Decatur dominates district track meet in Eureka Springs
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 thirdplace 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 Gua- darrama 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.