FAIRFIELD HIGH SCHOOL senior athlete Eli Pratt inks a letter of intent to accept a track scholarship to Tarleton State University. Pictured are: front l-r, Mike, Eli and Michelle Pratt; back l-r, coaches Kevin Childers, Darrell Piske, Dan Roberson and John Bachtel. A 3-sport athlete and letterman at Fairfield high school, Eli Pratt, moves to the college level in fall as a member of the Tarleton State University Texans track team.

Pratt, 18, signed a letter of intent Friday evening to join the track team.

He joins older brother Jacob who is a senior student and javelin thrower at Tarleton.

Pratt was recruited to throw the shot put and discus, events in which he won district the past two years and advanced to the region meet.

This spring at district, the FHS senior tossed the shot 50 feet, 5.5 inches and threw the discus 145-9. His personal bests are 53-3 in shot put and 158-10 in discus.

“I would like to personally thank the coaches for their four years of hard work with Eli,” Pratt’s father, Mike, says.

At six feet, one inch, and weighing 315 pounds, Pratt has the strength needed for his track specialties, and for football and powerlifting, the two other sports in which he has excelled as an Eagle.

The athlete is an All- District first team selection at tackle, also receiving an All-State second team nod, and advanced to region in powerlifting.

He bench presses 400 pounds, dead lifts 500 pounds and squats 600 pounds.

The 18-year-old will spend next fall working with coaches to prepare for the Spring 2011 track season.

This summer he will stay in shape working—-he has tossed hay square bales most summers and also runs a tractor to shred pastures. The athlete may add a part-time insulating job to his resume this year.

Pratt reports that he was recruited by Stephen F. Austin State University to play football, but liked what TSU had to offer. He has an option to suit up for football if he wants to continue in that sport.

The student-athlete plans to major in agribusiness in college.

Outside school and athletics, he has been active at First United Methodist Church of Fairfield and is a youth leader at the church.

Pratt is the son of Mike and Michelle Pratt.