The Scarborough boys’ indoor track and field team captured the SMAA championship for the first time Saturday afternoon. The Red Storm finished with 139.67 points, easily outdistancing runner-up Deering (107.67). South Portland came in fifth with 57.

In the girls’ meet, Scarborough wasn’t able to do it again, finishing second to Thornton Academy, 120-106.5. South Portland had 26 points and placed eighth.

In the Western Maine Conference championship meet, Cape Elizabeth tied for fourth in the girls’ competition and ninth on the boys’ side.

Dominant performance

A year ago, the Scarborough boys came in fourth at the SMAA meet, then put it all together at states, capturing the Class A title.

This time around, the Red Storm might win both.

Saturday, Scarborough got a tremendous team performance, as 20 different individuals scored, and simply had too much for Deering and the rest of the field.

Joe Viola won the open 300 (36.30 seconds). Ryan Jamison took first in the junior 200 (a conference-record time of 25.60). Robert Hall was tops in the junior 800 (with another conference record, 2 minutes, 10.40 seconds) and the Red Storm’s junior 4×140 relay team also came in first (1:05.60) and set a new conference mark.

There were several runner-up performances as well, including Ross Thomas in the high jump (6 feet, 2 inches) and the senior 45 hurdles (6.39), John Gonzalez in the senior 40 (4.96), Greg Viola in the junior 400 (57.90) and Nate Hathaway in the mile (4:50.10). Hathaway’s performance turned heads. He hadn’t competed all season due to a tendon injury, but running in the unseeded section, he posted a good enough time to wind up second.

Jamison (who took home the John Casavola Award as the meet’s top performer in the junior division) was also third in the junior 40 (5.09). Alec James was third in the junior 400 (58.00). Luke Bogdanovich came in third in the senior shot put (45-7.25). Nick Morris was third in the 600 (1:21.60). Eben Bradley placed third in the senior 200 (25.60). Ben Farino was fourth in the junior 400 (1:00.00). Sean Griffin had the fourth-best time in the two-mile (10:36.40). Colin Cain and Gonzalez, along with Deering’s Carleton Allen, finished in a three-way tie for fourth in the senior 200 (26.20). Cain was also fifth in the senior 40 (5.04). Austin Downing came in fifth in the junior 40 (5.18) and sixth in the junior 200 (26.80). Andrew Myers was fifth in the senior shot put (45-1.25). Zach Brown finished fifth in the mile (4:58.50). Alex Pok placed fifth in the senior 400 (58.40). Alec James placed sixth in the junior 45 hurdles (6.77). Tom Hague was sixth in the senior 800 (2:10.50).

Scarborough’s senior 4×280 relay came in fourth (2:21.00).

“Coming in, we knew it would be between Deering and us,” said Red Storm coach Derek Veilleux. “We were probably a little favored, but I told the guys that means nothing. We executed from the beginning. We got a huge boost when Nate ran the first time all season in the mile and came in second. We weren’t expecting those points. We scored in almost every event. Our senior shotputters really stepped it up. Junior 400 was a big event for us. Ryan was huge, setting conference records. Gutsy effort from Joe Viola, he hadn’t run in a couple weeks. We had big contributions all the way through. This is the most complete team we’ve ever had. Our goal was to win the meet and we did.”

For South Portland, Daniel Medici won the junior 400 (57.60), Jon Clement took the 800 (2:05.00) and the senior relay team came in first (2:18.70).

Ryan Tuttle was fourth in the junior 45 hurdles (6.72) and fifth in the junior 200 (26.70). Jamison Esquibel finished fourth in the senior 400 (58.10). Medici came in fifth in the junior 45 hurdles (6.74). Joe Michaud finished fifth in the 300 (37.00). Michael Foley was fifth in the high jump (5-8). Adrian Reid came in sixth in the senior 40 (5.05). Brian Campbell was sixth in the 600 (1:27.60).

The Red Riots were second to Scarborough in the junior relay and came in fifth in the open 4×210 relay.

In the girls’ meet, the Red Storm’s four-year SMAA run came to an end, but Scarborough was still impressive.

Abby Chick won the senior 800 (2:27.50). Nicole Kirk was first in the junior 40 (5.54). Emily Tolman captured the junior 45 hurdles (7.02).

Runner-up finishers included Jessica Meader in the junior 200 (29.90), Tolman in the junior 800 (2:30.60), Haela Booth-Howe in the junior shot put (28-5.75), Melissa DellaTorre in the mile (5:42.50), Jenny Snyder in the 300 (42.60) and the junior relay (1:57.10).

Snyder finished third in the senior 45 hurdles (6.9). Kirk tied for fourth in the junior 400 (1:07.1). Emelia Scheemaker tied for fourth in the senior 200 (29.6) and was sixth in the senior 45 hurdles (7.21). Chelsea Damon placed fifth in the junior shot put (27-8). Tolman finished sixth in the junior 400 (1:07.3). Emily O’Connor finished sixth in the two-mile (13:15.6). Catherine Bailey was sixth in the junior 45 hurdles (7.59) and tied for sixth in the 300 (44.00).

The open relay squad was third (4:22.4) and the senior relay team placed fourth (1:56.9).

“The depth of TA in both divisions was a key,” said Scarborough coach Ron Kelly. “We performed very well. Some key people performed very well, setting us for another run at the state meet.”

South Portland was led by Ericka Lightner, who was third in the junior 45 hurdles (7.12). Annelise Donahue came in fourth in the mile (6:00.7). Cheyenne Coombs placed fourth in the high jump (4-10). Angela Tirabassi was fifth in the junior 800 (2:37.8). Sarah Ouellette came in fifth in the junior 45 hurdles (7.57) and sixth in the junior 800 (2:38.1). Maria Letourneau was sixth in the mile (6:08.8).

The Red Riots came in third in the junior relay (1:58.1).

Capers hang tough

At the WMC meet, Cape Elizabeth’s girls had 47 points to tie Poland for fourth. York ended Greely’s 10-year stranglehold on the top spot with a 151-147 victory.

The Capers got a win from Rachel Nichols in the mile (5:18.97). Kelsey Barton took the two-mile (11:52.81).

Nichols was also runner-up in the 800 (2:27.54). Hannah Doss finished third in the mile (5:36.69). Lauren Nicholson was fourth in the pole vault (7-0). Ally Boyington tied for fourth in the senior high jump (4-4). Talley Perkins finished fifth in the long jump (14-4.75). Emma Inhorn placed fifth in the mile (6:04.36).

The Capers were fifth in the open 3,200 relay (11:49.94).

On the boys’ side, Cape Elizabeth had 24 points and was ninth. Falmouth (176) rolled to an easy win.

Jon Bass won the pole vault (12-6). Leandre Some was tops in the triple jump (41-4.25). Peter Brigham finished fourth in the mile (4:50.98).

States

Scarborough and South Portland will compete in the Class A state championship meet Monday at 10 a.m., at USM. The Red Storm should be in the hunt for both a boys’ and girls’ title.

“We’d like to go and bring home a trophy after graduating so much,” said Veilleux. “Cheverus and also Bangor have a really good shot for second. Brunswick will be tough to beat. They have a lot of big-point scorers. We’ll give it our best shot and see what happens.”

“Relays, jumps, middle distance, hurdles and sprints is our key,” Kelly said. “Thornton Academy, Bonny Eagle and Cheverus are all in the mix.”

Cape Elizabeth will take part in the Class B meet the same day and time at Bates College in Lewiston.

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

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Scarborough’s Jenny Snyder eluded an obstacle en route to a third-place finish in the senior 45 hurdles at Saturday’s SMAA championship meet.