DEMOPOLIS &8212; Demopolis track coach Dusty Davis decided to hold his team out of its scheduled track meet Thursday in order to let the team rest an prepare for its sectional meet next Thursday.

Davis said his group is full of young athletes, though the team has shown surprising talent and ability in its meets thus far this season. He said though the Tigers have only one senior in their ranks they have performed admirably during the four competitions they have attended.

Davis also noted that the four events the group has competed in this year have yielded very positive results, demonstrating the abilities of the young athletes from Demopolis. He said the team has placed in the top three of four among schools in point standings for the overall group in every meet in which they have competed.

Davis pointed to the boys four by 800 team as a group that has exhibited an ability to perform well against other schools through the group&8217;s meet match ups. He said Madison Duckworth has also shown an ability to lead the pack in the 800 meter or half mile sprint.

Davis said the team and its members would gain valuable experience, especially for the younger athletes in the group, when they go to sectionals next Thursday in St. Pauls. The players that place at the meet there will then have the opportunity to compete at the state level competition held at Troy University on May 4 and 5.

Zack Davis, who is the only senior on the team, has a legitimate chance of qualifying for and winning the 800 meter event,&8221; said Davis. &8220;It really depends on the way the heats for the event are divided, and I haven&8217;t gotten those yet for the sectional meet.&8221;

Davis said by laying out of the meet this week he has been able to better prepare the young team for what it will face at both sectionals and state for those that make the cut. He said at this point that is more valuable to the team than attending another meet.