Going for the Gold

Maclay boys, girls capture district track titles

By Will Brown: • Democrat Staff Writer • Published: April 15. 2011 2:00AM

In track-and-field circles, Maclay will always be known as a middle- and long-distance program. Thursday the Marauders boys and girls took another step in cementing that legacy as both won the District 3-1A track meet.

The boys won a 15th consecutive district championship with 186 points, well ahead of Jefferson County (130 points) and a resurgent West Gadsden (117) team. The difference between Maclay and its two rural competitors was its 800 meters, 1,600 and 3,200.

Personal bests from North Florida Christian's Luke and Blair Strickland in the 800 kept Maclay from sweeping all three. Luke finished in 2:02.87, a second ahead of his brother and nearly three ahead of the favored Scott Billings.

West Gadsden's success in the 3,200 relay in 2010 led to more boys trying out for the team this year. The Panthers qualified for the April 21 regional meet in nine events with Antwan Chaires winning the shot put, Marquez Foreman taking the high jump and Terron Fitzgerald claiming the 300 hurdles.

"I feel it's a confidence boost," said West Gadsden track coach Kenny Strong. "We ran against a lot of bigger schools. The last meet (at Wewahitchka) and today were the first time we competed against kinds in our class and that (showed) they were getting better."

Maclay's girls reclaimed the district title from Port St. Joe tallying 203 points. The TigerSharks were second with 132 points followed by West Gadsden and Jefferson County. Maclay won 86 of those points in the three distance events.

North Florida Christian's Darrielle McQueen won the long jump by 15 inches when she jumped 17-9. However, Maclay's Imoni McKorvey beat McQueen in the triple jump.

As has become somewhat of a district tradition Port St. Joe won the 100 and 200. But this year they did it with Maya Robbins and Fanequa Larry, both of whom took the top two spots in the sprints. Jefferson County sophomore Samaria Martin won the shot put for the second year in a row and added a district title in the discus.

However, the story of the meet may have been Maclay's Brett Landau. The junior was second to Foreman in the high jump, ran the first leg of the victorious 400 relay then took a one-hour break before winning his match in Class 1A regional final 6-0, 6-0 against Florida High.

"It was awesome. Everything that was supposed to happen, happened," Landau said. "We were going to qualify for regionals and I didn't disqualify or pull a muscle, so I am happy."

City Track Royalty Crowned

Godby boys, Fla High girls come away with titles

By Will Brown: • Democrat Staff Writer • Published: April 6. 2011 2:00AM

It's championship season for area track teams.

But before the high pressure of the upcoming district and regional meets, the city's varsity track teams jockeyed for pride at Tuesday's city championship.

Maclay's Lee Williams followed up his victory in the 100 meters with one in the 200. The 2010 All-Big Bend Runner of the Year said he is faster than when he was a sophomore and used Tuesday as a final tuneup for next week's district meet at Maclay.

Raven Diggs went a step further than Williams in proving her sprinting dominance as she won the 100. Moments after winning the 400, the Lincoln sophomore ran away from Rickards and Maclay on the anchor leg of the 400 relay.

"I like when someone tells me that they think they can beat me," Diggs said. "I like it when I have good competition because I feel I can beat them if I put my mind to it."

Diggs, who said she thrives on that competition, said she is starting to run her best at the most important time of the year. Lincoln's boys and girls had a good meet as multiple Trojans tuned up for districts with either personal- or season-best performances.

Florida High capped off a victory in the girls competition with a win in the 1,600 relay. Godby's boys proved why they are the reigning 2010 state champions as the Cougars won both throwing events, the 100 hurdles as well as the high jump and pole vault on their way to winning the entire event.

The Cougars scored 167 points, well ahead of Lincoln with 131.5. Maclay (101 points), Rickards (76 points) and Leon with 61.5 points rounded out the top five. On the girls side Florida High's 142 points helped Hillary Palumbo's team beat the tightly bunched trio of Godby, Maclay and Lincoln.

With temperatures in the 50s the middle-distance and long-distance runners were able to post some fast times. Maclay's Kristen Sweeney shaved 20 seconds off her personal best to win the 3,200 in 11:37.32.

"I can keep getting better and improving and pacing really well," a smiling Sweeney said. "It's fun to have everyone from Tallahassee at the same meet. It's fun to see everyone."

Lincoln's Trevor Touchton ran a blistering 4:25 in the 1,600 run to win the event. He also ran a leg on Lincoln's victorious 1,600 relay team. He beat former state champions in Leon's Riley Doherty and Maclay's Patrick Swain by four seconds to win the 1 mile.

"I was hoping to hit my splits, but in the last lap I just died," Touchton said following his individual victory. "I went 2:08 in the first two laps and 3:15 after 1,200 (meters). In the final lap, I was spent. We'll have to clean that up."

However, the race of the meet may have been the boys 400 relay that Rickards won with a late push. Robert Philpot III, Brian Clark, Ricky McGhee and Johnathan Butler were fourth after the first exchange but turned it on just in time to win in 42.65 seconds.

FAMU High led after the first leg, expanded that lead in the second. Lincoln and Rickards eventually closed that gap to set up an anchor leg showdown between Lincoln's Rod Washington and Butler.

