REGION 6-AA TRACK & FIELD MEET: Decatur pulls ahead to win

REGION 6-AA TRACK & FIELD MEET: Decatur pulls ahead to win
Bulldogs lag in field events, then sprint to the crown

By Curtis Bunn
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/29/08

Decatur used a dominant effort in the sprints in the Region 6-AA boys track championships Monday at Greater Atlanta Christian to come from behind and win the championship.

At one point in the afternoon, the Bulldogs were a distant third to front-running GAC and second-place Wesleyan.

But when the speed events came up, Decatur took off. In a span of 75 minutes, the Bulldogs took over first place and ended up earning 102 points to win the crown over second-place Greater Atlanta Christian (84.3) and Wesleyan (72), which was third.

All told, Decatur either won or placed second in eight straight events.

"We knew we could come back in the sprints," said Decatur's Chris Miles, who won the 100-meter championship, the 200-meter title and was on the winning 1,600 relay team.

"We didn't score as we'd like in the field events, but we were very confident about what we could do in sprints. We have a strong team."

Consecutive first-place finishes by Miles in the 100 (11:46) and Chris Sams in the 110-meter hurdles (15.15) got the Bulldogs going in the right direction.

Then Jacob Martin-Rogers took second in the 800 for eight points for Decatur; Wesleyan's Matt Hanlon, who also captured the 1,600 title on Saturday, won his second region title in the 800.

But Decatur continued to come on strong. Miles captured his second region championship medal by taking the 200 in 22.86. The conditions —- a little chilly and windy —- prevented a fast race, but Miles fought through the elements.

"I knew it would be a slower time running into the headwind," Miles said. "But with my technique, I knew I would be all right."

Sams finished second in a tight race in the 300-meter hurdles to give the Bulldogs another title. For good measure, Mac Fidler won a non-sprint event —- the 3,200 in 10:07 —- to give Decatur a phenomenal 56 points in a six-race span (first place gets 10 points, second eight).

Finally, Decatur's 1,600 relay team put a cherry on top of its outstanding day, smoking the field with a 3:30.91 to win still another region championship.

GO DECATUR!