Heritage targeting third title

Rogers Heritage sprinter Joey Saucier edges out Bryant sprinter John Winn to win the boys 100 meter dash in this file photo.
Rogers Heritage sprinter Joey Saucier edges out Bryant sprinter John Winn to win the boys 100 meter dash in this file photo.

A Rogers Heritage athlete has won the Arkansas high school decathlon the past two years.

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© NWA Democrat-Gazette

Brandon Shaw of Rogers Heritage competes in the 100 meters in this file photo.

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Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Joey Saucier of Rogers Heritage, who is trying to become the third consecutive athlete from his school to win the decathlon, is third after the first day of competition.

Senior Joey Saucier or junior Brandon Shaw could make it three in a row for the War Eagles this week.

HIGH SCHOOL

Decathlon/heptathlon

WHEN Today-Thursday.

WHERE Cabot High School

FIELD Decathlon: 91 boys. Heptathlon: 85 girls.

START Decathlon: noon today, 10 a.m. Thursday. Heptathlon: 11:30 a.m. today, 10 a.m. Thursday.

DECATHLON EVENTS Today: 100-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400-meter dash. Thursday: 110-meter high hurdles, discus, pole vault, triple jump, 1,500-meter run.

HEPTATHLON EVENTS Today: 100-meter high hurdles, long jump, discus, 200-meter dash. Thursday: High jump, shot put, 800-meter run.

Saucier and Shaw are among 91 athletes who have declared for the 51st annual high school decathlon, which will be held today and Thursday at Cabot High School. The event will be held in conjunction with the 16th annual high school heptathlon, which has 85 athletes entered.

Alex Miles won the decathlon in 2013 and Daniel Spickes earned the 2014 title. Heritage will attempt to become the first school since Benton in the mid-1980s -- Bubba Barrow (1985), Kennis Pledger (1986) and Corey Hill (1987) -- to have an athlete win the decathlon three years in a row.

Today's decathlon events include the 100-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400-meter dash. The 110-meter high hurdles, discus, pole vault, triple jump and the 1,500-meter race will be Thursday.

Rogers Heritage Coach Jay Miles said his athletes have been committed to competing in the decathlon since the beginning of the track and field season.

"It's been in the back of their minds the whole season," Miles said.

Rogers Heritage opened in 2008, and the War Eagles have come a long way in seven years.

"We have a program where everyone wants to be decathletes," Miles said.

Saucier, who will play football at Air Force, won Class 7A state titles in the 100-meter dash (10.88) and the long jump (23 feet, 7 3/4 inches) and was second in the 200-meter dash (22.08).

Miles said competing in the decathlon is about athleticism and raw power, and he believes Saucier, 6-2, 195 pounds, will excel.

"With his speed and strength, the 100 and the long jump are going to be good," Miles said. "He's a big, strong kid."

Shaw, 5-6, 140 pounds, cleared 13 feet, 10 inches in the pole vault at the 7A-West Conference meet April 30.

"That's a big thing for him," Miles said. "He's not a real big guy, but he's super fast. He's able to take that strength and do well in the pole vault."

Miles said Saucier and Shaw are the leaders of Heritage's track program.

"I put a lot of pressure on them," Miles said. "They both responded well. They were both the heart and soul of our team. Part of doing the multiple events at the big meets is getting ready for the decathlon."

Miles, who coached Rogers in 2004-2008 before moving to Rogers Heritage, said the key to doing well in the decathlon is avoiding the big mistake.

"Do what you're capable of," Miles said. "You can't let mistakes affect you. That's the decathlon right there."

Sports on 05/20/2015

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