(Ed. Note: Henry Loughlin is a former runner and skier at Freeport High, who just completed his freshman year at Roger Williams University and is contributing to The Forecaster as a freelance writer).

(Ed. Note II: For additional photos from this meet, visit theforecaster.net)

FALMOUTH — Hosting the Western Maine Conference Track and Field Championship for the first time in recent memory, the two-time defending Class B state champion Falmouth boys’ track team had additional impetus to put on a show.

It didn’t disappoint.

Led by Will Wegener, who won the 100-meter dash (11.58 seconds) and took second in the 200 (22.61), the Yachtsmen made an emphatic statement just a week prior to the state meet, amassing 179 points to win the Division I title, 35 ahead of second-place York. Greely (110) placed third.

Division II featured North Yarmouth Academy placing second to Sacopee Valley (112 points to 228), Freeport (fourth with 59) and Yarmouth (fifth, 45)

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On the girls’ side, it was Greely which took first in the Division I standings, also outdistancing the Wildcats by 52 points, 160-108. Falmouth (72) finished fourth in that division, while NYA (61 points), Yarmouth (55) and Freeport (25) took fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, in Division II (won by Traip with 162).

“I’m very excited (about the victory,)” said Falmouth’s longtime coach Danny Paul. “Especially considering we lost Reid Pryzant (the indoor state champion in the 55 hurdles and long jump, along with being Falmouth’s Winter Male Athlete of the Year) with a broken leg last week. A lot of people picked up the slack. There were (personal records) all over the place, which, as a coach, you always love to see. You always want to see people have their best days towards the end of the season, and I think we saw that today.”

Favorites

Despite the brilliance of Wegener, the Yachtsmen, whose arsenal covers virtually every event, had several other event winners. Jimmy Polewaczyk took the 400 (52.30), John Lake emerged victorious in the 800 (2 minutes 3.91 seconds), Justin Hovey topped the pole vault (11 feet), Aaron Rogers won the long jump (19 feet, 6.75 inches), Andrew Kowalsky had the top throw in the javelin (161-11) and Matt Goldstein had the top time in the racewalk (7:40.84)

Runners-up included Jacob Buhelt in the 100 (11.77), Wegener in the 200 (22.61), Tim Follo in the mile (4:33.41) and two-mile (10:02.62), Hovey in the 110 hurdles (17.96) and Ryan Tartre in the triple jump (36-8.25).

In addition to those occupying the top two slots, Falmouth featured a plethora of other individual scorers. Buhelt took third in the 200 (23.92), one spot ahead of Brian Prescott (24.09). Tartre placed third in the high jump (5-8) and Matt Kingry was fourth in the long jump (18-5). Kowalsky placed fourth in the shot put (47 feet) and fifth in the javelin (147-9). Thomas Edmonds snagged fifth in the 800 (2:07.64). Henry Briggs placed sixth in the mile (4:46.17). Joshi Shreyas was fifth in the racewalk (10:26.0). Maxim Irving took fifth in the pole vault (8-6) and sixth in the 110 hurdles (20.90), while Hovey took the latter place in the 300 hurdles (48.08).

If that wasn’t enough, the Yachtsmen featured the winning 4×100 (44.70) and 4×400 (3:32.15) relay teams, while their 4×800 squad took third (8:40.02).

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Winning events for Greely were Michael Burgess in the shot put, with a new conference record of 55-3, Jack Fellows in the discus (143-6) and the 4×800 relay team (8:29.16).

Jeff Aalberg was second in the pole vault (11-0), just ahead of Matt Davis (10-0). Burgess took second in the javelin (160-4) and sixth in the discus (104-3). Tanner Storey was second in the high jump (5-10). Alex Parenteau was third in the javelin (159-4). Nathan Maderia and Liam Campbell took third and fourth, respectively, in the mile (4:38.86 and 4:39.91), while Campbell snagged sixth in the 800 (2:08.20). Nestor Taylor was fourth in the 800 (2:06.17). Isaac Emery placed fourth in the 300 hurdles (45.82). Jesse Lehman was fifth in the long jump (18-5). Ben Giffard snagged sixth in the triple jump (35-6.5).

The Rangers also had the third-best 4×400 (3:37.40) and 4×100 (48.05) relay teams.

In Division II, North Yarmouth Academy was led by wins from Alex Coffin in the 800 (2:02.41), Evan Kendall in the two-mile (10:39.34), Mohamed Dahia in the 110 hurdles (16.90) and Cam Rayder in the shot put (43-3).

Second-place showings included Rudy Guliani in the two-mile (10:41.31) and Dahia in the long jump (18-7.25) and triple jump (39-1.5). Cam Regan took third in the mile (4:40.59). Dahia snagged bronze in the 300 hurdles (44.00). Asad Dahia had the third-best triple jump (38-2). Jake Burns was fourth in the 300 hurdles (45.81) and fifth in the 110 hurdles (17.93). Alden Kelsey placed fourth in the discus (106-9) Brian Trelegan was fifth in the two-mile (11:42.50) and sixth in the mile (5:10.00). Regan took fifth in the pole vault (10-0). Anthony Hardy had the sixth-best shot put (36-10). And Robert Field was sixth in the javelin (109-2).

The Panthers also had the second-best 4×400 relay team (3:39.29), third-fastest 4×800 squad (8:48.92) and sixth-quickest 4×100 quartet (50.75).

