The best showing in six years from the South Portland boys and a near-miss by the Scarborough girls highlighted the Class A state outdoor track meet Saturday in Windham.

In the boys’ meet, won by Bonny Eagle with 94 points, South Portland posted 59 points to finish a strong third, its best result since a runner-up finish in 2005. Scarborough scored 29 points and came in eighth.

The Scarborough girls were seeking their second crown in succession and fifth in six years, but despite a superb effort from junior standout Nicole Kirk, the Red Storm (78 points) were a close second to Bonny Eagle (82). South Portland tied Cony for 15th place with 13 points, the Red Riots best finish since 2007.

Cape Elizabeth vied for Class B honors in Augusta. The girls had 14 points to finish 12th. Waterville was first with 145.5. The boys did not score. Waterville won that meet as well with 111 points.

Seeing red

South Portland’s boys got wins from Adrian Reid in the 200 (22.89 seconds) and the 400 relay team (Theodore Lefay, Daniel Medici, Ryan Tuttle and Reid, 44.36 seconds).

Reid was second in the 100 (11.55). Medici came in third in the 300 hurdles (41.71). Michael Kennedy finished third in the 800 (2:01.02). Daniel Grazewski was fifth in the long jump (20-6.75). Brian Campbell came in sixth in the long jump (20-3.25). Tom Redstone placed sixth in the racewalk (7:51.94).

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The Red Riots were runners-up to Sanford in the 1,600 relay (3:30.16) and fourth in the 3,200 relay (8:20.10).

“We had an outstanding meet,” said South Portland coach David Kahill. “The boys were incredibly focused to run their best races of the season. We performed better than our pre-meet rankings, but the boys were confident that they could. The third-place finish is a reflection of the team’s camaraderie and dedication to improving individually and as a team. The team’s success was a combination of a returning veterans and some new, but upperclass athletes.

“The boys were incredibly motivated by their three relay team successes. The 4×100 relay team won the state championship and broke the school record, the 4×400 was one second away from the school record and the 4×800 was six seconds off the school record. All relay teams ran their season-best times.

“Adrian has been focused on competing for state championship in the 100 and 200 since last year and he trained all year to be as prepared as possible. Dan’s third-place finish in the 300 hurdles was perhaps the biggest surprise to outsiders, but he expected to be competitive for a top three finish. He set a one-second personal best and was prepared to do so. Mike Kennedy, although this is his first season running track, has been one of the best 800 runners all season and his third-place finish in the 800 is well-deserved. The long jump was a very competitive field and Brian Campbell and Dan Grazewski both jumped their second-best jumps ever.”

Scarborough won the 3,200 relay, as Robby Hall, Zach Brown, Mike Tudor and Nick Morris had a time of 8:13.62. The Red Storm was also fourth in the 1,600 relay (3:35.65).

Individually, Scott Merrill came in third in the 400 (51.18). Morris was fifth in the 800 (2:02.03). Alex James placed sixth in the pole vault (11-6). Orrin James came in seventh in the 110 hurdles (16.25). Hall placed seventh in the mile (4:37.75). Kevin Manning finished seventh in the javelin (150-6) and seventh in the pole vault (11-6).

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In the girls’ meet, Kirk dazzled by setting a new state record in winning the 200 (25.49). She was also first in the 100 (12.72) and helped two relay teams to a first-place showing. Kirk anchored the 400 squad, which also featured Morgan Rodway, Emilia Scheemaker and Andrea Tolman, and set a new record in winning in 49.65 seconds. Rodway, Tolman, Kirk and Emily Tolman won the 1,600 relay in 4:09.06. Scheemaker also won the triple jump (35-8.75).

Andrea Tolman tied for second in the pole vault (9 feet). Emily Tolman finished third in the 400 (59.24) and fifth in both the 200 (26.03) and long jump (16-5). Scheemaker finished fourth in the long jump (17-1.25). Haela Booth-Howe was sixth in the javelin (99-10). Catherine Bailey placed sixth in the pole vault (8-6) and seventh in the 300 hurdles (49.39).

For South Portland, Nyajock Pan placed sixth in both the mile (5:18.27) and two-mile (11:51.29). Sophia Desjardins finished seventh in the 200 (26.29). Abby Hasson was seventh in the shot put (33-8.25) and seventh in the discus (99-1).

The Red Riots were third in the 3,200 relay (9:53.75).

Class B

At the Class B meet, Cape Elizabeth’s girls saw Rachel Nichols come in fifth in both the 800 (2:26.81) and the mile (5:21.32). Kelsey Barton was sixth in the two-mile (11:51.03). The Capers’ 3,200 relay team finished third (10:12.29).

Christina Kouros produced an inspirational performance when she competed in the wheelchair in the 800 and lowered her best time by 20 seconds.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

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Cape Elizabeth’s Christina Kouros competes in the 800 at Saturday’s Class B state meet. Kouros inspired those on hand by becoming the first wheelchair athlete to take part at states. She also reduced her top time by 20 seconds.

Cape Elizabeth’s Skyler Dunfey takes part in the triple jump. The Capers came in 12th as a team.


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