Valor Christian CO junior has potential to surpass 5,500 points, pursue Williams’ 2012 mark with strong second day in New Mexico; national leader Lester also in contention

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Anna Hall produced one lifetime-best mark Thursday in the girls heptathlon at the 43rd annual Great Southwest Track and Field Classic.

With a strong second day, the Valor Christian CO junior could challenge the all-time best performance by a prep heptathlete.

Hall relied on a first-attempt clearance of 5-11.50 (1.82m) in the high jump to improve her best first-day score by more than 400 points to lead the competition at University of New Mexico Stadium in Albuquerque with 3,478 points. Sterling Lester of Marietta GA, who entered the competition as the national high school leader this year with 5,288 points, is second with 3,281.

“I definitely felt like I could score this, but I didn’t know if it would actually all come together,” Hall said. “I still feel like I left a couple of points on the table in the 200 because we had a really strong headwind. I’m really excited about where I’m at, but I know in my heps last year that I underperformed in multiple events each time and I think I finally figured out how to put a full (pentathlon) together indoors, so I was just hoping I’d be able to do it again here.”

Hall’s total is five points ahead of the first-day score produced by Kendell Williams of Kell GA when she set the national high school record with 5,578 points to place eighth at the IAAF World U20 Championships in 2012 in Barcelona, Spain.

Williams opened her second-day schedule with a wind-aided 20-0.50 (6.11m) long jump. Hall’s personal-best effort is 19-0.75 (5.81m).

Williams threw the javelin 100 feet (30.48m), with Hall boasting a slightly better PR of 101-10 (31.05m).

And Williams capped her record-setting effort with a 2:26.60 in the 800, with Hall having run 2:17.98 indoors and 2:19.48 outdoors.

Williams also boasts the national junior class record, with Ryann Krais of Methacton PA holding the meet record of 5,522 from 2008. Only four high school heptathletes have surpassed 5,500 points.

Lester, who accumulated 3,340 points on the first day April 6 at the Arcadia Multis on her way to setting the meet record, won the 100-meter hurdles Thursday in 13.82 seconds, followed by Hall in 14.03.

In the high jump, Hall created a significant separation, as Lester only managed to clear 5-3.75 (1.62m) for a difference of almost 250 points. Hall cleared 5-9.75 (1.77m) on her third attempt, then elevated to U.S. No. 5 this year by clearing 5-11.50 on her opening try before attempting 6-1.50 (1.87m) for the first time in her career.

“That was awesome because I finally felt like (Thursday) was the day I break the curse,” said Hall, who hadn’t been able to clear above 5-10.50 (1.79m) in the high jump since last year’s New Balance Nationals Indoor competition.

“I was at 5-9.75 and I got all the way to my third attempt and I was like, ‘Oh gosh, it is happening again.’ But I was able to pull myself together and adjust, and I’m just really happy I could finally put my high jump together in a hep because I knew that would be a big comfort if I could.

“I’ve never jumped at a bar that high, so it was fun. I had two close attempts at it, but I felt like I could have made it if it were at 1.85m (6-0.75) or 1.83m (6-0).” 

Hall, who had a previous first-day high of 3,062 points at last year’s New Balance Nationals Outdoor, continued to build on her advantage with a 34-11.75 (10.66m) shot put, just ahead of Lester at 34-4.25 (10.47m).

Lester was able to gain 30 points back by winning the 200 into a strong headwind in 24.24, with Hall clocking 24.56 to win her section.

“We were in the same section of the hurdles, but I was in Lane 4 and she was in Lane 8, so we couldn’t really see each other, but I wish we were in the same heat for the 200, too, because I think that would have helped us both,” Hall said. “I’m very encouraged, but I just want to focus on executing because the hep is mental and I’m sure my legs will be a little sore (Friday), so it will be a grind.”

Hall edged Lester by a 4,054 to 3,976 margin March 10 in the New Balance Nationals Indoor pentathlon to repeat as champion. Their scores were the second- and third-highest all-time by prep athletes, trailing only Williams’ national record 4,068 points from 2013.

In a battle of Missouri standouts, Isaiah Martin of Hillsboro leads the decathlon after the first day with 3,625 points, ahead of Peyton Davis of Centralia with 3,603. Carson Smith of Layton UT is also in contention with 3,539.

Ashley Grothaus, a freshman at Rockwood Summit MO, leads the girls decathlon after the opening day with 2,142 points.