CABOT -- Payton Stumbaugh has become a broken record.
Stumbaugh, a senior from Springdale Har-Ber, punctuated a memorable month with a runaway victory in the 18th annual Arkansas High School Heptathlon on Thursday afternoon at Cabot High School's Panther Stadium, her second title in three seasons.
Stumbaugh scored a record 5,210 points under the International Association of Athletics Federations table, adopted by the Arkansas Activities Association in 2012.
Defending champion Kelsey Herman, a senior from Crossett, finished second with 4,956 points. Herman set the previous state heptathlon scoring record (4,844 points) last year.
Stumbaugh, who specializes in the sprints and hurdles, set four heptathlon records in what has become a familiar theme in May. Leading up to the heptathlon, Stumbaugh set 3 7A-West Conference records, 2 Class 7A records, 2 overall records and 2 Meet of Champs records.
"I don't think it's set in truly how special she is," Har-Ber Coach Brett Unger said. "We haven't seen anybody like her. I don't know when we will."
Completing the top 10 were Cabot junior Lexi Weeks (4,423), her twin sister Tori (4,381), Bryant senior Melinda Murdock (4,135), Forrest City senior Dominique Dillard (4,009), Cabot junior Danielle McWilliams (3,995), Bentonville senior Logan Morton (3,908), Beebe senior Madison Richey (3,866) and Little Rock Parkview sophomore Jada Baylark (3,792).
Stumbaugh, an Oklahoma signee, scored a first-day record 3,132 points to lead Herman by 301 points entering Thursday's final three events (high jump, shot put and 800).
Stumbaugh and Herman, who competed in the championship flight, had to wait approximately 6 1/2 hours before beginning the high jump.
Stumbaugh earned 771 points by clearing 5 feet, 4 1/4 inches. Herman, who jumped an all-time state-best 6-1 earlier this spring, cleared 5-9 1/4 to set a heptathlon record. The jump was worth 928 points.
Monique Kennedy of Crossett set the previous record (5-6) in 1997.
Unger said the high jump would be pivotal because Herman figured to make a dent in Stumbaugh's lead. Stumbaugh met her goal of 5-4, but Herman couldn't amass any more points after being eliminated at 5-10 1/4.
"I just knew that I had to get 5-4," Stumbaugh said.
Stumbaugh clinched the title in the shot with a throw of 36-6 1/4 to earn 604 points. Herman threw 30-10 for 490 points.
Stumbaugh ran the 800 in 2:29.17 to earn 703 points and smash the heptathlon scoring record.
Stumbaugh scored 4,260 points to win the 2012 title and 4,538 to finish second last year, when half her outdoor season was wiped out because of a back injury.
Stumbaugh, much fitter in 2014, bettered her marks in every event over the previous two years.
"I set huge goals for this year because I knew last year I was hurt," Stumbaugh said. "I was not satisfied with my times. I knew this was my last year to really set my marks high."
Stumbaugh's other heptathlon records came on Day 1 when she ran the 100 hurdles in 13.93 and the 200 in 24.16 -- the fastest time by a female in Arkansas high school history.
"She's just special," Unger said.
Past winners
DECATHLON CHAMPIONS
YEAR WINNER POINTS 2014 Daniel Spickes, Rogers Heritage ...6,488 2013 Alex Miles, Rogers Heritage ..........6,875 2012 Brad Culp, Fayetteville ...................6,750 2011 Brad Culp, Fayetteville ...................8,095 2010 Ethan Sandusky, Bentonville .........7,486 2009 Ethan Turpen, Lake Hamilton ........7,805 2008 Michael Tibbs, Rogers...................8,065 2007 Chad Johnson, Farmington ...........7,412 2006 Robbie Buckner, Ashdown ............7,820 2005 Donovan Loring, LR Parkview ......7,227 2004 Eric Von Dolah, Mountain Home ..7,758 2003 Matt Vining, Lake Hamilton ...........7,224 2002 Sidney Tate, West Memphis..........7,556 2001 Josh Leftwich, Greenwood ...........7,529
HEPTATHLON CHAMPIONS
YEAR WINNER POINTS 2014 P. Stumbaugh, S’dale Har-Ber .......5,210 2013 Kelsey Herman, Crossett ...............4,844 2012 P. Stumbaugh, S’dale Har-Ber .......4,260 2011 Monisa Poole, Nashville ................5,416 2010 Jessica Otto, Mansfield .................5,067 2009 Kristen Celsor, Searcy ...................5,468 2008 Jasmine Ellis, Nashville .................4,908 2007 Whitney Jones, Searcy ..................4,885 2006 Whitney Jones, Searcy ..................4,969 2005 Crystal Kemp, Mansfield ...............5,518 2004 Whitney Anderson, Russellville.....5,575 2003 Amber Bledsoe, Turrell ..................5,318 2002 Amber Bledsoe, Turrell ..................5,077 2001 Marquita Aldridge, W, Memphis ...5,465
Sports on 05/23/2014