Nashua South's Caroline Kelly, left, gets across the finish line ahead of a few of her teammates in a 200 meter dash heat during Saturday's Day 1 of the annual Decathlon-Heptathlon at Nashua South's Fran Tate Track. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA — Two familiar names are in the drivers seats at the annual Decathlon-Heptathlon as it returned after a few years at Nashua North to its original longtime home, the Nashua High School South Fran Tate Track on Saturday.

Conant High School sophomore Ben Sawyer, who had a share of the title last year, and Nashua North’s Isabella Di Vernieri are in the lead after the first day, as miraculously the event was able to dodge the heavy rain that arrived later in the day.

In the Heptathlon, Di Vernieri, who finished third last year, totaled 2,328 points ahead of Newport’s Maddox Lovely (2,239) and Newfound Regional’s Maline Bohlmann (2,231).

Rounding out the top five were Portsmouth junior Mariam Nada (2,147 points) and Victoria Leak, who is from Merrimack, Va. (2,018).

As for other locals, Nashua South’s Emely Melendez is 19th (1,327) while fellow Panther Caroline Kelly is 20th (1,295).

Di Vernieri won the 100 meter hurdles in 16.01 seconds and took second in the 200 (27.89) behind Nada. She was ninth in the high jump, third in the shot put (9.45 meters)

DECATHLON

Sawyer has 3,267 points, ahead of Manchester’s Alexis Rivera (2,906) and Mount Royal’s Peter Hogan (2,806). Locally, Nashua South’s Sami Witta is tops, currently in fifth place at 2,797, just behind fourth-place Oliver Duffy of Winnacunnet (2,868).

Other locals in the top 20 are Souhegan’s Dallen Noorda (15th, 2,560); Nashua North’s Ethan Preston-Teixeira (17, 2,486), and Souhegan’s Cole Henderson (20th, 2,442, just ahead by four of teammate Finley Raudelunas at 21).

Sawyer won the long jump at 6.27 meters as well as the 400 (51.68 seconds). He was second in the 100 (11.67 seconds), fifth in the shot put, tied for fourth in the high jump with Witta (1.78 meters)

Witta also got points with a fifth place in the long jump and the same in the 400.

Other notables included Nashua North’s Darius Smith finishing second in the shot put (15.10 meters).

Weather should not be a factor today, with little or no rain expected.

Nashua North’s Gavin Suchecki lands after clearing the high jump bar during Saturday’s Day 1 of the annual Decathlon-Heptathlon Saturday at Nashua South. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Nashua North’s Gavin Suchecki lands after clearing the high jump bar during Saturday’s Day 1 of the annual Decathlon-Heptathlon Saturday at Nashua South. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)