Before they look to defend their Class B state championship, the Falmouth boys’ outdoor track time took time out to win the Western Maine Conference championship Saturday at Yarmouth High.

The Yachtsmen finished with a Division I-high 155.5 points, which was 26 better than runner-up York. Greely (88 points) came in third.

In Division II, NYA (109 points) was third behind Sacopee (156) and Traip (138). Host Yarmouth was fourth with 58 points and Freeport (43) came in sixth.

In the girls’ Division I meet, won by York with 185 points, Greely (115) was second, Falmouth (60) finished fourth.

In Division II, NYA (122) came in second behind Traip (136). Yarmouth (65) was fifth and Freeport (43) came in sixth.

Familiar storylines

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Falmouth not only won the 2009 Class B boys’ state title, it had won three straight conference crowns entering Saturday’s competition.

Thanks to its unrivaled depth and big-time performers, the Yachtsmen added another feather to their cap.

Senior Alec Dunn won the 110 hurdles (15.67 seconds). Junior Will Wegener was first in the 100 (11.59) and the 400 (51.70). Senior Kellen MacDonald captured the 300 hurdles (40.77). Senior Charlie Swerdlow won the racewalk (7 minutes, 52.53 seconds). Falmouth also won the 4×400 relay (3:34.39) and the 4×100 relay (45.38).

That was just the beginning.

Runner-up performances included MacDonald in the 110 hurdles (15.73), sophomore Tim Follo in the two-mile (9:59.42), junior Matt Goldstein in the racewalk (8:39.85),

Junior Andrew Kowalsky was third in the javelin (154 feet-10.5 inches) and fifth in the shot put (42-7.5). Follo placed third in the mile (4:38.83). Senior Michael Gardner was third in the 400 (53.18). Freshman Jacob Buhelt came in third in both the 200 (24.07) the 100 (11.98). Senior Gabe Hoffman-Johnson finished third in the long jump (19-9.75) and tied for fifth in the 100 (12.14). Sophomore Brandon Tuttle placed fourth in the javelin (145-7.75). Senior Mike Serunian finished fourth in the 800 (2:06.84). Sophomore Jimmy Polewaczyk came in fifth in the 400 (55.03). Senior Eric Hemphill was fifth in the two-mile (10:31.60). Sophomore Reid Pryzant was sixth in the 110 hurdles (17.59). Junior John Lake was sixth in the two-mile (10:32.05). Sophomore Conor McGrory was seventh in the mile (4:51.00). Dunn finished seventh in the 300 hurdles (44.41).

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The Yachtsmen were also fourth in the 3,200 relay (8:46).

Greely was led by junior Alex Parenteau, first in the javelin (163-2.5), junior Michael Burgess, winner of the shot put (49-2) and senior Logan Price, who was tops in the 800 (2:03.38).

The Rangers also got strong performances from junior Tanner Storey (runner-up in the high jump, 6-4), junior Jon Higgins (second in the javelin, 158-4), Burgess (runner-up in the discus, 125-9.25) , junior Jack Fellows (third in the shot put, 47-1.5; and seventh in the discus, 107-0), senior Colin Thomas (fourth in the racewalk, 9:25.17), sophomore Isaac Emery (fourth in the 300 hurdles, 43.87), sophomore Jeff Aalberg (sixth in the pole vault, 10 feet), junior Connor Regan (sixth in the 800, 2:09.41; and sixth in the mile, 4:48.78) and sophomore Nestor Taylor (seventh in the 800, 2:09.89).

Greely was third in the 3,200 relay (8:44), fourth in the 1,600 relay (3:41.70) and fifth in the 400 relay (48.76).

“It was a good day, good preparation for next week,” said Rangers coach John Folan. “I was especially pleased with some of our field events. We had PRs in the javelin. Tanner PR’d with the high jump. Maybe the feel-good story of the whole day is Logan Price. He hadn’t run a competitive race in three months. He went out and won. He’s such a great kid. Everyone was so happy for him. That’s a boost for next week.”

NYA, the three-time defending Class C champion, was paced by senior standout Henry Sterling, who won the two-mile (9:20.90), although he felt just shy of his goal of breaking the record.

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“It was really close,” Sterling said. “I think if I ran that first lap a little faster, I think I might have gotten it. All in all, I’m really happy with it. A lot of our kids bested our performance today.”

