Sports banquet to feature record setting sprinter

PENSACOLA — Pensacola sprinter and world record setter Justin Gatlin will be the featured speaker for the Pensacola Sports Cox Annual Awards Banquet on Feb. 20 at New World Landing.

Each year the awards banquet recognizes outstanding achievements of teams and individual athletes from the area, both professional and amateur. 

The highlight of the awards banquet includes induction into the Pensacola Sports Hall of Fame and the announcement of the Sportsman of the Year.

"This last year has seen so many outstanding performances by area athletes and teams," Ray Palmer, executive director of Pensacola Sports, said. "We are so excited to recognize some really great athletic achievements — baseball, tennis, golf and football championships, world records being set, inspirational performances by athletes from all walks of life — it’s been an unbelievable year for sports and we hope everyone will come to the banquet to help us recognize these great efforts."

This year’s special achievement winners will include the University of West Florida Men’s Tennis national championship team, the Blue Wahoos, Ben Lively, Navarre High School’s weightlifting team and others. In addition, individual amateur athletes of the year will be named.

The banquet gets under way with a cash bar at 5:30 p.m. at New World Landing, with the banquet beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 each for open seating or $750 for a table of 10. Sponsor tables are $1,000 and include recognition and 10 drink tickets.

Tickets are on sale now at www.pensacolasports.org/annualawards. 

For more information, call Melissa Bruce at 850-434-2800.

WHAT: Pensacola Sports Cox Annual Awards Banquet

WHEN: Feb. 20, with cash bar at 5:30 p.m. and banquet beginning at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: New World Landing in Pensacola

COST: Tickets are $75 each for open seating or $750 for a table of 10. Sponsor tables are $1,000 and include recognition and 10 drink tickets. Purchase at www.pensacolasports.org/annualawards

DETAILS: Call Melissa Bruce, 434-2800, for more information

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This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Sports banquet to feature record setting sprinter