By Michael Hoffer
Indoor track was the last to join in the winter sports fun, but all involved with the sport were excited for the beginning of another short and sweet season at the University of Southern Maine Friday.
In the first meet, the Falmouth boys, the defending Class B state champions, tallied 235 1/2 points to outdistance five other teams. North Yarmouth Academy finished second with 115 1/2 points. Freeport (38 points) was fifth.
Yachtsmen sophomore Will Wegener was named junior division MVP after capturing the 200 (25.88 seconds) and the 400 (55.44). Senior Tommy Winger won senior division MVP honors after winning the 55 (6.96), the 200 (24.17) and the triple jump (41 feet, 1 1/2 inches). Junior Kellen McDonald also captured two events, winning the senior 55 hurdles (9.11) and the senior 400 (54.06). Falmouth won all three relays, taking the junior 800 in 1 minute, 52.01 seconds, the senior 800 in 1:38.71 and the open 3,200 in 10:10.08.
NYA got first place finishes from senior Sam Fear in the senior high jump (6 feet), junior Henry Sterling in the open two-mile (10:11.80), and freshman Jeff Cheney in the junior shot put (25-8).
Freeport had four runner-up performances. Sophomore Orion Sickels was second in the junior 55 (7.67) and the junior 200 (26.59). Junior Henry Loughlin was second to Sterling in the two-mile (10:36.66) and senior Connor Yost had the second-highest pole vault (11 feet).
In the girls’ meet, Falmouth had 205 points to finish first by 52 points over NYA. Freeport (23 points) came in fifth.
Yachtsmen sophomore Adrien Michalakis was named junior division MVP after she took the 55 (7.82) and the 200 (28.45). Falmouth won the junior (2:03.35) and senior (2:00.06) relays.
The Panthers had first-place performances from sophomore Eliza Gendron in the junior high jump (4-4), senior Alison Carpenter in the senior 400 (1:05.07), junior Tu-Trang Ho in the senior 55 hurdles (11.15), freshman Hannah Twombly in the mile (6:13.70) and junior Hannah Bewsey in the triple jump (25-11 3/4).
For Freeport, senior Andrea Goodrich came in runner-up in the mile (6:18.60).
The second meet saw Greely win on the boys’ side with 212 points. Yarmouth came in fifth of seven teams with 55 points.
Rangers’ senior Nate Martin was named senior division MVP after taking the 200 (23.42) and the long jump (20-2). Junior Mark McCauley also won two events, finishing first in the 800 (2:03.42) and the mile (4:37.27). Greely won the junior (1:51.89) and senior (1:39.72) relays.
The Clippers were led by a pair of runner-up relay teams. Yarmouth was second in the senior in 1:42.70 and second in the open (9:39.68). Junior Jacob Whiting-Kooy was runner-up in the long jump (18-6 1/4). ? S Ryan came in second in the junior 400 (1:01.63).
In the girls’ meet, defending Class B state champion Greely won with 232 points. Yarmouth placed seventh with 11.
Rangers’ sophomore Katherine Harrington won junior division MVP after taking the shot put (33-2 1/2). Senior Hillary Cederna won the senior 200 (27.14) and the triple jump (32-10). Greely won the junior (1:57.91) and senior (1:52.79) relays.
For the Clippers, senior Hannah Martin came in third in the senior 400 (1:16.70).
Action resumes this Friday. At 3:30, Freeport, Greely and Yarmouth compete against each other and Gray-New Gloucester, Traip and Wells. At 6:30, Falmouth and NYA join Cape Elizabeth, Fryeburg, Lake Region, Poland and York.

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