Crockrell creates high standard, West winds up on top

Calabasas star surpasses 17-year-old California sophomore record, has third-highest heptathlon score in meet history; Six personal-best efforts, including javelin and 1,500 meters help Chamblee GA senior complete impressive comeback

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Tierra Crockrell of Calabasas made quite an impression in her first high school heptathlon, setting the California state sophomore record by accumulating 5,077 points to win the 10th Arcadia Multis at Arcadia High.

Will West of Chamblee GA completed one of the most impressive one-year turnarounds in meet history, improving by more than 1,000 points from a 13th-place finish a year ago to rally for the decathlon victory with 6,453 points.

Although Crockrell was the leader entering the second day following the third-highest opening-day score in meet history, she didn’t let up against Valor Christian CO sophomore Anna Hall (4,963) and San Marcos CA junior Allie Jones (4,837) in the final three events, eclipsing the 2000 state sophomore record of 5,038 points set by Sultana’s Shanon Meyer.

Crockrell, who capped the competition by running 2:25.46 in the 800 meters, finished with the No. 3 score in meet history, No. 11 all-time in California and the fourth-highest score produced by a U.S. prep sophomore. She adds the heptathlon victory to a pair of pentathlon titles at the California Winter Outdoor Championships.

Hall, who placed seventh in the heptathlon at New Balance Nationals Outdoor with 4,517 points in June and won the pentathlon title at New Balance Nationals Indoor in March, relied on significant improvements in the javelin throw and shot put to produce the No. 10 score in Arcadia history. She’ll continue her pursuit of 5,000 points in June at the Great Southwest Classic in New Mexico.

West was in sixth place with two events remaining, but relied on the final two of his six personal-best performances to secure the come-from-behind victory over Jonathan Ply of Dayton NV (6,384) and Josh Farmer of Rancho Bernardo CA (6,375), the California Winter Outdoor pentathlon winner. West improved from scoring 5,425 points a year ago at Arcadia.

West’s 160-7 (48.94m) javelin throw gave him a 98-point lead over Farmer and Dominic Gehr of Marana AZ (6,338) entering the 1,500. West placed third overall in the 1,500 in 4:34.60, but not even a 4:21.24 from Ply was enough to overcome a 157-point deficit entering the final event.

Ply, an all-state performer in cross country and all-league honoree in basketball, continued to demonstrate why he’s one of the most versatile all-around athletes in Nevada, elevating from seventh to second with his 1,500 performance.

Skyler Lester of Marietta GA, the opening-day leader, finished eighth with 6,100 points.