"Our entire boys and girls team is starting to PR and peak at the right time," Butler said. "We are practicing to become the best track runners we can."

With nothing but potential season-ending meets on the horizon for Rickards and the rest of the area teams, there is not much choice, but to continue to improve.

Maclay's Swain, Carson sign with Navy

By Sam Hinchee: • Democrat Staff Writer • Published: March 09. 2011 2:00AM

After committing himself to becoming an elite athlete, Maclay senior cross-country star Patrick Swain has gone out and won just about everything there is to win at the high school level. He won two individual state titles and a team title and was named to the All-Big Bend team all four years of high school.

Now, Swain has chosen to make the ultimate commitment. In a ceremony Tuesday at Maclay, Swain and gymnast Trevor Carson announced their appointment and commitment to the United States Naval Academy. Starting in June they will head to Annapolis, Md., to begin the first of nine years service to the Navy.

Swain, who hopes to join the Marine Corps, will spend the next four years at the academy before spending five in service for the Navy or Marines. Col. Scott Hampton spoke to a small crowd of students about how the two were among only 1,500 selected to attend the academy.

"Once Col. Hampton gave the introduction about what's really ahead of us that really kind of put in perspective for me," said Swain. "It got me pretty excited of what's to come."

Maclay coach Gary Droze also spoke to the crowd, mentioning he'll miss Swain on runs this summer.

"There's a term in the military called force-multiplier. What that means is just by something being in the vicinity of other items, it makes those items become more than they might otherwise be," said Droze, an Air Force graduate. "Patrick's a great example of a force-multiplier. Time and time again other folks compete beyond what they can normally do because Patrick is there."

Carson has wanted to fly fighter jets ever since his pilot father took him up in the sky as a kid. His decision came down Deciding between the Navy and Air Force was tough, but his decision to serve was never in question.

"I think the Naval Academy gave me some more options to do different stuff even after I was done flying," Carson said.

Maclay's Swain looks to win another state title

By Will Brown: • Democrat Staff Writer • Published: September 18. 2010 2:00AM

Patrick Swain doesn't have balance, and for a distance runner that is a problem. At least in his case it's a joyful problem. Since Swain received his state championship ring for being a member of a state championship track team in the spring, he is yet to find his equilibrium.

The big ring with a blue stone on his right hand has driven Swain and the rest of Maclay cross country team to add to that collection this year.

"I cannot imagine running by myself or training without a team," Swain said. "They keep it relaxed and keep my stress levels down. They keep it fun and running has to stay fun."

The easygoing Maclay senior has won the past two 1A individual cross country titles. Though he is looking to join a very elite group in state history with a third individual title, his biggest goal is win a team title — and earn some jewelry to put on his left hand.

"This year is definitely going to be the hardest to win it," Swain said. "There are three or four other athletes who are very talented who haven't won one yet and I know that's their main goal. It should be interesting."

Today, will be the Marauders first chance to build toward a state championship as they participate in the Lincoln Invitational. The meet begins at 10 a.m. at Tom Brown Park.

In the same event last year, Leon's Riley Doherty beat Swain with a finishing kick within the last 30 meters to win by a half second. With a laugh, Swain said Doherty outkicked him in that race and he always beats himself up over letting an opponent do that in early meets in the season.

To prevent a similar fate from occurring today, or more importantly, at the state meet in November, Swain increased his training regiment in the summer. Heading into the 2009 season he ran 65 miles per week. This year he ran 70 to 75 miles per week to prepare for the season.

Such dedication is what led Maclay head coach Gary Droze to say his No. 1 runner was in the best shape of his life heading into the season.

"You can't take it for granted to run the same time this year as last year and still win," Droze said. "The extra mileage is to specifically prepare him to reach another gear at the end of the season."

That attitude permeates throughout the rest of the boys program. Swain is the one who dictates the pace when the team trains in the season, he is the one who encourages teammates to go on weekend runs and he is the one who provides the encouragement — and constructive criticism — when it's warranted.

"His presence on the team brings the other four to six guys on the team to a level higher than they otherwise run," Droze said.

Swain's leadership goes beyond captaining the cross country team along Tallahassee's hills and trails. He is an Eagle Scout with a 4.36 weighted grade point average who has been active in his community for years, participating in charity runs and being a class vice president.

"He just has a lot of inner determination and drive," said Patrick's father Jeff. "He trains very hard and he enjoys the training. He enjoys the camaraderie with the other boys on the team. They get up at six in the morning with a couple of boys to go running before school, in addition to after school."

Patrick said his goal is to run in college like older sister Katy — a junior at Wake Forest, who introduced Jeff, his wife Mary and the rest of the Swain family to running. Pepperdine, Georgetown and the United State Naval Academy have shown interest.

If he gets into the 15:30 range, which is another goal of his this season, it will not only put him in the upper echelon of runners in the state, it may help him follow in Katie's footsteps by winning a team title.

"There definitely is more pressure," Patrick said. "You don't want to lose your senior year. I've seen a lot of athletes who have won early in their careers who said 'I've already won so I can slack off.' I don't think that way."