DECATUR --The Decatur Bulldog track team began preparation Feb. 20 for its upcoming season as it makes the move into the 1A District 1 conference.
In 2016, the Bulldogs were runnersup at the state 2A track meet, one of the best finishes in 10 years. They also brought home the 2A state titles in the pole vault, discus and the 4x400 and 4x800 meter relay teams. For the Decatur program, all of those outstanding athletes are returning for another crack at a state title, this time in the 1A conference.
"We have a chance to be very good," said Shane Holland, Decatur track coach. "Result wise, it's not going to show early in the year, because we have to run against much bigger schools. We have three meets where we will run against 6A and 7A teams as a way to ready the kids for the new conference challenge."
Since the move to the new conference was announced by the Arkansas Activities Association in early 2016, the Decatur track program faces unfamiliar opponents this season. One area where the competition is going to prove to be a challenge is in the pole vault and with 2A state champion Bracy Owens.
"Bracy will have to improve if he is to compete with the other 1A schools.," said Holland. "I saw a kid from Trinity Christian (in Bradford), a ninth grader, jump 14 feet, 6 inches, in a recent meet when Bracy's personal best in the 2A was 13 feet. He will have to work harder if he wants to repeat his performance from last year."
Another outstanding athlete returning from last year's winning team is junior, Taylor Haisman, a three-time state champion and member of Decatur's relay teams.
"Taylor won three gold medals at state last year," Holland said. "He is a kid that comes to practice every day and works very hard. To me he is one kid that really stands out."
Ryan Shaffer is another outstanding athlete returning for his final season as a member of the Bulldog track team. Although he never won individual gold, he has earned three medals as part of the 2015 4x800 meter, 2016 4x400 and 4x800 meter relay teams.
The senior girls' team, which finished sixth in the 2A state meet last year, will return one state champion, Cameron Shaffer. Shaffer brought home a gold medal in the discus and competed in the Meet of Champions, where she placed ninth. Although she never placed in her second specialty, the shot put, Holland expects to see good things from her this year in both events.
"Cameron is a strong competitor in both the discus and the shot put," Holland said. "Although, for most of the year, she was better in the shot put. She has a real chance of taking the titles in both events this year."
Coming up from last year's junior high team is Desi Meek. Meek was the high-point winner in several junior high meets last year, including the district meet in Eureka Springs. This earned her the right to compete in the state meet as a freshman. Although Meek was unable to place in any events at state, the experiences she gained from the competition made her a much stronger athlete.
"Desi is very competitive in every event she competes in," said Holland. "If she works hard and stays healthy, this could be a special year for her."
The Bulldogs will compete in several meets, including Gravette, Eureka Springs, Pea Ridge, Springdale and Fort Smith during the months of March and April. Should the need arise for Decatur to attend an additional meet to qualify more athletes for the district and state meets, Mansfield will serve as a standby.
Decatur begins its senior track season in Siloam Springs on March 9. The Decatur junior high team is scheduled to compete in its first meet of the season March 7, again in Siloam Springs. For more meet dates and times, go to decatursd.com/athletics.
Sports on 03/01/2017