CABOT -- One point.
That was the difference between Cabot seniors Lexi Weeks and Tori Weeks at the end of the 19th annual high school heptathlon Thursday at Panther Stadium.
Lexi Weeks won the heptathlon with 4,481 points, while twin sister Tori finished second with 4,480 points in a race that wasn't decided until the final event.
Tori Weeks beat Lexi Weeks in the 800 meters with a time of 2 minutes, 19.47 seconds to earn 831 points, but Lexi finished just .34 behind to score 826 points in the event, which was just enough to edge Tori for the heptathlon title.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Lexi Weeks said. "The only way it could be better is if we tied. I'm super excited. After we finished this race I thought she was far enough ahead to beat me, but she was one point behind me."
Tori Weeks took her runner-up finish in stride, saying she and her sister love to compete against each other.
"I knew she was right behind me," Tori said. "I was waiting for her to kick it in. I kicked it in a little too late. If I would have done it sooner, I would have had her.
"It was really fun. It was a good race."
The sisters, two of the most accomplished pole vaulters in the country, were separated by six points going into the 800. Lexi went into the final event with 3,655 points, while Tori had 3,649.
Lexi Weeks had to finish at least second in the 800 to have an opportunity to win the heptathlon. She led after the first day of competition with 2,760 points, but she finished 18th in the shot put (27-0) and 20th in the high jump (4 feet, 6 inches) Thursday to fall into third place overall behind Pulaski Robinson sophomore Asia Anderson and Little Rock Parkview junior Jada Baylark.
The Weeks sisters set the pace from the start in the 800, with Tori Weeks leading for the entire race and Lexi Weeks not far behind.
"We knew we were going to have to push each other," said Lexi, who along with Tori will compete next season for the University of Arkansas' track and field team. "The whole race I was hanging on the outside on her hip. I was trying to stay with her.
"She was giving me a good push. I don't know if I could have run that fast without her. But coming around that last stretch she started pulling away. I almost let her get away from me, but my competitiveness kicked in and I stayed up there with her."
Baylark finished third overall with 4,334 points. Completing the top 10 were Anderson (4,282), Clinton sophomore Allie Hensley (4,117), Bryant junior Haley Hood (3,884), Cabot senior Danielle McWilliams (3,859), Des Arc senior Kirby Smith (3,834), Fayetteville sophomore Lauren Holmes (3,809) and Forrest City senior Nikirah McKinney (3,747).
Anderson won the high jump by clearing 5-1 3/4, scoring 701 points. Smith earned a victory in the shot put with a throw of 33-11 3/4, which was good for 553 points.
At the end, though, it was the Weeks sisters side by side once again. Lexi was third and Tori finished fourth in the heptathlon as juniors, while Tori was eighth and Lexi was ninth during their sophomore seasons.
For Cabot Coach Leon White, Thursday's finish was exactly what he hoped for going into the competition.
"I'm glad it came down to the last race, where each had a chance to be the winner," White said. "Whatever happened, happened. I thought it was a great way to end it.
"Like they've always done, they support each other. They're happy for each other. There doesn't seem to be any jealousy. Just two great kids."
Sports on 05/22/2015