CABOT -- It's official. Payton Stumbaugh is the fastest female hurdler Arkansas high school track has ever seen.
Stumbaugh, a senior from Springdale Har-Ber, set an overall record in the 100 hurdles (13.92) during the Class 7A state track and field meet Thursday afternoon at Cabot High School's Panther Stadium.
Bentonville swept the team divisions to continue Northwest Arkansas' stranglehold on the state's largest classification.
Stumbaugh recorded the best time by an Arkansas girl last month -- 13.91 -- overall records can only be set in state meets or the Meet of Champs under Arkansas Activities Association rules. Tiffany Gunn of Little Rock McClellan set the previous overall record (14.30) in 2001.
Stumbaugh, an Oklahoma signee, added victories in the 100, 200 and 300 hurdles, helping Har-Ber to a runner-up team finish.
Only about five minutes after the hurdles, Stumbaugh set a Class 7A record in the 100 (11.93).
"Oh, my gosh," Stumbaugh said. "Glad that's over with."
Stumbaugh won the 200 (24.63) and 300 hurdles (43.43), finished second in the long jump (a personal-best 18-8) and tied for second in the high jump (5-2).
"If you'd watch her practice, it wouldn't shock you as much, because her practices are probably harder than the meets," Har-Ber Coach Brett Unger said. "She knows when it counts that she's going to be in six events. She trains very, very hard."
Bentonville won the boys division with 95 points to earn its first state championship. Rogers finished second with 80. Rogers Heritage edged Bentonville 108-106 in last year's state meet.
Bentonville's girls won their third consecutive title, and sixth since 2007, with 160 points. Har-Ber finished with 133.
Bentonville became the first school since Camden Fairview in 2005 to win both divisions in the state's largest classification. But Northwest Arkansas schools have accounted for every state championship in the state's largest classification since sweeping changes began in the 2006-2007 school year.
One other overall record was set Thursday.
Cabot junior Lexi Weeks, on her third and final attempt, cleared 13-6.50 in the girls pole vault to break the previous overall record of 13-6.25, set by Stephanie Foreman of Lake Hamilton at the 2008 Meet of Champs.
Weeks missed three attempts at 14-0.25. She'll get another chance to become the first Arkansas female to clear 14-0 at the Meet of Champs on May 17 at Heber Springs High School.
"She's tapping on that door," Cabot Coach Leon White said. "I think she'll get it, if the weather is good."
Weeks cleared 13-10 in March, a jump that ranks third nationally this spring, according to rankings compiled by dyestat.com
The only competition for Weeks, as expected, came from her twin sister, Tori, who finished second (13-0.75). Tori Weeks entered with the state's second-best jump this spring (13-2), more than a foot higher than the No. 3 mark.
Both sisters cleared 13-0.75 on their second attempts to eclipse the previous Class 7A record (12-10), set by Mallory Lawrence of Russellville in 2007. Tori Weeks was eliminated after three misses at 13-6.50. Bentonville freshman Isabel Neal (11-6) finished third.
Rogers senior Brandon Workman set a Class 7A record in the boys triple jump (48-7). He also won the long jump (23-5).
Fayetteville senior Amanda Agana set a Class 7A record in the girls 800 (2:14.71) and anchored the Class 7A record-setting 1,600 relay team (3:56.76). Agana also won the 1,600 (5:07.62). Har-Ber junior Amanda Dillon set a Class 7A record in the girls 400 (55.75).
Running finals were moved up an hour Thursday afternoon because of expected bad weather.
Sports on 05/09/2014