Paul Davis Paul Davis closed out his standout senior track season the way every athlete dreams about: by winning at the Upper Peninsula State Finals.

Davis not only won once, but also was perfect, posting victories in the 100, 200, and 400-meter dashes in impressive style and anchoring the winning 800-meter relay team.

"Paul started to come around late in his junior season and it carried over into his senior year," said Saints Coach Dave Brines.

Coach Brines was an assistant last year and became the head coach after Marty Spencer, former head coach, became the athletic director.

He competed in the low hurdles, pole vault, dashes, and relays in his first three years.

"Paul was excited about the sport of track and has found his calling," added Brines. "He has been humble with all his success."

Davis started the 2006 season at home Tuesday, April 18, competing in the 200-meter dash and placing first with a time of 22.73. He anchored three relays that included first places in the 800-meter in 1:37.2 and the 1600 meter relay in 3:48.37, and finished second in the 400-meter relay in 46.6.

St. Ignace Saints 800-meter relay team of (from left) Jesse Becker, Derrick Clark, Zach Pierson, and Paul Davis. During the second meet at Boyne City Wednesday, April 19, Davis made his mark with a time of 11.16 in the 100-meter dash that was just one-hundredth of a second (11.15) off the school record set by Brian Cahill in 1984.

Later in the meet Davis did set a new LaSalle High School (LHS) school record by shattering the 41year-old 200-meter dash record of David LaJoice in 1965 with a time of 21.35. He anchored the winning 800-meter relay team in 1:37.32 and the 400-meter relay foursome in 46.82.

"The question that was asked at every meet was, who is this Davis kid and where did he come from?" said the coach. "He has been here. Paul put his mark on the track scene that carried over into the remainder of the season."

At Inland Lakes Monday, April 24, Davis won the 100-meter dash in 11.29, the 200-meter dash in 22.71, and anchored the 800-meter relay team in 1:36.72. He was part of the 400-meter relay team that placed third.

When the Saints traveled to Newberry and competed in the Elks Invitational Thursday, April 27, the St. Ignace sprinter came away with four victories and was named Outstanding Male Athlete. Davis won the 100-meter dash in 11.46, the 200-meter dash in 24.01, for the first time the 400-meter dash in 53.78, and anchored the winning 800-meter relay foursome in 1:37.75.

The victory string continued at Sault High Tuesday, May 2, with is fourth win in the 100-meter dash in 11.21 and fifth in the 200 meter dash in 23.27. He anchored the win in the 400-meter relay in 47.04 and the second place 800-meter relay team in 1:36.28.

LaSalle High School hosted the 21st Annual Kiwanis Invitational Friday, May 5, and the boys raced to the team championship. Davis lost for the first time in the 100-meter dash in 11.32, but continued his streak in the 200-meter dash in 23.34, added wins in the 400-meter dash in 53.3, and was part of the winning 800-meter relay team in 1:36.87.

The Saints returned home and Davis bounced back with a win in the 100-meter dash in 11.40, the 200-meter dash in 22.67, and anchored the 800-meter relay team in 1:36.37.

St. Ignace competed in the Inland Lakes Invitational and Davis posted a photo finish win in the 100-meter dash in 11.50, recorded his eighth win in the 200-meter dash in 23.36, and won the 400-meter dash in 53.45. The 800-meter relay team took second in 1:37.07.

At the 50th Annual Petoskey Kiwanis Relays, the Saints 800meter relay team of Jesse Becker, Derrick Clark, Zach Pierson, and Davis set a new school record with a time of 1:34.4, breaking the old LHS mark of 1:34.6 established by David Brown, Jo Jo Visnaw, Brad Ledy, and Sean McLafferty, and set a new Petoskey Kiwanis Relay record that was previously held by Boyne City, set in 1993.

The Saints mixed sprint medley relay foursome of Kelsey Cryderman, Ashley St. Louis, Jesse Becker, and Davis finished first with a time of 1:17.70 and the 400-relay group of Jesse Becker, Ben Matelski, Kyle Smock, and Davis took second.Later in the meet, Davis won his seventh 100-meter dash out of eight events with a time of 11.40.

The St. Ignace boys won the Division 2 regional crown at Newberry, with Davis winning the 200-meter dash for the ninth consecutive time in 23.46, the 400 meter dash in 53.99, anchoring the winning 800-meter relay in 1:36.10, and placing second in the 100-meter dash in 11.67.

During the Straits Area Conference meet, Davis won three individual events that included the 100-meter dash in 11.30, 200-meter dash in 22.53, and 400 in 52.09, and anchored the 800-meter relay to victory in 1:35.09 along with Zach Pierson, Derrick Clark, and Jesse Becker.

The honor student at LHS finished the 100 in 11.27, 400 in 52.82, and set a new meet mark in the 200 in 22.70, and, along with Jesse Becker, Derrick Clark, and Zach Pierson anchored the winning 800 relay team with a time of 1:34.06, that broke another school record.

Davis took first place nine times in the 100, 11 firsts in the 200, six in the 400, and 14 first-place finishes in the relay events.