WILLIAM DECUIR COMES THROUGH IN 53 SECONDS IN SATURDAY'S 800m
2026 PETE BOUDREAUX INVITATIONAL RESULTS
15 INTERVIEWS FROM THE PETE BOUDREAUX INVITATIONAL
Catholic's William Decuir does not like being a front runner. That's no secret. However, going into Saturday's Pete Boudreaux Invitational, Catholic's home track meet, the junior knew that he was going to have to get out from the start to avoid any traffic.
The plan worked and Decuir broke a stadium record, winning with a 1:51.37. The time is No. 2 in the nation. Only Nevada's Brady Anderson (1:51.07) has run faster. But Anderson is a senior, making Decuir the fastest junior in the nation.
2026 TOP 800m PERFORMANCES IN THE US
Decuir's time is also No. 5 all-time in Louisiana and No. 2 all-time for Louisiana juniors. St. Augustine's Karjuan Williams ran a 1:50.14 at the Nike Outdoor Nationals. That performance was in mid-June, making Decuir's 800m on Saturday the fastest ever run by a Louisiana junior during the regular season.
"I got off the line, I wanted to get out hot," Decuir said. "I wanted to go 25 (seconds for the first 200m). I get that it's fast. I know I don't want to burn out. My only focus was to hold it. We came through in 53. I know like dang, that's a fast time. I've been due for a fast time. I just had to hold it. I was by myself. It was more mental than physical. I just thank the Lord for giving me the mental and physical strength to do this.
"I'm so proud of William and what he did today," Catholic distance coach Zach Capello said. "His preferred type of race is one in which he gets to race and compete; that's where he shines. But today, he knew he had to push from the gun which is unfamiliar territory for him..and he crushed it."
It was the first 800m of the year for Decuir, who holds the No. 1 ranking in Louisiana with a 4:17 in the 1600m.
Decuir's performance gives Louisiana, which historically has been given a bad rap for distance running talent, three half milers in the top 13 in the nation. Only Texas (5) has more.
"Since being in eighth grade and competing, I've seen this event grow (in Louisiana)," Decuir said. "Growing in speed. Growing in talent. It was only a matter of time before the Louisiana boys would show what we can do."
Among the records Decuir broke with his 800m performance was the Decuir Family record. William's older brother, Winston, who won the LHSAA Class 5A Championship in the 800m as a junior, finished second the following year in 2023 with a personal record 1:52.42.
"He was a great role model," Decuir said. "He showed me the base model for what I should be as a high school athlete. How to act. How to talk to my teammates and coaches. And I've just kind of followed in his footsteps ever since elementary school in summer track. Whatever he does, I try to do the same because he is a great brother."
But Winston Decuir III isn't the only brother William Decuir has...and it's one of the main reasons he loves being a Catholic Bear.
"Like what they say-and it really is true-we really are a brotherhood," Decuir said. "That's what it feels like on the track. Off the track. I cannot wait to see these guys even though I see them every day. The coaches too. It's a brotherhood amongst the coaches. The coaches really are the roles models and they set us up for what we should be like."
For the remainder of 2026, Decuir is looking forward to "big times and big races."
"It's more about winning big races-New Balance or Nike," Decuir said. "Or the state race. I really like a good race."