Decatur senior boys take district track meet in Eureka Springs

DECATUR -- It has been a banner year for the Decatur Bulldog athletic department. The senior boys' basketball team won the 2014 2A 4 west district title in Eureka Springs and the junior high boys' track team won its district title April 25. Now there is yet another district title to add to the trophy case.

The senior boys' track team traveled to Eureka Springs April 30 to compete in the 2014 district meet. Five teams competed for the title and a chance to go for the state title in Gurdon on May 5. When the dust settled, the Decatur Bulldogs won the meet, scoring 247.5 points and beating the nearest competitor, JC Westside, by 116 points

With the impressive showing of the junior high district meet, coach Shane Holland allowed freshmen to compete in the senior meet. For these freshmen, it was a chance to test the waters for next year. Many did very well against older athletes. Bracy Owens, brother of Evan Owens who won the state title in the pole vault event last year, placed third behind Mario Urquidi. With this impressive showing in pole vault, it is possible that the state title could stay in Decatur for several years to come.

The meet would see a personal best in the pole vault by Urquidi, reaching the 12-foot mark. He took a second place finish behind Dillon McBride, from Union Christian Academy.

"I am very proud of our senior boys' team this year," said Shane Holland, track coach. "The boys worked very hard this year to take district. It is now time to prepare for state on May 5."

Those participating in the meet include: Mario Urquidi, Kyle Shaffer, Terry Kell, Tyler Riddle, Leng Lee, Marck Guardarrama, Luis Ocampo, Skyler Henson, Wyatt Bingham, Ryan Shaffer, Moises Hernandez, Bracy Owens, Brandon Coker and Jacob Jones.

The team took several first and second place finishes to build such an impressive points lead.

1600m -- Tyler Riddle, 2nd; 110m high hurdles -- Ryan Shaffer, 2nd; 300m high hurdles -- Ryan Shaffer, 1st; 4x100m relay --- Decatur, 1st; 4x400m relay -- Decatur, 1st; 4x800m relay -- Decatur, 2nd; high jump -- Mario Urquidi, 1st; pole vault -- Mario Urquidi, 2nd; Bracy Owens, 3rd; long jump -- Mario Urquidi, 1st; Terry Kell, 2nd; shot put -- Brandon Coker, 1st; triple jump -- Mario Urquidi, 2nd; 100m dash -- Mario Urquidi, 1st; 200m dash -- Mario Urquidi, 1st; 400m dash -- Kyle Shaffer, 3rd.

Sports on 05/07/2014