It was a Tutton sweep at the Pace Patriot Invitational Saturday at Sims Elementary School.
Story by Near Post Sports
First, RaeAnna and Jaimee Tutton sprinted through the finish, shoulder-to-shoulder. RaeAnna just edged her younger sister – both finishing with a 19 minute 38 second time – across the five-kilometer course. Then, their older brother, Jonathan, surged to a commanding lead in the final 400 meters to win the varsity boys race, breaking the tape in 16:14.
All of the Tuttons run for Pensacola Christian Academy. And PCA took both varsity team titles.
The Gulf Breeze girls team finished third, and they were led again by Elisa Williamson. She finished sixth overall in 21:04. She was quickly followed by Ella Goodwin (21:14) for a top-10 finish. Altogether, the Dolphins put all five of their scorers in the top 25 places.
“I definitely felt better, more confident in how I was going to do,” said Williamson, who came within six seconds of her personal record at the cross-country distance. “So, I was kind of wishing I would’ve put a little more into it, but it’s a good start. I do feel happy with it, and I am hoping that I can break 20:59 this season.”
Gulf Breeze has a crew of seniors on the girls’ roster augmented by Goodwin, a freshman, and sophomore Isabella Mancusa, who finished ninth and 15th respectively. The boys’ team finished fifth in a field of 15 schools.
“The girls were really strong today, and the guys have a lot of new faces,” Dolphin boys’ head coach Scott Gordon said. “Both Coach (Chelsey) Adams and I are excited to see where it goes … and what both sides can do.”
Lily Campbell led the Navarre Raiders girls’ team with a 24:03 finish, 37th overall.
“I didn’t feel the best, but I am shaving down time,” Campbell said. “I started doing a weightlifting class, so my muscles are getting used to different workouts. So, it was hard to stride out. I’m just going to do more stretching and keep PRing.”
But the entire Navarre team, according to coach Katie Fein, has yet to reach its peak.
“They’re pushing themselves hard,” the four-year Raiders coach said. “Team-wise, we’re struggling due to COVID. Friday, I had seven kids quarantined and couldn’t even come.”
The boys’ team were without the services of Ivan Bateman and Luke Morris – two harriers showing front-pack abilities – due to COVID exposures.
Gavin Anthony looks to have set a personal best, 18:54, on the flat course in Pace.
“Today was just the day,” Anthony said. “I’ve just been working hard. I got new shoes. The course is one of my favorites. And I wanted to make up for Luke and Ivan being gone.”
Three Raiders broke the 20-minute barrier at the race – Anthony, Cesar Murphy, and sophomore Dalan Bunn.
Both Gulf Breeze and Navarre are expected to compete at the Gulf Coast Stampede meet, which will be run on the Escambia County Equestrian Center grounds in northwest Pensacola. The hilly and widely varied running conditions will test the athletes technical running skills in addition to their speed.
“The equestrian center is fun,” Fein said. “It’s a little bit slower, but the kids enjoy it. It’s a cross-country meet, not this flat, easy, go fast (course).”
All photos © 2021 by Stu Camp can be purchased in high resolution at https://stuartcamp.smugmug.com/
