Quinton Decker at Fort Worden Invite
Quinton Decker is a Junior at Port Townsend High School, a 2A school.
Quinton can hang with the best of them.
He likes to run fast, he has posted his last several races with first mile times of 4:40 and under.
His race plal is simple, size up the competition, imagine the race next to the best guys, go out with the lead group and do not fall out.
This plan has one important common factor I have heard from several other of the athletes I have been interviewing.
Base your job on the clear fact that your competitor can just as easily beat you as you them.
Quinton also seems to be of the same thought as the other top flight guys, when he talks about the other runners. I heard not one word of contempt or envy. Quinton voiced genuine respect as we discussed the other top runners he has ran against or will face in the next weeks contests.
We spoke of the Sehome and North Kitsap top flight guys, whom he will duel for the state title. We spoke of Joey Bywater and his salt Creek race.
As we discussed his races, he voiced, what I can easily describe as eagerness and anticipation. Each race another opportunity to look forward to the contests, to step up from the beginning and to hang with the top guys to see what he can do.
His only drive to go with the leaders and hang with them to the end.
This plan has worked great for Quinton. He placed a respectable 5th place at Salt Creek.
The Fort Worden Invite is held at the scenic Fort Worden grounds in Port Towsend. This is the home course of Port Townsend HS and Quinton Decker.
Quinton says he likes to go out fast in preparation for the fast first mile at the State meet.
He also got another preparation for that meet on Sat 0ct 6.
The temperature was in the high 40's
The wind was gusting at best and a constant blow at worst. It may have been raining , I didn’t notice over the wind and cold.
Last year this race was sunny and warm. Everyone did great and the race was fun to watch.
The meet record was set that day at 16:19 by Bevan Taylor of Bainbridge.
This year the record fell. 15:53
Guess who?
Quinton went out fast, set up a 40 second lead, ran a 4:40 first mile and by the end held on to an 18 sec lead over Alex Barkely of Ballard. 16:11
Ruby Roberts of Kingston also shattered the girls course record of 20:46 with a time of 18:10.
18 seconds ahead of Bridget Berg of Ballard.
Hearing news of both of theses runners yet again setting course records is not that surprising. On a day line Oct 6, with the weather being so miserable, it is quite an accomplishment and an important tell of the caliber and dedication of theses athletes, to be able to get up and outperform everyone else and themselves.
Great performances on a miserable day.
Quinton has ran in both the 160 and 3200 at the State Track Meet for the last 2 years.
He also ran at the last 2 State XC meets, placing 5th as a freshman and 12th last year.
He qualified for Borderclash once.
