Heptathlon showcase in New Mexico not only rematch of historic New Balance Nationals Indoor pentathlon, but preview of USATF Junior Outdoor Championships

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Before any of the standout sprinters like Sean Burrell, Arria Minor, Anthony Schwartz or Briana Williams take to the track or elite jumpers such as Maya Evans, Jai Gruenwald, Sydnee Larkin and Jasmine Moore race down the runway this weekend at the 43rd annual Great Southwest Track and Field Classic, two of the most versatile athletes in the country will take center stage Thursday and Friday at University of New Mexico Stadium in Albuquerque.

Valor Christian CO junior Anna Hall, the two-time New Balance Nationals Indoor pentathlon champion and national junior indoor record holder, will square off against national outdoor heptathlon leader Sterling Lester of Marietta GA in their first meeting since their historic indoor matchup March 10 at The Armory in New York City.

Hall repeated as indoor pentathlon champion with 4,054 points, the second-highest total in prep history. Lester accumulated the No. 3 score by a high school performer with 3,976 points.

“I think at New Balance indoors, for me at least, we really brought out the best from each other in each event so I am hoping we can push each other like that this weekend  and put up some big time scores,” said Hall, who is competing in her first heptathlon in nearly a year, since accumulating 4,926 points to place second to Kaitlyn Kirby of East Lake FL at New Balance Nationals Outdoor.

“Sterling is an awesome athlete and competitor, so I definitely know I’m going to have to bring my ‘A’ game and go for every possible point.”

Lester, a Georgia signee, elevated to the No. 15 heptathlete in U.S. prep history April 6-7 with her meet-record 5,288-point performance at the Arcadia Multis.

It was an improvement of nearly 200 points from Lester’s winning effort in July at the AAU National Club Championships in Orlando, Fla., and demonstrated tremendous physical and emotional maturity after her narrow indoor setback to Hall.

“Anna does motivate me to work harder, but it is the same as competing with anybody else. I always try to give it my all because I don’t know what the outcome may be,” Lester said. “I love competition. It pushes me to be a better athlete and helps me grow and learn as a person. So I can’t wait to give it my all this week.”

Hall produced a personal-best 4,963 last year at the Arcadia Multis to place second behind Calabasas CA junior Tierra Crockrell.

Like Lester, Hall has showcased impressive growth in the past year, especially in the sprints and hurdles.

“I’ve really worked to get those times down and I’m just going to try to execute this week so I can see that pay off in points. I am so far ahead of where I was last year in almost everything, so I’m hoping that will show when it all comes together,” Hall said. “I also have a lot more confidence in events like the 200 and long jump because unlike last year, I’ve been able to compete in them in some meets individually throughout the season.”

Lester, who is also scheduled to race Saturday in the 400, knows the first day is significant for her opening with the 100 hurdles and closing with the 200, needing to establish an advantage in order to overcome projected deficits in the long jump and javelin on the second day.

“I am happy that those events are in the heptathlon because honestly, those events are where I make up most of my points,” Lester said. “So when doing those events I know that I need to really give it my all.”

Both individuals have continued their respective learning curves in the shot put and javelin, with the smallest improvements producing big dividends in elevating their scores.

“I’ve definitely been working on the throws more now that high school season is over but I had some occasional sessions or drill work on the two throughout the season so I don’t feel too rusty,” Hall said. “I feel pretty good about shot especially with how well it went at New Balance and the few sessions I’ve had have been encouraging. I think I’m a few years too new to the event of javelin to say that I am fully confident there, but I know that I have corrected some things that I was doing wrong last year, thanks to the Project Jav camps NSAF sent me to, so I am hoping that I can PR there.”

The most impressive aspect of Lester’s record-setting performance at Arcadia was how well she scored despite her struggles in the javelin and shot put.

“Since state is over I have worked on the shot and javelin a little bit more but I still need a lot more work in those events,” Lester said.

Hall boasts a projected advantage in both long jump and high jump, but knows she will need strong performances in both, as she did throughout the regular season at invitationals and the Colorado state meet.

“In high jump, one of my favorites, last season I never jumped over 5-7 in a hep,” said Hall, one of 21 high school female athletes in the country this season with at least a 5-10 high jump clearance.

“This year I have been a lot more consistent, so I’m hoping I won’t leave any points on the table there.”

Lester, with personal bests of 52.69 in the 400 and 2:12.16 in the 800, knows she can always rely on her strength in the final event of a grueling two-day schedule. She has paid increased attention this year to the penultimate event in an effort to give herself the best opportunity to win based on her past 800 success.

“I have been working on jump long more throughout the season with my friend,” Lester said. “I know it’s by far not my strongest event, but I am confident that I can possibly PR in it this week. Also, I know It is very critical to my overall performance.”

Lester ran more than two seconds faster than Hall in New York, but it wasn’t enough to rally for the pentathlon title.

Hall hopes her strength and confidence gained from running 40.76 in the 300 hurdles May 18 will translate to another personal best Friday in the 800.

“I’m nervous to run an 800 since I haven’t run one in so long but I am also really excited for it, surprisingly,” Hall said. “Most of the year I was actually doing 800-meter workouts – modified for a multi – and then just touching off my steps for 300 hurdles, so I think the marks I’ve been able to put up there were a result of the 800 base we were building combined with the speed I gained this year.

“The 300 hurdles have given me confidence this year because I’ve been finishing so strong that I am confident that if I pace correctly, I can hold form and sprint at the end of an 800. The 800 is always tough at the end of two long days, but especially with Sterling in there, it should be a good run.”

The meet record of 5,522 points set in 2008 by Ryann Krais of Methacton PA, the No. 4 all-time high school performer, might be a little ambitious for Lester and Hall.

But their performances Thursday and Friday will serve as an important dress rehearsal for both athletes in preparation for the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships on June 16-17 in Bloomington, Ind., as Lester and Hall attempt to make the American roster to compete July 12-13 at the World U-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland.

“I am so excited that (Sterling) is in it,” Hall said. “Multi events are always a grind, so there’s no way I can expect everything to go as planned, but if I just dial in on each event I think I can put up some big marks.”