Deckard takes second in 100, 200 meters at Class 5A state meet
May 16—Some of the state's top track and field athletes gathered at Yukon High School for the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association Class 5A State Championships on Friday and Saturday, and among them was Claremore junior Gage Deckard.
Deckard, a determined sprinter ready to leave his mark on the track, showcased his incredible speed and crossed the finish line in a remarkable 10.86 seconds during the 100-meter preliminaries, securing his spot in the finals.
In the finals, Deckard gave it his all, pushing himself to the limit. With fierce competition from John Marshall's James Allen, the race was neck and neck.
In a heart-stopping finish, Allen claimed first place, clocking in at 10.87 seconds, while Deckard captured an impressive second place with a time of 11.16 seconds.
Undeterred by the close finish in the 100-meter event, Deckard swiftly turned his attention to the 200 meters.
He showcased his versatility and endurance, delivering a strong performance. In the preliminaries, he secured the fourth spot with a time of 22.11 seconds. Deckard's determination was evident as he entered the finals, and he crossed the finish line in 22.04 seconds, securing a well-deserved second-place finish once again.
Allen claimed first place once more with a blistering time of 21.90 seconds.
Deckard's talent extended beyond individual events.
Together with his teammates Breyen Dotson, Dylan Cryder and Eli Rodgers, he competed in the fiercely contested 4x100-meter relay. The team fought hard, improving their prelims time from 43.45 seconds to 43.16 seconds in the finals and securing a fifth-place finish.
The 4x200-meter relay showcased another collaboration for Deckard, this time with Dotson, Cryder and Ashton Andrews. Although they faced tough competition, they finished the race in 1 minute, 30.62 seconds, placing ninth overall.
John Marshall's team emerged victorious with a time of 1:28.39.
Deckard's teammates also had their moment to shine.
Lynie Bailey, a talented sophomore, competed in the girls 100 and 200 meters. She showcased her skill and determination, placing 11th in the 100 with a time of 12.68 seconds and 12th in the 200 with a time of 26.90 seconds.
Cal Pritchett, a dedicated senior, represented Claremore in the boys 800 meters. Pritchett gave a commendable performance, crossing the finish line in 1:58.60 to secure the ninth spot.
Marcus Bean, a sophomore with a bright future, competed in the boys 300-meter hurdles. He demonstrated his agility and speed, finishing the race in 44.38 seconds and placing 14th.
Rodgers, a talented junior, participated in the boys high jump. With impressive athleticism, he leaped over the bar, reaching a height of 6 feet, 2 inches and secured the seventh position.
In the pole vault event, Cooper Zickefoose, a promising sophomore, cleared the bar at 12-06 with grace and precision, securing an impressive fifth place. Fellow sophomore Mason Gillispie took ninth with a clearing of 11-00.
When all the scores were tallied, Claremore's boys team emerged in ninth place out of 30 competing teams, accumulating a total of 30 points. Its strong showing reflected the dedication, skill and teamwork of each athlete.
Meanwhile, Coweta claimed the top spot with 88 points.
Deckard and his teammates may not have taken home the gold medals, but they left Yukon High School with a sense of pride and accomplishment. They had given their all, leaving their mark on the state championships and paving the way for future successes.
