CABOT -- A second-place finish in the 400-meters, the day's final event, pushed Lake Hamilton's's Donell West into third overall after the weather-delayed first round of the state decathlon on Wednesday at Cabot High School.
West, a senior who placed ninth overall last year, overcame a 34th-place finish in the 100 for top-nine efforts in the last five. He tied for sixth in the high jump (5-10 3/4), was seventh in the shot put (38-8 1/4) and ninth in the long jump (20.8.50).
With 3,298 points, West trails Rogers Heritage's Joey Saucier by 163 points and Hamburg's Lorenzo Watkins by 35. Beebe's Conner Patrom is 85 points behind West.
"I've think he's got a chance to win it," Lake Hamilton track and field coach Karl Koonce said, adding top pole vaulter Michael Carr of Westside Jonesboro could threaten from 23rd place. "It's hard to tell."
Today's events are the 100 hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, triple jump and 1,500 run.
"I think he'll do well in the triple jump. I think he'll do well in the hurdles," Koonce said of West.
Koonce also believes West can pick up points on Saucier and Watkins in the pole vault, and possibly in the 1,500.
Saucier won the long jump (22-5) and was second in the 100 (11.30). Watkins was second in the long jump (21.8 3/4) , fourth in the high jump and sixth in the 100.
Jessieville's Clint McNeely is 57th in the field of 73. His top finishes were 38th in the shot and 39th in the long jump and 400.
Crossett's Keith Pippen won the 100 in 11.20 seconds, North Little Rock's Tyler Phillips the shot put (46 feet, 4.25 inches), Genoa Central's Hayden Hampton the high jump (6 feet, 4.75 inches) and Crossett's Travern Caldwell the 400 (49.96 seconds).
Sports on 05/21/2015