Whether it was speed, endurance or distance, the track and field scene in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties didn't disappoint.
Some area teams proved their prowess through the postseason, including at county championships, and district and region meets. Several individual athletes did the same, and moved on to the state meet, claiming top spots at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
All four classes, 1A-4A, saw area representation at the state meet.
As far as team performance, the Pensacola Christian boys track and field team achieved a first-place finish at the Region 1-1A meet, topping second-place Providence by more than 20 team points. The girls team claimed third place overall at the region meet. The Pine Forest girls team also claimed fourth at the Region 1-3A meet.
Here are the individual awards, including the Athletes of the Year and Coach of the Year, for the 2024 track and field season. The All-Area team, with the rest of the spring sports, will be revealed on Sunday, June 30.
Girls Athlete of the Year
Ta’nae Henderson, Pine Forest
Pine Forest’s Ta’nae Henderson had a stronghold on the Panhandle when it came to jumping. Whether it was going for distance in the triple jump or long jump, or adding in some running in the 100-meter hurdles, Henderson leapt to new heights for the Eagles. In the postseason, Henderson claimed first place in the long jump, triple jump and 100-meter hurdles at the Escambia County Championships and District 1-3A meet. She also claimed the hurdles at the Region 1-3A meet.
At the state meet, Henderson podiumed individually twice with a seventh-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles (14.68 seconds) and eighth in the triple jump (37 feet, 2.25 inches). Henderson was also instrumental in the 4x100-meter relay from Pine Forest, which won at the county, district and region championships, and took sixth at state. Henderson will look to continue her dominance during her senior season.
Boys Athlete of the Year
Arman Christian Truitt, West Florida
Similar to Henderson, West Florida's Arman Christian Truitt showed some versatility throughout the season. Truitt, as the postseason came along, competed in the 110-meter hurdles, the 400-meter hurdles, the pole vault and the long jump. Though Truitt stood out at the District 1-2A meet, where he claimed the 110-meter hurdles (14.66 seconds), 400-meter hurdles (1 minute, 0.11 seconds) and pole vault (13 feet, 3.5 inches).
At the Class 2A state championships, Truitt competed in three events, taking a podium finish in the pole vault with a height of 14 feet, 3.25 inches – tying a season-best. He also took ninth in the 400-meter hurdles and 12th in the 110-meter hurdles. Truitt also has one more year to improve on his state finishes, going into his senior year for the Jaguars next season.
Coach of the Year
Scott Cochran, Pensacola Christian
Pensacola Christian’s Scott Cochran already saw some success through his cross country teams in the fall, with the girls team taking the Class 1A state championship. Now, Cochran saw similar success around the track and in the field with the Warriors’ boys team.
Pensacola Christian swept the District 1-1A meet – with the boys winning by 160 points and the girls winning by 4.5 points – before the boys team also claimed the Region 1-1A meet, earning 112.5 team points. The girls team claimed third. At state, Cochran and the Pensacola Christian boys team earned the highest finish of any area team, taking seventh place at the 1A state meet with 21.5 points.
Ben Grieco is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached on X (@BenGriecoSports) and via email at BGrieco@gannett.com.
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