High school sports, April 4: State distance medley relay marks lowered by HHH

A trip to the Florida Relays proved just the environment for Hilton Head Island runners to establish new all-time state bests in the distance medley relay, as both boys’ and girls’ quartets broke the old mark by more than six seconds.

The boys’ quartet of Sam Gilman, Jacquel Williams, Danny Shaughnessy and Ben Gilman not only established a new mark in Friday’s victory, but their time of 10 minutes, 22.79 seconds now ranks the Seahawks fifth in the nation this year.

The girls were nearly as impressive, as the quartet of Esther Anderson, Miyah Shatz, Mallory Liggett and Isabel Muehleman also broke the old mark by more than six seconds.

“We just felt like we had the kids that could fit that event,” assistant coach Max Mayo said. “You’ve still got to do it, though -- and they did.”

Williams set a personal best of 50.4 seconds in his 400-meter leg before handing off to Shaughnessy, who held back for the first 300 of his 800 meters before letting things out.

“I felt it was a little slow,” Shaughnessy told MileSplit.com. “I felt good and I went for it. Never looked back.”

Then it was left to Ben Gilman, who faced little challenge from pursuers but still had to race the clock, breaking the tape well ahead of Spring Valley’s old mark of 10:28.99 set in 2011.

“It was a matter a keeping positive and breaking the record for the team,” Gilman told the website.

Mayo said: “If Ben had been pushed on that final leg, I think we could have gone even faster than that.”

The Seahawks actually left the University of Florida with the nation’s third-fastest time this year, but later that day two California teams spurred each other to the top of the list at the Stanford Invitational.

The girls also won their relay in 12:38.56, easily surpassing Lexington’s old mark of 12:42.74 established in 2012.

BASEBALL

Hilton Head Prep 18, Bethesda Academy 0: Tyler Fox blasted a three-run homer Saturday as part of a 12-run first inning for the Dolphins, who recovered from a rough week at the Seahawk Invitational.

Prep (10-7) batted around twice during the opening inning, as both Gavin and Gage Hurlbut scored twice and E.J. Churchich followed Fox’s homer with a triple. Michael Santorum and Aidan Sanz combined to no-hit Bethesda batters in three innings of work, with the only runners getting on via errors.

SOFTBALL

Whale Branch 4th at Waccamaw Invitational: A steal of home and an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh lifted Waccamaw past the Warriors in Saturday’s finale, leaving Whale Branch winless in the tournament.

Nya Simmons collected three hits and two RBIs in the tournament to lead Whale Branch, while Victoria Hernandez, Autumn Moon and Karen Rivers had two hits apiece.

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

Hilton Head Island 13, Socastee 10: Katy Bautista scored six goals and Nicole Reed added five to propel the Seahawks (7-4).

Morgan Moran and Lara Martel tallied Hilton Head Island’s remaining goals, while Amarainy Rosas produced four saves in goal.

BOYS’ GOLF

Seahawks take 2nd at Blue Jacket Invitational: Brooks Dyess turned in the best Sunday round of anyone in the field with a 1-over-par 73 in blustery conditions as Hilton Head Island claimed runner-up honors in the 14-team tournament at Diamondback GC.

Wando produced two of the top four individual scores on the way to the team title, with a total of 613 that was seven shots ahead of the Seahawks.

Combined with an opening 76, Dyess’ two-day total of 5-over 149 left him one shot out of first. Jake Dupuis (North Myrtle Beach) and Kyle Spencer (Wando) both carded 148s, with Dupuis prevailing in a playoff.

Caden Edwards shot a pair of 77s to finish second among the Seahawks, followed by Travis Mancill (79-76).

This story was originally published April 3, 2016 at 2:00 PM with the headline "High school sports, April 4: State distance medley relay marks lowered by HHH."