Despite steady rainfall, almost all of Saturday’s Class A outdoor track and field state championship was completed at Windham High School.
All but the pole vault, which was finished Wednesday at Bates College, allowing team champions to finally be crowned.
With that one event remaining, Cheverus’ boys’ team is still in the running for its first state championship since 1998. The Stags will take 65 points into the pole vault, while Sanford leads with 69.
“Sanford is set to win the title as they have a vaulter who is ranked to score and they already lead by four points,” said Stags coach Steve Virgilio. “Cheverus has a vaulter, but he’s a freshman and is not ranked to score. I expect the team rankings will stay the same with the scores perhaps changing by a point or two as all four of the top teams have at least one vaulter entered in the meet. Gorham and Bonny Eagle may gain a few points but are too far apart from each other and the top two to jump up. Cheverus is unlikely to score. However, the vault is a volatile event. If the top seeds falter, Sanford could score more points. I don’t think any teams will be able to change position unless half the field falters or a lot of guys step up with big personal best performances.”
Saturday, Cheverus got wins from Matt Cushing in the javelin (158 feet, 6 inches), Joe Slattery in the long jump (20-6.25) and its 1,600 relay team (James Campbell, Brady Foshay, Lars Murphy and Slattery, 3 minutes, 31.79 seconds).
Foshay was runner-up in the 800 (1:57.76). Michael Orne finished third in the high jump (5-10). Isaac (41.55 seconds) and Elijah Yeboah (42.24) came in third and fourth respectively in the 300 hurdles. Campbell was fourth in the 400 (51.57). Timothy Jerome placed fifth in the javelin (133-3).
Adam Zieba, Campbell, Colin Grove and Foshay placed sixth in the 3,200 relay (8:33.87). Jackson McMann, Slattery, Isaac Yeboah and Campbell were sixth in the 400 relay (45.99).
The Stags were hampered by Jackson McMann’s ankle injury (the top sprinter was only able to score in the 400 relay) and a dropped baton in the 3,200 relay.
“A lot of great things happened this season and the guys competed and trained at the highest level,” Virgilio said. “They were a top team all year and were in contention for the state title, but two unfortunate events were just a little too much to overcome.”
Deering is tied for eighth place with Windham (each school had 30 points).
The Rams were led by runners-up Matt Kimball in the 100 (11.37) and Jared Bell in the discus (140-1). Bryan White was third in the shot put (49-10.5). Anthony Miller came in fourth in the 100 (11.53). Tony Sen placed fifth in the 110 hurdles (16.11).
Sean Perry, Gabe Turner, Alex Hebert and Tom Dean combined to finish seventh in the 3,200 relay (8:38.85).
Portland did not score.
In the girls’ competition, Edward Little clung to a 75-74 lead over Scarborough with one event remaining. Cheverus (34) was seventh. Deering (9) was 19th. Portland didn’t score.
The Stags Katie Shapiro was the lone city event winner, taking the discus in 119-5. Fiona Hendry was runner-up in the two-mile (10:59.32) and third in the mile (5:05.85). Shannon Conley finished third in the 800 (2:19.88) and was sixth in the two-mile (11:40.08). Shapiro was also sixth in the shot put (32-2.75).
The Rams were paced by Alexis Elowitch, who was third in the javelin (109-7) and Veronica Mitchell, fifth in the 300 hurdles (48.73).
At the Class C meet in Augusta, McAuley was 20th in the girls’ meet with 6 points. Liz Houston was third in the pole vault (7-6).
Waynflete didn’t score on either the Class C boys’ or girls’ meets.
The outdoor track season will end Saturday when Thornton Academy hosts the New England championships.
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
Deering’s Ricardo Delgado competed, but did not score in the boys’ high jump.
Cheverus’ Fiona Hendry placed third in the mile.
Cheverus’ Matt Cushing launches the javelin Saturday. Cushing won the event.
Cheverus’ Michael Orne was third in the boys’ high jump.
Cheverus’ Hayley Doss was 11th in the 800.
Sidebar Elements
Cheverus’ Isaac Yeboah competes in the 300 hurdles at Saturday’s Class A state championship meet. Yeboah finished third.
Deering’s Ella Ramonas took part in the girls’ 800 Saturday. Ramonas did not score.
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