DECATUR -- For track stars, the Arkansas Meet of Champions is a prize reserved for the best of the best finishers in each conference. Two from Decatur and three from Gentry took the opportunity to compete with their counterparts from around the state.
For the Decatur track stars, the Meet of Champions was the final event of the 2015-16 season.
The meet took place on the track at Russellville High School May 14. Gold medalist from the 1A through 7A conferences were invited to compete together in the final high school track event in Arkansas.
Decatur's Cameron Shaffer's 94-feet, 9-inch throw landed her a state championship in the discus during the 2A state meet in England and an invitation to the Meet of Champions. In this meet, Shaffer was up against counterparts from Springdale (who took first in this event), Russellville, Green Forrest, Sheridan and Green Forest.
In the end, Shaffer finished in 10th place with a throw of 97 feet, a personal best for her in the event.
"It was wild," said Shaffer. "I was very pleased with my performance. I beat my personal best and that's what mattered to me."
When the final results were posted at the end of the event, Shaffer knew she gave one of her best performances of the season.
"I looked at coach (Holland) and he was smiling, and I was good with that," said Shaffer.
Along with Shaffer, Bracy Owens competed against the best pole vaulters in the state. His fellow competitors included Springdale 7A Har-Ber (placed first in the event), Fayetteville, Rogers, Lake Hamilton and Gentry.
Like Shaffer, the Meet of Champions produced a personal best for Owens of 13 feet for a 11th-place finish out of 13 vaulters competing.
"It felt good to get that 13 (feet) as a personal best," Owens said. "But I really wanted to get 13 (feet), 6 (inches) so I can finally beat my brother. I just have to wait until next year."
Owens' brother Evan took the state 2A pole vault championships and set a 2A state record of 13 feet, 4 inches in 2013. This set up a friendly rivalry between the brothers. Although Bracy Owens missed his brother's record by only four inches, he will have his senior year to work on topping his brother.
"My goal is to get to 15 feet next year." said Owens.
For Shane Holland (Decatur's track coach), having two of his eight top track athletes choose to compete in the Meet of Champions was a high point in this year's track season.
"I'm proud of them for getting to go," said Holland. "Not everybody gets to go to this meet and they choose to go."
For the Gentry Pioneer track team, which had three athletes take championships at the 4A state track meet, the Meet of Champions was very productive.
One of the best finishes for Gentry was in the Girls' 800 Meter Run, when Mallory Morris took a fifth-place finish.
Competing alongside Owens in the pole vault was Cole Cripps, who finished in the Number 7 spot with a vault of 13 feet, 6 inches.
Chastery Fuamatu's 35-foot throw in the girls' shot put was good enough to land her a ninth place finish in the Meet of Champions.
Due to scheduling conflicts, Holland was unable to take his other 2A champions, which included, Taylor Haisman, Tyler Riddle, Marck Guadarrama, Jimmy Mendoza and Ryan Shaffer. He was proud of both his junior and senior high teams this season. Shaffer's and Owens' appearances in the Meet of Champions was the perfect end to a very successful track season.
"They both had one more chance to compete and they felt good about the meet. They both set a personal best and I am happy with their performances. It was a good meet," said Holland.
Sports on 05/25/2016