Photo by SANDI FAHY
Jim Ewbanks, director of the 45th Annual Ed Wells, Jr./Kiwanis Invitational Track and Field Meet, meets with high school coaches prior to the start of the recent event at Clearwater High School.
CLEARWATER - Boys and girls teams from 16 high schools throughout the county gathered at Clearwater High School on March 23 for the 45th Annual Ed Wells, Jr./Kiwanis Invitational Track and Field Meet. The schools represented were Boca Ciega, Clearwater, Clearwater Central Catholic, Countryside, Dixie Hollins, Dunedin, Gibbs, Lakewood, Largo, Northeast, Osceola, Palm Harbor University, St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg Catholic, Seminole and Tarpon Springs.
Lakewood High took home the boys team title after accumulating 119.3 points. Seminole won the girls team title with 114.25 points. The boys teams from Countryside and Northeast came in second and third, respectively. Countryside collected 91 points. Northeast finished with 69.3 points. The Countryside girls placed second with 76 points. St. Petersburg was third with 70 points.
Trophies were awarded to the first and second place boys and girls teams. Medals were presented to the top eight finishers in each event. Winners of the Most Valuable Player awards were top scorers Eric Thomas of Seminole and Jazmyn Shorter of Lakewood.
Director of this year's meet, which was hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Springtime City in Clearwater, was Kiwanian Jim Ewbanks. For 44 years, the director was track enthusiast Ed Wells, Jr., who passed away recently. Wells was responsible for the fundraising efforts which brought in thousands of dollars for the resurfacing of the Clearwater High School track over the years. The entire track was rebuilt in 2005.
The Kiwanis Club of Springtime City is currently celebrating its 50th year of service. Other projects include the annual free Children's Health Fair and the awarding of college scholarships to needy students. The Kiwanis motto is "Serving the Children of the World".
