DECATUR -- The Decatur track team traveled to Eureka Springs April 25 to participate in its final 2A 4-West district meet before moving to the 1A conference next season. The Bulldogs went out in style, posting wins in both the boys' and girls' meets.
The Decatur boys finished in first place, receiving more than double the points of their nearest competitor. The Bulldogs finished in the top 10 in all 14 events, receiving 10 first places, seven second places, four third places and two fourth places.
"The boys won by quite a bit," said Shane Holland, Decatur track coach. "We didn't have any high-point individuals, but the kids did well and had a good time in the process."
For some first-time track and field athletes, such as Leng Lee in the pole vault, the dream of achieving a top-10 finish in their event became a reality. Still others pushed themselves beyond their normal limits to achieve a personal best.
"Tyler Riddle knocked 12 seconds off of his mile time, ran 4:52, which was a little under five minutes (and) was a big deal for him," Holland said. "Leng Lee jumped up and got second in the pole vault, which gave us another vaulter in the state meet."
The Decatur girls' team finished in third place with 97 points. The team achieved three first-, three second- and three third-place finishes in the Eureka Springs meet. This was one of the best finishes for the girls all season. Two freshman were able to compete in the senior ranks. Desi Meek, who won all six of the events in which she competed, was high-point individual in the junior high meet on April 22. Paige Vann was another freshman who showed well in the junior high meet.
Six girls, Cameron Shaffer, Celine Prelle, Meagan Smith, Desi Meek, Paige Vann and Leticia Fuentes, qualified for the state meet.
"Several of the girls stepped up and got the job done for us this season," Holland said.
Twelve boys, Ryan Shaffer, Alex Morrow, Bracy Owens, Tyler Riddle, Tajae White, Brandon Coker, Taylor Haisman, Leng Lee, Johnny Brandon, Jimmy Mendoza, Marck Guadarrama and Jafett Puga, qualified for the state 2A meet May 2 in England.
In all, the Decatur track team will take 18 athletes to the state meet this year.
"I believe this may be the most kids I have taken to a state meet since I have been here," Holland said. "We have a lot more girls than usual. The boys are about the same as I have had in years past. I am very pleased with the performance of both teams this season."
The teams were to leave for England Sunday, May 1, enabling the athletes to get a good night's rest before competing the next day. The 2A meet is an all-day event and lasts well into the evening of May 2. So the teams were to spend the night and return to Decatur later in the day on May 3.
For the Decatur track team, this meet will be a bittersweet end to its 2A conference stand. The fact that the Decatur Bulldogs finished on a high note by totally dominating the last 2A 4 West meet in which it will compete is a testament to Holland's coaching and the commitment and dedication on the part of the athletes.
Decatur Boys' Results
100 Meter Dash: 6 Johnny Brandon 12.20, 10 Troy Kell 12.60
110 Meter Hurdles: 1 Ryan Shaffer 17.40, 2 Alex Morrow 17.70, 3 Tajae White 18.50
1600 Meter Run: 1 Tyler Riddle 4:52.30, 6 Luis Ocamp 5:36.20, 9 Hector Aquirre 5:55.90
200 Meter Dash: 2 Jimmy Mendoza 24.70, 9 Kell 25.70, 10 Brandon 26.40
300 Meter Hurdles: 1 Shaffer 44.50, 2 Morrow 45.30, 3 White 46.10, 8 Cayden Bingham 49.60
3200 Meter Run: 1 Riddle 11:33.90, 3 Ocampo 12:10.90, 6 Aquirre 13:13.40
400 Meter Dash: 2 Taylor Haisman 52.90, 5 Brandon 56.30
4x100: 1 Decatur 47.40 4x400: 1 Decatur 3:48.20 4x800: 1 Decatur 9:00.00
800 Meter Run: 1. Haisman 2:13.50, 2 Marck Guadarrama 2:19.50, 3 Leng Lee 2:20.40
Shot Put: 1 Brandon Coker 40-03.00 Discus: 5 Coker 100-07.50
High Jump: 2 Mendoza 5-10.00, 6 Riddle 5-04.00
Long Jump: 5 Morrow 17-01.00, 6 Mendoza 17-00.00
Pole Vault: 1 Bracy Owens 11-00.00, 2 Lee 10-06.00, 4 White 10-00.00, 5 Haisman 9-06.00
Triple Jump: 4 White 37-00.00, 8 Mendoza 35-08.00
Decatur Girls' Results
100 Meter Hurdles: Desi Meek 17.40, Paige Vann 19.20
100 Meter Dash: 6 Celine Prelle 14.10
200 Meter Dash: 1 Meek 28.40
300 Meter Hurdles: 2 Meek 51.10
400 Meter Dash: 2 Vann 1:11.00, 3 Prelle 1:13.10
4x100: 1 Decatur 56.30 Shot Put: 1 Cameron Shaffer 32-04.00 Discus: 3 Shaffer 81-11.50
Pole Vault: 1 Meek 7-00.00 High Jump: 3 Vann 4-05.00 Long Jump: 7 Vann 13-02.25 Triple Jump: 3 Meek 29-10.00
Sports on 05/04/2016