FAYETTEVILLE -- Breya Clark has the lead after the first day of the state high school girls heptathlon, but what she doesn't have is much of a margin for error.
The El Dorado senior leads Tai'sheka Porchia of Camden Fairview by three points heading into today's final three events at Ramay Junior High. Clark compiled 2,696 points over her four events while Porchia is right behind with 2,693.
Clark, who set the Class 5A state record on three consecutive attempts at the triple jump earlier this month, sparked her performance with her personal-best in the long jump.
Her leap of 18 feet, 93/4 inches was the best of the day and gave her 768 points, while Rogers senior Georgia Brain was second at 18-1 for 703 points.
"That long jump came through at the right time," Clark said. "I improved in most of my events, especially the hurdles. The hurdles were horrible last year, but I improved a lot and it shows."
Those improvements were needed because it allowed Clark to build an early lead on Porchia through the first two events, but Porchia used good showings in the discus (108-0, 518 points) and the 200 meters (26.48 seconds, 756) to make things close.
Clark, who also won the Class 5A high jump, likes her chances in that event today, but the shot put and the 800 bring question marks.
"I will have a stronger mindset to compete and do the best I can," Clark said. "The high jump, that's my event. The 800 and the shot put, I'll have to push and make sure I don't get too far behind."
Pea Ridge sophomore Blakelee Winn said she was encouraged by Coach Heather Wade to try out the heptathlon, and it worked out well. She is within striking distance of the two front runners with 2,585 points.
Winn, the Class 4A state champion in the 100 hurdles and the 200, used those two events to her advantage. Her 15.44 time in the hurdles was good enough for 784 points, while she picked up another 805 points with her 25.91 time in the 200 -- the second best of the day.
"Coach Wade told me that I actually had a pretty good shot at winning it," Winn said. "I thought it would be a good thing to do and compete. I thought the long jump was pretty rough, but I came back and got a pretty good time on the 200."
Brain, who set personal-bests in all four events, is in fourth place with 2,536 points, just nine ahead of Sheridan's Carly Strong. She started off with the best 100 hurdles time at 14.70 and picked up 882 points, then added good performances in the long jump (18-1, 703) and the 200 (26.67, 740).
"I think, in other meets, I get myself really nervous," Brain said. "I tell myself, 'I have to run this, and I have to jump this to win.' I was just more relaxed and just tried to have fun. The long jump stood out because I've been trying to hard to get 18. I've been hitting 17-10 and 17-101/2 dozens of times."
Sports on 05/16/2019