Junior Mohamed Dahia won the 110 hurdles (17.05) and the 300 hurdles (42.65). Sophomore Asad Dahia finished first in the 800 (2:03.66). Sophomore Nick Rayder was tops in the shot put (39-6.75). The Panthers also won the 3,200 relay (8:30.60).

Sophomore Cam Regan finished second in the two-mile (10:32.17). Mohamed Dahia came in third in the long jump (19-2). Asad Dahia was third in the triple jump (37-4). Senior Douglas Goldstein placed third in the racewalk (9:05.48). Sophomore Alex Coffin was third in the mile (4:43.86). Sophomore Rudy Guiliani was fourth in the two-mile (11:00.83). Junior Nick Kolkin was sixth in the 400 (56.28). Rayder tied for seventh in the discus (90-11.25).

The Panthers placed second in the 1,600 relay (3:40.57) and fourth in the 400 relay (50.41).

“I’m really happy with how my kids did,” said NYA coach Chris Mazzurco. “We pretty much had every kid PR in something. That’s what we came here for.”

For host Yarmouth, junior Asa Arden won the long jump (19-10.5) and tied for fifth in the high jump (5-8). Junior Ben Nickerson placed second in the mile (4:39.41) and came in sixth in the 800 (2:10.58). Senior Sam Woodbury placed fourth in the mile (4:47.72) and fifth in the 800 (2:08.29). Sophomore Lucas Davis was fourth in the 100 (12.05) and fourth in the 200 (24.65). Junior Shane Ryan came in fifth in the discus (98-4). Ryan Perrier Jr., came in sixth in the discus (92-5.5) and was also sixth in the shot put (33-8.75). Junior Jon Drouin placed seventh in the two-mile (12:18.37).

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The Clippers 400 relay team was third (47.36) and its 3,200 squad came in fourth (8:57.90)

“Most of our kids had PRs, which is really great,” said Yarmouth coach Bob Morse. “We had a few kids make it to the finals. The boys’ relay did awesome. We have a very small team to compete in these things. Our big job is to get more kids involved in track. We’ll enter a 4×1 and 4×8 relays, boys and girls, next week. We’ll be there.”

Freeport’s points came from Ryan Collet, second in the 100 (11.77), Taylor Saucier, runner-up in the 400 (53.71), Henry Loughlin (third in the two-mile, 10:46.85), Miles Boucher, third in the 400 (54.81) Alex Campbell, fourth in the racewalk (9:13.71), Nick Sweet (sixth in the two-mile, 12:10.97), Nate Pfeffer (seventh in the 400 (57.09) and its 3,200 relay (third, 8:49.70) and 1,600 relay (fourth, 3:45.54) teams.

Greely’s girls were second in the conference for the third year in a row. The Rangers got victories from junior Katherine Harrington in the discus (108-9) and junior Meaghan Crowley in the triple jump (33-4).

Senior Hannah Werneth was runner-up in the discus (101-11) and came in fifth in the shot put (35-1.25). Sophomore Emily Curato had the second-best pole vault (8 feet). Crowley was second in the long jump (15-1). Harrington placed third in the shot put (35-2.75). Junior Anna Whitaker finished third in the long jump (15-6), fifth in the triple jump (30-7.25) and seventh in the 100 (13.85). Senior Michaela Campbell was third in the javelin (95-6) and seventh in the discus (91-1). Freshman Jessica Wilson finished third in the 400 (1:04.63). Junior Emily Christensen placed fourth in the 100 (13.51) and seventh in the 200 (29.03). Sophomore Sara Schad was fourth in the 800 (2:31.84). Junior Stella Keck was fourth in the 100 hurdles (17.90) and seventh in the javelin (79-4). Sophomore Maggie Bradley was fifth in the long jump (14-7). Freshman Kaley Sawyer placed sixth in the triple jump (30-3). Senior Bethany Powers came in sixth in the long jump (14-5). Freshman Sarah Fitch placed sixth in the 800 (2:34.89). Sophomore Abby Bonnevie finished seventh in the pole vault (7 feet).

Greely finished second in the 400 (53.16) and 1,600 (4:23.29) relays and third in the 3,200 relay (10:22.40).

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“Our girls did some good things,” Folan said. “Katherine Harrington had a good day in the discus. Hannah Werneth also. Meaghan Crowley won her first Western Maine Conference title ever. We’re really pleased for her.”

Falmouth was paced by senior Rachel Brown, who won the 800 (2:23.19) and junior Kate Sparks, who was tops in the shot put (37-00.75).

