NASHUA – The annual decathlon/heptathlon at Nashua High School South is unlike any other track and field event all spring.

The two-day event is long, demanding and athletes are asked to try things they never have before.

Take South’s Tom Lessard, for example. Normally a long distance runner, the junior was under the hot sun at 10 a.m. Saturday performing in the long jump, an event he started practicing last year for the sake of preparing for the this year’s decathlon.

But that was only the second of five events Lessard participated in as part of Saturday’s first day, which ran from about 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. He also took part in the 100-meter dash, shot put, high jump and 400-meter dash in that time.

“It’s a big task to do five events per day and come back and do it the next day,” said Lessard, who sits in 38th place out his 75 runners in his second straight decathlon. “It’s a big accomplishment. Some people compare it to completing a marathon a lot of the time.”

After a few hours of rest Saturday night, it’ll be back to another long day of 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500-meter run.

“It’s a stamina thing.” Lessard said. “You get tired after doing three or four things, then you gotta run a 400 the first day and run a 1500 the next day. It’s keeping your stamina up and getting a lot of energy.”

The preparation for such an event is also unique. The athletes spend the spring focused on their specialties throughout the regular season. But once the state championships are over, it’s on to mastering skills they’ve never had learn before.

“I’ve never done pole vault before, so I had to concentrate on that. Then we also have to prepare for events like the 400 and the mile. Those are the worst,” Milford senior Ian Michaud said.

Added Bishop Guertin sophomore Gabe Madonna: “Since I’ve been training for the decathlon I’ve been doing all of them, but typically I would do throwing events.

“I can how I am as an athlete all around.”

Michaud, who is in 15th place in the decathlon with 2,557 points, normally does the high jump, javelin and hurdles. He was especially strong in the high jump, where he reached a high of 1.73 meters.

While he said he’s relieved that he never has to run the 400 again, he said, “It’s a feeling of accomplishment that you’re doing things that other people aren’t. Other people might be on the couch sitting around.”

Londonderry’s Starlin Ortiz leads the decathlon with 3,229 points after winning the long jump, high jump and finishing in a five-way tie for first in the 100 in 11.40 seconds. Lebanon’s Will Merchant and Monadnock’s Quentin Bazarnicki finished just behind Ortiz with 3,006 and 2,970 points.

Milford’s Alex Tamulonis finished in seventh with 2,833 points and North’s William Goulding, who was part of the five-way tie in the 100, sits at No. 12 with 2,730 points.

HB’s Beauregard highlights heptathlon

Hollis Brookline’s Lindsey Beauregard finished third in day one of the girls hepathlon with 2,248 points. Beauregard had strong scores across the board, including an 8.79-meter throw in the shot put.

While Beauregard had was successful on Saturday, her efforts still leave her well-behind leaders Corinne Kennedy of Lebanon and Letti Hibbard of Bedford. Kennedy, who sits atop the leaderboard with 2,666 points, broke the heptathlon record in the girls 200-meter dash with a 25.39 second finish.

Hibbard is right behind Kennedy with 2,563 points.

Bedford’s Anika Hibbard finished fourth with 2,229 points. South’s Bridget Murphy sits at No. 12 with 1,953 points.

Sunday’s events will begin around 10 a.m. with the long jump, javelin and 1,500-meter run.

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