CABOT -- If Daniel Spickes needs any advice on how to hit a golf ball, the Rogers Heritage senior can turn to his uncle, PGA Tour member Ken Duke, an Arkadelphia native and Henderson State graduate.
"I don't play a lot," Spickes said. "I spend most of my time on the track."
It shows.
Spickes scored 6,488 points to capture the 51st annual Arkansas High School Decathlon on Thursday afternoon at Cabot High School's Panther Stadium.
Spickes, a University of Central Arkansas signee, trailed first-day leader Sain-Thomas Mathew, a senior from Springdale Har-Ber, 3,390-3,647 after the first five events.
But the complexion of the meet changed -- as expected -- when Spickes scored 734 points in the pole vault Thursday with a jump of 14 feet, 5 1/2 inches. He won the Class 7A title earlier this month (16-0).
Mathew, who specializes in the sprints, managed only 262 points after clearing 8-6. Mathew finished second with 6,052 points.
"The pole vault was huge," Heritage Coach Jay Miles said. "Sain continued to put pressure on him all day, but Daniel didn't let it get to him. He didn't start pressing too much."
Spickes and Mathew were the highest returnees from last year, finishing second and 11th, respectively.
"I hoped to win," Spickes said. "I didn't expect to win."
Completing the top 10 were Bentonville senior Jordan Patrick (5,620), Hamburg sophomore Lorenzo Watkins (5,573), Crossett sophomore Travern Caldwell (5,290), Melbourne junior Dalton Romero (5,241), North Little Rock senior Clayton Smith (5,233), Beebe sophomore Connor Patrom (5,214), Lake Hamilton junior Donell West (5,1420 and Sheridan senior Tyler Wallace (5,122).
The meet was scored with the International Association of Athletics Federations table adopted by the Arkansas Activities Association in 2012.
Spickes and Mathew nearly matched each other in the first two events Thursday.
Mathew recorded 815 points in the 110 hurdles (15.29). Spickes earned 790 (15.50). Mathew threw the discus 114-7 1/2 to earn 562 points. Spickes threw 107-1 1/2 for 517 points.
Spickes then seized the title in the pole vault.
"I didn't go as high as I wanted to, but I'll take it," Spickes said. "I wanted to go 15-0, 15-6. I knew I just needed to get like 13-6 to put me into the lead."
Spickes took a 5,431-5,286 lead over Mathew after the pole vault. The advantage grew after solid performances in the final two events.
Spickes earned 625 points in the triple jump (43-10 3/4) and 432 in the 1,500 (5:23.41).
"We fell off in a couple of places, but it wasn't really bad," Miles said, referring to point projections. "He pretty much stayed on target."
Spickes scored 6,368 points last year to finish second to teammate Alex Miles, who scored 6,875. Miles, now a freshman decathlete at UCA, is the son of Jay Miles.
"I now they're really excited to be teammates again, because they push each other," Jay Miles said.
Sports on 05/23/2014