Ram Relays celebrates last year before format change

If you’re a fan of relay meets, this is your last chance to see the Ram Relays in their current format.

After Saturday’s meet, the Ram Relays will become a traditional track meet, leaving the North Florida Relays as the lone relay event in the area.

And only 13 teams will see the current format off.

Host Rutherford will welcome all its Bay County foes, Niceville, Fort Walton Beach, Port St. Joe, Grand Ridge, Wewahitchka, Marianna, Jefferson County and Dothan (Ala.,) High to Tommy Oliver Stadium. The field events start at 10 a.m., the distance medley will begin at noon and the rest of the track events kick off at 1 p.m.

A smaller field doesn’t have many advantages, Rutherford boys coach Mark Stanton said.

“About the only benefit is that it goes by faster,” he said. “That’s about the only thing. You don’t have as good as competition but it does go by quicker.”

After a normal slate of field events, the track races will begin with the distance medley, comprised of an 800-meter, 400, 1,200 and 1,600 runs. That, along with the 4x200 and sprint medley, which consists of two 200s, a 400 and an 800, are non-traditional events that aren’t included in the FHSAA state meet so schools don’t run them except at relay meets.

That’s part of the reason Rutherford listened to coaches and obliged to change the meet to the traditional format. Other than those relays, the Ram Relays will include the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay, 4x800 relay, the 3,200 meters and an open 1,600 meters which will not count toward points.

This year’s field is down by about half from last year, which Stanton said has been the norm this season because of the economic downfall.

Stanton, however, is expecting his sprinters to do well in the 4x100 and 4x200 with a team of Josh Williams, Shawn Miles, Cordarryl Rogers and Nick Smith, and the sprint medley with Williams and Smith in the 200, Eric Gill in the 400 and Tim Roberts in the 800.