YARMOUTH — Runners, jumpers and throwers from Forecaster Country more than held their own at the Western Maine Conference outdoor track championship meet Saturday in Yarmouth.

The Falmouth boys continued their stellar season by scoring 172 points to more than double up runner-up Sacopee (77). North Yarmouth Academy (63) came in fifth, Greely (54) was eighth, Freeport (17) tied Fryeburg for 11th and Yarmouth (16) came in 13th.

On the girls’ side, York took top honors with 190 points. Greely came in second with 128. Falmouth (84) was fourth, NYA (36) came in sixth, Freeport (26) placed ninth and Yarmouth (11) finished 13th.

Falmouth flexes its muscle

In the boys’ competition, Falmouth showed once again that its depth and skill will be hard for anyone to counter. The Yachtsmen captured seven individual events and a relay and had plenty of other points scorers.

The winners were Tommy Winger in the long jump (21 feet-9.5 inches) and triple jump (42-3.5), Alec Dunn in the 100 hurdles (16.33 seconds), Kellen MacDonald in the 300 hurdles (42.42), Charlie Swerdlow in the racewalk (7 minutes, 46.95 seconds), Dallin Thomas in the pole vault (12-9), Kristopher Floridino in the shot put (48-10), and the 1,600 relay team (Will Wegener, Dunn, Gabe Hoffman-Johnson and MacDonald, 3:34.90).

There was much, much more.

MacDonald was runner-up in the 100 hurdles (16.47). Dunn was second in the 300 hurdles (43.93). Andrew Kowalsky came in third in the javelin (141-2). Matt Goldstein placed third in the racewalk (8:41.97). Hoffman-Johnson finished third in the long jump (20-1.25) and fourth in the 100 (11.78). Winger finished fourth in the 200 (23.74). Wegener was fourth in the 400 (52.18). Floridino placed fifth in the discus (118 feet). Mike Serunian came in fifth in the 800 (2:07.18) and was also fifth in the triple jump (37-5). Timothy Follo was fifth in the mile (4:40.73). Thomas placed fifth in the high jump (5-8). Scott Gardner finished sixth in the two-mile (10:20.60). Jamey Epstein was seventh in the two-mile (10:21.04). Charlie Cott placed eighth in the 100 (12.08). Jimmy Polewaczyk came in eighth in the 400 (55.58). Luke Barbour was eighth in the 800 (2:08.63). Reid Pryzant came in eighth in the 100 hurdles (18.23).

Falmouth’s 400 relay squad was second to Gray-New Gloucester (45.21). Its 3,200 relay team was third (8:30.99).

“The individual event winners drove us to success,” said Yachtsmen coach Danny Paul. “We had other strong performances in both the individual events and relays. It was a wonderful balance of blue chippers and role players. We performed as a team. We should be one of the favorites to win at states, but I think it’ll be a close meet.”

NYA had three event winners. Standout Henry Sterling continued his magical season by winning the mile (4:19.87) and two-mile (9:41.49). Sam Fear was first in the javelin (152 feet).

Fear was also second in the high jump (5-10), runner-up in the shot put (45-7.75), and sixth in the discus (117-0). Steven Lentine placed sixth in the 100 hurdles (17.85). Victor Churchill was eighth in the javelin (133-4). Douglas Goldstein placed eighth in the racewalk (9:15.58).

In the relays, the Panthers came in fourth in the 1,600 (3:41.62), sixth in the 3,200 (9:10.28) and eighth in the 400 (48.26).

For Greely, James LePage won the 800 (2:01.69). The Rangers also took the 3,200 relay, as Mark McCauley, Andy Fitch, Logan Price and LePage had a league record time of 7:58.60.

The Rangers got other distance points from Price (runner-up in the two-mile, 9:42.76), Fitch (second in the 800, 2:03.15; and fourth in the two-mile, 10:13.67), LePage (third in the mile, 4:36.98), and Colin Thomas (fifth in the racewalk, 9:00.33). Greely’s 1,600 relay squad was sixth (3:42.53).

“The boys were led, as they have been all season, by the distance foursome,” said Rangers coach John Folan. “The 4×800 relay not only set a league record, but 8 minutes is a magical barrier to crack and the boys hoped to do that all season. A top five performance in states would be great.”

For Freeport, Connor Yost was runner-up in the pole vault (12 feet). Henry Loughlin was fifth in the two-mile (10:16.66) and seventh in the mile (4:46.97). The Falcons were sixth in the 400 relay (47.47).

Yarmouth’s top finisher was Peter Gill (fourth in the 300 hurdles, 45.22). Lucas Davis and Asa Arden tied for sixth in the high jump (5-6). Eric Estabrook came in seventh in the javelin (134-1). The Clippers were seventh in the both the 400 (48.13) and 3,200 (9:12.58) relays.

