Home running : Bulldogs track teams race into state outdoor meet in Fayetteville
Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Sports/65219/
Though he admits the Rogers boys team and Bentonville or Pine Bluff girls teams are the favorites going in, Fayetteville track coach Drew Yoakum isn’t conceding anything at today’s Class 7 A State Outdoor Track Meet at John McDonnell Field.
“ These kids want to win, ” Yoakum said. “ That’s been our goal, and that’s still out there. Track meets are funny things; you never know what’s going to happen.
“ We’re going to enjoy it, especially since it’s going to be in our backyard. ”
Competitors today at the UA’s state-of-the-art McDonnell Field will enjoy the state’s fastest track and best timing system. College officials have volunteered their time to referee the meet, Yoakum said.
Second-place finishes by both the boys and girls teams at the 7 A-West Conference meet back on May 6 have buoyed Fayetteville’s confidence.
On the boys side, Fayetteville’s seniors dominated the sprints and jumps at the conference meet.
“ I’m very pleased with what we’ve done, ” Yoakum said. “ They’ve worked hard and the results are showing. ”
Hunter Bourke and Robert Rolfe finished in some combination of first-second in the 100, 200, and 400-meter runs at conference. Rolfe was the 7 AWest’s high-point man, with 40 points.
Bourke, who recently signed with the University of Arkansas track team, has finished runnerup at state four times. He’s itching to get over the state-title hump.
“ Hunter and Robert have been our big point-getters all year, ” Yoakum said. “ They go back and forth on high-point. Those two have to come through for us to have a chance, and they’ve done it this year. They just need to do it one more time. ”
The 3, 200-meter relay team of Austin Simpkins, Devin Area, Brandon Luper and Evan Lawrence will compete for the Bulldogs today, Yoakum said.
The Lady Bulldogs saved their best for last, mustering their strongest effort of the season for a second-place finish at the 7 AWest meet.
“ These girls came together and really had a great conference meet, ” Yoakum said. “ Hopefully we can get the same kind of points out of them at state. ”
Numbers have been an issue for Fayetteville, but the Lady Bulldogs showed that they can succeed with quality over quantity.
“ Seven girls scored all the points at conference and all seven are going to state, ” Yoakum said. “ They accomplished something I don’t think they even thought they could do. It was great to see. ”
For the most part, this is the same group of Lady Bulldogs that won the state indoor meet last year. Caroline McCombs and Maleaha Menifee will be counted upon heavily in the sprints today.
“ Those two have really come on in the last three meets, ” Yoakum said. “ They’ve really put in what they needed to in practice and it’s paid off. ”
Jessica Potter is coming off a first-place finish in the triple jump (33-10. 75 ) and a secondplace finish in the high jump (5-01 ) at the conference meet.
“ She’s one who can do every field events, ” Yoakum said.
Events will begin at 11 a. m. today and run into the evening.