PRAIRIE GROVE -- The Prairie Grove boys track team competed at the Arkansas Indoor High School Championships track and field meet held Feb. 6 on the University of Arkansas campus.
Going up against athletes and teams from the 1A/2A/3A and 4A classifications, the Tigers placed fifth out of 30 teams. Prairie Grove junior Sydney Walker won the boys 200 meter dash, placed second in the 60 meter dash and second in the 400 meter dash. Fellow junior Coty Hoskins placed seventh in the boys 60 meter hurdles to highlight Tiger efforts.
"There were some good athletes from all over the state there, some of the best of the best, a lot we will face in outdoor meets [during the spring track and field season]," said Prairie Grove coach John Elder.
Walker battled with Keith Pippen of Crossett and Mena's Zach Jewell throughout the day. All three ran in heat nine with Walker winning the 200 meters in 23.58 just ahead of Pippen in second at 23.65 and Jewell, third in 23.73. Tiger senior Elliot Chamberlin finished 19th in 25.95.
Pippen won the 400 meters in 53.95 with Walker second in 54.52 edging Jackson Beavert, of Nashville, third with a time of 54.53. Dustin Burton, 20th in 1:00.82, and Austin Hall, 33rd in 1:05.84, also competed.
Jewell won the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.16 with Walker coming in second in 7.33 and Pippen placing third in 7.41. Crosett's Darris Williams was fourth in 7.51 and Walker did well to stay ahead of that tandem. Chamberlin was 20th in 7.75 and Hall placed 46th in 8.72.
Elder said team workouts didn't start until the end of January and credits Walker with staying in shape on his own. Over the winter Walker competes in various indoor meets with his parents taking him to out-of-state competition.
"He trained during the fall on his own. He's called me wanting to get in the weightroom. He'd work out on his own. He's really self-motivated to do it on his own. It's kind of his passion," Elder said. "His parents support him a lot. His mom was involved in track and field growing up and she kind of got him into it. I think she's been a big influence on him."
A trio of Tigers entered the 800 meter run. Hunter Osburn was the top finisher, placing 14th by turning in a time of 2:26.99. Blake Martin was close behind finishing 21st in 2:32.18 and Wade was 22nd in 2:34.39.
William Pruitt joined Hoskins in running the 60 meter hurdles and came in 15th in 11.45.
In distance running, Prairie Grove had Wade placing 28th (5:39.65) and Timothy Frerking 35th (5:51.38) in the 1,600 meter run.
Placing in the 3,200 meter run were Avery Roton, 19th in 12:21.36 and Frerking, 24th with a time of 13:03.38.
Sports on 02/25/2015