Jhett Kinghorn Claims Decathlon Crown at Great Southwest Classic

Jhett Kinghorn, a recent graduate of La Cueva High School, made a remarkable debut in the decathlon by clinching the title at the Great Southwest Track and Field Classic held at the University of New Mexico Track and Field Complex. This marks Kinghorn's first-ever decathlon competition, and he expressed satisfaction with his performance, saying, “My first one, I knew there would be some bumps in the road, but I’m happy with how it went.”

Over two action-packed days, Kinghorn amassed a total of 6,291 points across ten events. He excelled in several disciplines, securing first-place finishes in the 100-meter dash (10.93 seconds), the 400 meters (49.98 seconds), and the long jump, where he achieved a distance of 21 feet, 11 ¾ inches. “I just went into it, everything is a competition,” he stated. “If I win the event, then I’ll win overall.” He also tied for first in the pole vault, clearing a height of 14-5¼ alongside Jay Lee from Legacy Academy.

Kinghorn's motivation to compete in the decathlon stemmed from his desire to engage in multiple sports. “I just really enjoy doing a lot of stuff,” he said with a smile. “I get bored … so the decathlon seemed perfect for me.” He will soon embark on a two-year mission to Argentina, leaving his future athletic endeavors uncertain.

In the girls' heptathlon, Highland's Rebecca Neal delivered an impressive performance, finishing second to Arizona's Jayci Ballard. Although Neal led after the first six events, she struggled in the final 800-meter run, finishing sixth in that event. Despite this, she had notable victories in the 100-meter high hurdles and shot put, concluding the competition with 4,423 points, nearly 500 points ahead of her previous year’s performance.

Aside from the decathlon and heptathlon, the day at UNM showcased various running events. Notably, Kaysville, Utah's Johnny Parker set a new meet record with a hammer throw of 232 feet 6 inches. The event will continue on Saturday, featuring many top athletes, including Texas' C.J. Williams, known for his exceptional shot put performances.