Vikings rule day at Max Bruner Invitational (PHOTO GALLERY)

FORT WALTON BEACH – From an individual standpoint, Rachel Klinger had a lot to be thankful for following Saturday’s Max Bruner Invitational.

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Aside from setting a school record in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 14.72, Klinger, a senior on the Niceville track and field team, also placed first in the high jump (5-4), the 300 meter hurdles (48.40) and served as the anchor in the Eagles’ first-place 4x100 meter relay (51.38) despite it being her first time to compete in the event since her freshman year.

“Overall, it was a good day,” Klinger said.

The only thing keeping a ‘good day’ from perhaps being a great one were those in the red and blue of Fort Walton Beach.

“I feel like we have a strong team, but it’s hard when Fort Walton (Beach) is getting first place all the time.”

Fort Walton Beach took both the boys’ and girls’ crowns at his year’s Max Bruner Invitational, as the girls’ edged out Niceville 124-111 while last year’s champion, host Choctawhatchee, placed third with 77 points. On the boy’s side, it was more of the same as Fort Walton Beach blew away the field with 136 team points for its third-straight win at the annual meet. Niceville (36), Choctawhatchee (58) and Rocky Bayou Christian (3) rounded out the boys’ field.

“It shows the strength of our program now,” Fort Walton Beach’s Matt Bevil said. “(It shows) how much we’ve grown the last few years and how much depth we have. It gives us a lot of confidence going to the rest of the meets knowing that we can spread people out and accomplish a lot.”

Namely, it allowed the Vikings to flex their collective muscle as a Fort Walton Beach boys team or individual placed first in 10 of the 16 events on the day. In the running events alone, Fort Walton Beach won all but three races.

“It just means we’re continuing to do the best that we possibly can,” Vikings’ runner Luc Lawrence said.

Lawrence, like Bevil, served to illustrate Fort Walton Beach’s depth, winning 400 meter dash (51.24) while also helping the Vikings win both the 4x800 and 4x400 relays. Bevil was also part of the two winning relays. Matt Winkler (pole vault), Maurice Williams (triple jump), Joe Lofton (long jump, 100 meter dash), Deiontrez Mount (110 high hurdles), Jake Dearmon (1600) and Steven Haye (200 meter dash) rounded out the Vikings’ large haul of first-place finishers.

Niceville received first-place finishes from Charlie Tidwell (shot put, discus) and Bobby Kressin (high jump), while Choctaw’s Hakeem Tarpley (800) and Alec Herrera (3200) also won their respective events.

For Herrera, however, it didn’t come without holding off a late surge from one of those aforementioned Vikings. As Herrera neared the final turn of the 3200 he sensed Fort Walton Beach’s Sam Ammons making a late push.

“I was tired,” Herrera said. “I just put it all out there. I knew if I let him get me (on the last turn) I wouldn’t be able to get him on the last straightaway.”

On the girls’ side, Holly Stanton once again led the way for the Vikings, winning both the 1600 (5:35) and 3200 (12:14.43) races while also helping guide the 4x800 relay team to a first place finish.

“I’ve never really been on a team that won anything,” Stanton said. “It’s really neat. I’m not just winning for myself, I’m winning for my team, too. Every time I get a first, I’m getting a lot of points for my team.”

Stanton was not alone as Grace Fuller (pole vault) and Sarah deVaux (800) also captured first-place honors for Fort Walton Beach.

Klinger was joined by Emily Sager (triple jump) to give Niceville a pair of top finishers. Choctaw’s Brittany Brown turned in a stellar showing in winning in the long jump (16-6 ½), 100 meter dash (12.06) and the 400 meter dash (59.96). Jasmine Jones, meanwhile, gave the Indians a second first-place finisher in the shot put (36-5 ½)

Paxton’s Erin Walker continued her dominance in the discus winning with a throw of 128-6.