Weeks' piled up 88 points, needed 1/2 more

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Tori Weeks and twin sister Lexi Weeks scored a combined 88 points in the Arkansas Class 7A Championships last weekend in Fayetteville and yet still came up half a point short in an epic team race.

The Weeks’ compete for Cabot High School, which was aiming to win its first girls track title. Bentonville, a state power, was going for its fourth in a row.

In the final event, the 4x400 relay, Cabot had a 1.5-point lead over Bentonville.

And Tori Weeks, who had already competed in five events, took the baton 20-25 meters behind Katy Kotoucek, a sophomore from Bentonville. Weeks dug deep and caught Kotoucek at 250 meters.

“I thought I had it,” Weeks said. “Everyone was cheering so loud.”

But Koutoucek had left something in reserve and beat Weeks down the homestretch for second place behind Bryant. Weeks was half a second back to bring Cabot home in third.

The final team score: Bentonville 141.50, Cabot 141.

“We were sitting around crying for a couple of hours,” Weeks said. “We all went out and competed. We always knew it was going to be close.”

The Arkansas meet – where athletes are allowed to compete in up to six events – illustrates one example of the variety that exists across the country at state championship meets. Five Bentonville girls, for instance, scored in the 800-meter final.

For the Weeks’ the championship meet was an all-day effort.

“I was busy from 9:45 a.m. until 6 p.m.,” Weeks said.

For the twins, the day began with the event they are best known for – the pole vault. Lexi Weeks cleared 14-0 and took attempts at 14-4 before bowing out with first place. Tori Weeks posted one of the highest non-winning marks of all-time – 13-8 – to take second place.

 By the time that competition was over, both Weeks’ were engaged in the long jump. Again, Lexi took first (17-7.50) and Tori was second (17-5.75).

Tori won the triple jump with 37-6.50 – taking first place by a half inch.

Lexi won the 100 hurdles (14.97) and Tori was third (15.43).

Lexi was second in the 400 (58.09) but didn’t run on the 4x400 because she was maxed out at six events already. She was also fourth in the 200 (25.84).

Tori won the 300 hurdles (45.40) late in the day and was already getting tired.

“The only time we got a break was 30 minutes to have a peanut butter and banana sandwich,” Tori said.

The Weeks’ hotel room was near the track. Several times, they were able to go relax for 10-15 minutes and cool off a bit.

But when the long day was done, Cabot was a half point away.

Future Arkansas teammate Micah Huckabee chipped in two additional wins in the 1,600 and 3,200.

The top athletes in Arkansas have switched gears and are now focused on the Arkansas Meet of Champions. This meet brings together the winners from the all seven classifications and the adds in the nine next-best performers.

Tori and Lexi Weeks will both do five events this weekend, but the focus is moving to the pole vault.

“It’s both of our goals to break 14-7,” Tori Weeks said.

The national record, set last year by Desiree Freier, is 14-7.25.

After the MOC, the Weeks plan to jump at Great Southwest and at New Balance Nationals Outdoor.