Howell and Atkinson win the mile at the Sprint

Winter is indoor track season, but there are no indoor tracks in Florida. Why should there be? It may get a bit chilly at times in the Sunshine State, but your outdoor track will never be buried under snowdrifts. You don't need to resort to a snow shovel; it's always available. Put on another pullover and go run.


Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has a rational approach to the situation. Since at least as early as 2007, the Eagles have hosted the annual Embry Riddle Indoor Outdoor Challenge--as they describe it, "indoor events on the outdoor track." On Friday evening, 9 January 2015, the Franklin County High Seahawks followed suit by hosting an outdoor meet during indoor season, the inaugural Jingle Bell Sprint. Don't let the "Sprint" fool you. In spite of the name, the meet included a full schedule of running events. In addition to the 100 meter, 200 meter, and 400 meter dashes or "sprints," there was also the 800 meter run and the crowning glory of indoor track, the mile. Actually, it was the almost-as-good 1600 meter run, but let's not fight over 944 centimeters. It was a four-lap race in the middle of what passes for winter in the Florida panhandle.


Blountstown High senior Thomas Howell and Wakulla High sophomore Bryce Cole raced ahead of the rest of the field in the 1600, quickly turning it into a two-man competition. Howell won the duel by a few steps over Cole, 4:56.1 to 4:57.3. Cora Atkinson of Life University was the fastest woman on the track, finishing fourth overall in 6:01.7. Wakulla sophomore Haleigh Martin was second in the women's standings, placing sixth overall in 6:10.4. Eastpoint, Florida, veterinarian Hobson Fulmer took top master honors, coming in ninth overall in 7:01.7.


Outdoor track season comes early enough in Florida, no later than mid February. Until then, there's the Jingle Bell Sprint.


2015 Jingle Bell Sprint 1600-meter run

1. 4:56.1 ~ Thomas Howell (M, 18) Blountstown HS
2. 4:57.3 ~ Bryce Cole (M, 16) Wakulla HS
3. 6:00.4 ~ Travis Parks (M, 18) Wakulla HS
4. 6:01.7 ~ Cora Atkinson (F, 20) Life University
5. 6:07.2 ~ Sam Roddenberry (M, 16) Wakulla HS
6. 6:10.4 ~ Haleigh Martin (F, 15) Wakulla HS
7. 6:12.6 ~ Riley Welch (M, 17) Wakulla HS
8. 6:37.2 ~ Dalton Wood (M, 15) Wakulla HS
9. 7:01.7 ~ Hobson Fulmer (M, 59) Tates Hell Track Club
10. 7:19.0 ~ Damien Freeman (M, ) Franklin County HS
11. 7:20.0 ~ Rosie Davis (F, 12) Franklin County HS
12. 8:04.4 ~ Nick Yonclas (M, 71)
13. 8:32.0 ~ Tommy Varner (M, )
14. 9:00.7 ~ Michael Martin (M, 38)

Links

• Find more races in and out of track season on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1

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