Sophomore Jenna Serunian came in second in the shot put (36-8.75) and third in the discus (101-1). Senior Rachel Mazerolle was third in the 100 hurdles (17.45). Sophomore Evelyn Perry was fourth in the long jump (14-9.75). Senior Franesca D’Alfonso had the fifth-best time in the 800 (2:32.34). Junior Amy Webster finished fifth in the pole vault (7-6). Sparks finished fifth in the discus (95-4). Sophomore Jena Mannette came in fifth in the 400 (1:07.28). Junior Sarah Abramson was sixth in the racewalk (9:56.20). Sophomore Emily Rand tied for sixth in the 400 (1:09.99). Sophomore Catherine Hebson was seventh in the mile (5:42.66).

The Yachtsmen were fifth in the 3,200 relay (10:45.80) and fifth in the 400 relay (55.34) and seventh in the 1,600 relay (4:43.64).

For NYA, sophomore Hilary Detert won the mile (5:59.74) and the two-mile (13:10.52). Senior Hannah Bewsey won the high jump (5-2) and came in second in the 300 hurdles (50.25). Senior Maeve Stier was second in the long jump (14-7.5) and fourth in the high jump (4-8). Senior Alexandra O’Reilly came in second in the discus (79-11) and third in the javelin (84-00.50). Senior Katie Lentine was third in the discus (77-10) and fourth in the shot put (27-5.25). Sophomore Hadley Gibson finished third in the mile (6:17.74) and fifth in the 800 (2:49.83). Sophomore Maggie Meixell placed fifth in the 300 hurdles (52.35). Sophomore Elsa Marin placed fifth in the triple jump (27-7.5). Senior Lianna Hichborn was fifth in the javelin (77-5). Senior Hilary Gibson was  sixth in the pole vault (7-6) and sixth in the 100 (14.21) Senior Jaime Rogers came in sixth in the javelin (75-9). and seventh in the shot put (26-5.5).

The Panthers came in first in the 4×400 relay (4:29.87) and third in the 4×100 relay (55.48).

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“The girls are doing great,” Mazzurco said. “We’re hoping for a top six finish at states.”

For Freeport, Kaylon Brown tied for second in the 400 (1:12.06) and seventh in the 800 (2:57.81). Ciera Wentworth came in third in the 100 (13.92) and was also third in the 200 (28.82). Kelly Edwards finished third in the 800 (2:41.81). Bryn Gallagher was fourth in the 300 hurdles (51.96). Ellie Soule finished fourth in the racewalk (10:52.30). Abby Roney was sixth in the 100 hurdles (19,15) and seventh in the 100 (14.22). Cecelia Fisher finished sixth in the mile (6:31.20). Caroline Rowell came in seventh in the mile (6:31.41).

The Falcons were fourth in the 400 relay (56.11) and fourth in the 1,600 relay (4:49.29).

State meet Saturday

The state meets are coming up Saturday.

At the Class B meet, contested at Windham High School, Falmouth’s boys have a great shot to repeat, but several other teams, including Greely, are in the hunt. Yarmouth will be in attendance as well.

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“Falmouth is loaded,” Folan said. “They cover everything. There figures to be anywhere between five and seven teams that could win the state meet next week. All bets are off. It will be interesting.”

On the girls’ side, Waterville is viewed as the team to beat, but rest assured that Falmouth and Greely will make noise.

“The Waterville girls appear to be the prohibitive favorites and York is tough,” Folan said. “We came into the year hoping to be top five and I think we can do that.”

The Class C state meet is in Foxcroft, where Freeport will compete and the NYA boys hope to win the title for a fifth consecutive season.

“We’re excited for states,” Sterling said. “We’re not as strong in the throws after losing Sam Fear from last year, but we’ve picked up points in the hurdles, long jump. We have a great distance group.”

“I wouldn’t put us as favorites,” Mazzurco added. “I’d say Sacopee is the favorite. They looked phenomenal (at the WMC meet). I think we’ll be in the mix.”

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

NYA senior Maeve Stier comes in second in the long jump in Division II. Stier was also fourth in the high jump.

Falmouth junior Will Wegener leaves the field behind as he wins the 100 Saturday. Wegner also captured the 400 and led the Yachtsmen to a team victory in Division I.

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Greely junior Alex Parenteau shows his conference-winning javelin throwing form during Saturday’s WMC meet at Yarmouth High. Parenteau’s top throw sailed 163 feet, 2.5 inches.


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