlier this month at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville.
A total of 12 athletes made it to state and they attacked the final meet of the year with all-out effort.
The result: Medals in three events.
Talin Griffin finished in a tie for sixth in the pole vault. Not bad for someone who didn’t even start competing in the event until this season. He’s already said he’s all in with taking the steps necessary to be even better next season.
Abigail Pantlitz came through with her first appearance in the finals of the 100-meter dash. After two years of not being able to get out of the prelims, she went out and made her last high school event a memorable one, taking seventh in a field featuring some of the fastest girls in the state.
And then there was the 4×100 crew of Dante Wright, Nathan Crews, Jaylen Shropshire and Evan Gourley. They are four of the fastest athletes in the school and had worked all season for the opportunity to bring home a medal at state.
They accomplished their mission. Yes, they wanted to place much higher and went in believing they could win a championship.
They fell short of the goal, coming in eighth place, but they have every reason to be proud of their effort. There are hundreds of other relay teams in Florida that didn’t even get to state.
Navarre came oh so close to getting its girls 4×100 relay team to the finals of the state meet.
The team of Jennifer Seward, Sequoia Comeger, Jordan Hawkins and Pantlitz missed out on qualifying by one spot, taking 10th in the prelims.
Compared to a year ago, though, the Raiders are in a much better spot as a team. They didn’t have anyone win a medal last year. So, on that note, progress has been made without a doubt.
A lot of that is a credit to head coach Tony Carter and his staff. That group has worked tirelessly to change the mindset of the program, to take it to a place where it is among the best of the best.
The drive to work as hard as ever has been instilled in the athletes. The expectation to compete with anyone and win has been set.
The athletes on this team have answered in big-time fashion. They have responded to the challenges laid out by the coaches and have put in the work to be great.
The seniors on this team have left the program in a great place. Those who are returning have something to strive for in 2020. There’s no reason to think the improvement won’t continue.
