Pelham High School's Avery Childress turned in the best 400-meters time of the opening day to finish with 3,521 points after five events to lead the 2022 AHSAA State Decathlon Championships after day one.
He holds a 123-point lead over Hewitt-Trussville's Jaggerd Moore with five events remaining Tuesday as the Decathlon and Heptathlon championships conclude at Hoover High School Stadium.
Northridge High School's Rashni Walker had the best time in the 100-meter hurdles (14.12 seconds) and the longest throw in the shot put (37-08.5), two events she won at the recent AHSAA Class 6A State Outdoor Track Championships, to grab a convincing lead in the Heptathlon competition after four events with 3,012 points. Three events remain Tuesday, the javelin throw, long jump and 800-meter run. St. Paul's Episcopal's Janie Ford is second after day one with 2,914 points - her day highlighted by s 5-06 leap in the high jump to win that event. Makenzie Harris of Austin is third with 2,782 points. Demopolis junior Shonedra Richardson won the 200-meter dash in a strong time of 24.70 seconds.
The boys have five events remaining, the 110-meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw and the 1,500-meter run. Scottsboro's Maddox Hamm, who set the state indoor and outdoor state records in the pole vault this past track season, is expected to move up the ladder from ninth place with a strong effort in his specialty event.
Hewitt's Moore, who amassed 3,398 points Monday, won the long jump (21-07.25) and high jump (6-05.5). Enterprise's Dale Grimes won the boys' shot put with a 40-09 throw, and Anthony Eager of McGill-Toolen won the 100-meter dash with a 10.95 time. Action gets underway again Tuesday morning with 40 competing in the decathlon and 27 in the heptathlon.
The top 10 points leaders in each division after day one are listed below.
Decathlon/Heptathlon Championships
Girls' Heptathlon
First-Day Leaders (4 of 7 events completed)
Top 10 Scoring1-Rashni Walker, Northridge 3,012
2-Janie Ford, St. Paul's Episcopal 2,914
3-Makenzie Harris, Austin 2,782
4-Angelica Vines, Vestavia Hills 2,775
5-Brooklynn Kirksey, Helena 2,449
6-Khadira Gipson, Northridge 2,384
7-Chaci Whitfield, Oxford 2,319
8-Sarah Derriso, Homewood 2,178
9-Chantzling Kirkland, Brindlee Mtn 2,163
10-Caroline Sanders, Scottsboro 2,162
Boys' Decathlon First-Day Leaders (5 of 10 events completed)
Top 10 Scoring
1-Avery Childress, Pelham 3,521
2-Jaggerd Moore, Hewitt-Trussville 3,398
3-Matthew Rainer, Vestavia Hills 3,332
4-Dain Grimes, Enterprise 3,301
5-Anthony Eager, McGill-Toolen 3,281
6-Ethan Womack, Hewitt-Trussville 3,204
7-Braxton Armstrong, Hewitt-Trussville 3,201
8-Davian Jones, Opelika 3,186
9-Maddox Hamm, Scottsboro 3,167
10-Bakari Dailey, Auburn 3,160
