Nashua North's Gavin Suchecki competes in the high jump duirng Saturday's 68th New Hampshire Decathlon at Nashua South's Fran Tate trac. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – He’s baaaaaack.

Remember Conant’s Ben Sawyer? He won the New Hampshire Decathlon in 2022 and 2023, but sat out last year’s event.

Well, he’s a day away from becoming a three-time champion as he was the Day 1 leader Saturday with 3,247 points. However, he’s got Merrimack’s Luca Kabel on his heels with 3,208 points in second. Pelham’s Colby Crear is third (3,104) and Nashua’s Gavin Suchecki is fourth with 3,004 at Nashua South’s Fran Tate Track.

Manchester Central’s Angela Cenesca leads the Heptathlon with 2,242 points. Pelham’s Ava Milley is second (2120) while fellow Python Sama Tetreault is third at 2,061. Souhegan’s Mary Howell is the top local in sixth with 1,939 points. The next local is Bishop Guertin’s Bridget Powers in 14th (1,795) while Nashua South’s Sarah Witta is 16th (1,778).

In the 68th Decathlon, Sawyer didn’t win any events but finished high enough in all five yesterday to get the points. Kabel won the 100 meters in 11.14 while Marcell Perry, who is 10th overall, was third and Suchecki fourth. Sawyer was eighth. Kabel also took the long jump (6.19 meters), just ahead of Sawyer (6.11) who got points for second.

Sawyer was second in the shot put as well (12.32 meters), behind Lebanon’s Oscar Gulledge (12.77 meters). Kabel was way back in 23rd.

Sawyer was in a five-way tie for sixth in the high jump (1.73) while Kabel was in an eight-way tie for 11th. Suchecki was in a three-way tie for third at 1.83 meters.

Sawyer was third in the 400 meter run in 51.71 seconds, just behind Kabel (51.60) who was second with Monadnock’s Gavin Lombara winning in 50.73. Suchecki was seventh.

What’s left? Today it’s pole vault, discus, 110 hurdles, javelin, and the 1500 meter run to end it. Should be interesting.

HEPTATHLON

Cenesca’s lead is due to her victory in the 200 meter run in 26.26 seconds. Tetreault was back in 12th and Milley 14th.

In the 100 hurdles, Tetreault and Milley were one-two (16.48, 16.49) while Cenesca was fourth (17.42 seconds). She was tied with Milley for third in the high jump (1.47 meters).That was won by Bow’s Camden Wilson (1.57). Souhegan’s Howell was in a six-way tie for sixth.

Howell was 14th in the shot put and Cenesca tied for 17th. Tetreault was third (8.59 meters); Windham’s Kelly Wright won it with a throw of 9.64.

Today is just three events: the long jump, the javelin and the 800 meter run.