Greely lurks

In girls’ action, Greely didn’t have enough to catch York, but the Rangers managed to win three individual events and a relay.

Hillary Cederna was first in the long jump (16-11.5). Hannah Werneth and Katherine Harrington continued the program’s throwing dominance by winning the shot put (36-6) and discus (112-4) respectively. The Rangers foursome of Liza LePage, Allison Hall, Jessa Steinman and Tess Carley took the 3,200 relay (10:00.16).

Abby Diehl was runner-up in the 300 hurdles (47.79) and fourth in the 100 hurdles (16.94). Carley was second in the two-mile (11:45.01). Cederna finished third in the 200 (27.15) and fourth in the triple jump (33-5.5). Steinman was third in the 400 (1:02.36). Hall came in third in the 800 (2:30.00). Emily Curato finished third in the pole vault (7-6). Lili Grieves had a fourth-place showing in the discus (99-1.5). Michaela Campbell was fourth in the javelin (91-11). Emily Christensen came in fifth in the 100 (13.55). Werneth was fifth in the discus (98-4.25). Meaghan Crowley placed sixth in the triple jump (31-4.75) and seventh in the long jump (14-7.75). Aimee Burgess was seventh in the shot put (31-10.25) and eighth in the discus (89-2). Harrington was eighth in the shot put (31-6.75).

Greely was second in the 400 relay (52.64) and sixth in the 1,600 relay (4:32.71).

“We were pretty happy with the way things played out,” said Folan. “We expected to finish second if all things worked out. The 4×800 relay was our best effort in a number of years. The throwers continued their dominance. Hillary was as good as expected in the sprints and jumps. We’ll focus on a top five finish at states, which was our goal from the beginning.”

Falmouth got a victory from Tina Pruyn in the racewalk (9:11.27). Abby Smith was runner-up in the pole vault (8 feet). Jenna Serunian was second in the discus (106-1) and fourth in the shot put (35-0). Adriana Fox was third in the long jump (15-6). Rosemary Nurse placed fourth in the high jump (4-10). Adrienne Michalakis was fourth in the 100 (13.37) and sixth in the 200 (27.71). Kate Sparks was fifth in the shot put (34-8). Amy Webster tied for fifth in the pole vault (7 feet). Alison Coyne finished fifth in the high jump (4-8). Adrienne Madden was sixth in the long jump (14-8.75). Francesca D’Alfonso finished seventh in the 800 (2:36.84). Erin Morris was eighth in the 800 (2:37.29). Ali McClellan came in eighth in the 100 (13.65). Maura Labrecque finished eighth in the racewalk (10:21.81).

The Yachtsmen were third in the 400 relay (53.07), fourth in the 1,600 relay (4:28.81) and fifth in the 3,200 relay (10:35.22).

“The girls were close to where we expected,” said Paul. “Overall, I was pleased with our effort. We didn’t win many events, but we performed up to our seeds throughout. I think we’ll score enough next week to stay in the top half.”

NYA impressed despite its small numbers. Alexandra O’Reilly was second in the javelin (93-6) and sixth in the shot put (32-1.5). Hilary Gibson was fourth in the long jump (15-3.75). Alison Carpenter came in fifth in the 400 (1:03.75). Marley Witham placed sixth in the racewalk (9:49.37). Hannah Bewsey was seventh in the 300 hurdles (53.04) and eighth in the high jump (4-8). Maeve Stier was seventh in the high jump (4-8). The Panthers were fifth in the 400 (53.48) and 1,600 (4:32.28) relays.

Freeport was led individually by Andrea Goodrich, who was fifth in the mile (5:50.59) and sixth in the 800 (2:36.50). Caroline Davis was sixth in the two-mile (12:37.38). Kristen Poulin came in sixth in the 100 (13.57). Adrian Baker was seventh in the 400 (1:04.07). The Falcons came in third in the 1,600 relay (4:28.66) and fourth in the 3,200 relay (10:28.60).

Yarmouth featured javelin champion Haley Knaub (122-0). Knaub was also eighth in the triple jump (30-10).

States

Next up for local teams is states on Saturday.

Falmouth, Greely and Yarmouth will compete in the Class B championship at Mt. Desert Island. Freeport and NYA (which is seeking its fourth straight boys’ crown) will take part in the Class C meet in Bath.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.

Greely’s Abby Diehl made a run at the top spot in the 300 hurdles, but wound up second at Saturday’s Western Maine Conference championship meet in Yarmouth. (John Jensenius photo)
Falmouth’s Tommy Winger won the triple jump Saturday and added a first place finish in the long jump in leading the Yachtsmen to the boys’ team title. (John Jensenius photo)

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