DECATUR -- The Decatur High senior track team will compete in its first meet of the season April 2 in the Gravette Invitational.
The season began on a rocky note when the first three meets, Pea Ridge, Siloam Springs and Bentonville, were canceled due to weather and illness. However, with everybody healthy and the weather improving, the team hopes to finally be able to compete.
Most all of last year's track team is returning in hopes of making it to the state finals at Gurdon May 4. Senior Lacy Barrett will compete in the hurdles. Cameron Shaffer competes in the shot put and discus.
This year's cross country team did very well at state. With the addition of these long-distance runners, the Bulldogs have a good chance of winning against some of the bigger schools.
"The senior high boys will have quite a few kids, good numbers," said Shane Holland, Decatur track coach. "We have some distance kids back that are pretty good. Ryan Shaffer is good in the hurdles."
Mario Urquidi will try to bring home the state title in both the pole vault and high jump. Urquidi placed third in the state playoffs last year and is working to beat his personal best of 12 feet he vaulted at the Gurdon meet at the end of the season.
Also competing in the pole vault is Bracy Owens, whose brother Evan placed first in the event two years ago. Owens, a sophomore, hopes to better his brother's jumps and bring home the state title in the coming years.
"He will try," said Shane Holland, Decatur track coach. "He is going to have to grow and get fast. Technique wise he is very good. He needs to grow and get faster. That will give him the ability to get on to be able to use a bigger pole. Evan used a 14-foot pole when he won. Right now, Bracy is using a 12-foot pole. Once he moves up to that bigger pole, he has a shot."
The Gravette meet will pit the 2A Bulldogs against some of the powerhouse teams in the region, such as 7A Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers, as well as 4A Gravette and Gentry. But the Bulldogs have the talent to give these teams a real run for their money.
The junior high team is off to a great season thus far. Desi Meeks and Tyler Haisman have done some competing against the bigger schools and earning points for the small Decatur team.
They will travel to Oklahoma to compete in the Vinita Invitational on April 4 and then south to Gentry on April 14.
For a complete list of the remaining track meets, go to decatursd.com/athletic/track schedule.
Sports on 04/01/2015