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For Freeport, Ethan Roney won the racewalk (9:07.44) and placed sixth in the two-mile (11:52.00). The Falcons also scored points thanks to Harrison Stivers (second in the 400, 53.60; and third in the 200, 24.93), Taylor Saucier (second in the 800, 2:03.41), Ian McGhie (third in the two-mile, 10:56.03), Miles Boucher (fourth in the 400, 55.47), Nick Sweet (fourth in the two-mile, 10:56.20) and Vinnie Zolla (fifth in the mile, 5:07.78). In addition to the individual point-getters, the Falcons were runners-up in the 4×800 relay (8:48.52) and fifth in the 4×100 relay (48.94).

Yarmouth was led by Ben Nickerson and Asa Arden, both of whom won an event (Nickerson the mile, 4:38.03; and Arden the long jump, 20 feet, 3 inches) and took fifth in another (Nickerson’s 800 was timed at 2:09.34, while Arden clocked 12.53 for the 100.) The Clippers also featured scorers in Lucas Davis (fourth in the 100, 12.51), Braden Smith (fifth in the 200, 25.03), Shane Ryan (sixth in the discus, 104 feet, 9 inches) and Tom Robichaud (sixth in the pole vault, 9-0).

Yarmouth also picked up points in the 4×100 (third, 47.41), 4×400 (fourth, 3:51.89) and 4×800 (9:56.23) relays.

Greely Glory

While their male counterparts made a strong showing, it was the Greely girls who stole the show. Kaley Sawyer and Katherine Harrington won events for the Rangers, Sawyer taking the high jump (4-10) and triple jump (33-2), while Harrington won the discus (107-3). Kirstin Sandreuter finished runner-up in both the mile (5:19.71) and two-mile (11:33.56). Jessica Wilson was second in the 800 (2:27.54). Meghan Crowley placed second in the triple jump (32-8.5). The pole vault featured a 2-3-4 showing, as Abby Bonneville, Deanna Barry and Emily Curato vaulted 9 feet, 8 feet and 7-6, respectively, while Cora Lyden took sixth at 7-0.

The long jump proved another Greely gold mine, with places 2, 3, 4 and 5 going to Sarah Ingraham (15-7.5), Crowley (15-1), Molly Fitzpatrick (14-11) and Kathleen McKersie (14-11). Sawyer took third in the 110 hurdles (18.31), one spot ahead of Molly Fitzpatrick (18.60), who also placed fifth in the 300 hurdles (52.87) and the triple jump (30 feet, 11.25 inches). Cassidy Harrington was third in the discus (99 feet, 6 inches). Stella Keck took bronze in the javelin (77 feet, 6 inches). Sara Schad was fourth in the 400 (1:03.73). Storey was fourth in the shot put (34-1), just ahead of Harrington (32 feet, 7 inches). Emily Christensen was fifth in the 100 (14.01). Kelsey Saunders was fifth in the high jump (4-6). Melissa Jacques was sixth in the 800 (2:32.85). Cora Lyden took sixth in the javelin (72 feet, 5 inches).

The Rangers also got contributions from their 4×400 (second, 4:19.78), 4×800 (third, 10:20.60) and 4×100 (fourth, 53.89) relay teams.

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Falmouth got a victory from Jenna Serunian in the shot put (40 feet, 3.75 inches). Serunian also placed second in the discus (104 feet, 7 inches). Nevada Horne was runner-up in the 100 hurdles (18.18). Teammate Kate Sparks was third in the shot put (38 feet) and fourth in the discus (97-11). Catherine Hebson was third in the mile (5:25.43) and fourth in the two-mile (12:02.35). Sarah Abramson placed fourth in the racewalk (9:46.83). Allison Schwartz was fifth in the javelin (76-6). Madeline Roberts and Molly Paris took fifth and sixth in the two-mile, clocking 12:31.85 and 12:38.44, respectively. Jena Manette placed sixth in the 400 (1:06.40).

Falmouth also scored in the 4×100 (second, 52.66), 4×800 (fourth, 11:09.88) and 4×400 (4:35.99) relays.

North Yarmouth Academy was paced by Hillary Detert, who won the mile (5:50.45) and two-mile (12:34.43). Kayla Rose was third in the discus (77-10), fourth in the two-mile (16 minutes) and sixth in the shot put (24-8). Hadley Gibson had the third-fastest racewalk time (11:13.51) and was sixth in the 800 (2:48.09). Morgan Scully took fourth in the 400 (1:08.85), shot put (28 feet, 3 inches,) and discus (75 feet, 10 inches). Moira Lachance took fourth in the high jump (4-4) and sixth in the 300 hurdles (1:01.75). Rose was sixth in the shot put (24-8.25)

The Panthers also got points from their third-place 4×400 relay team (4:43.95).

Freeport got third-place finishes from Abby Roney in the 200 (30.04) and Brianna Roy  in the mile (6:01.82). Hayley Steckler was fifth in the 200 (30.62). Gabby Tilton had the fifth-fastest mile (6:55.82). Lily LaMarre was sixth in the 400 (1:10.99).

Freeport also scored in the 4×100 (fifth, 58.01), 4×400 (fifth, 5:08.07) and 4×800 (12:11.99) relays.

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Yarmouth received runner-up performances from Maddy Maierhofer in the 200 (29.37), Emma Pidden in the 300 hurdles (54.93), Megan Smith in the pole vault (7-6) and Abby Vogel in the shot put (30 feet.) Pidden was also fourth in the 100 (14.10) and fifth in the 100 hurdles (19.30). Sydney Sperber placed fourth in the mile (6:30.00). Mary Sansone was fourth in the javelin (64-6). Vogel was sixth in the discus (61-5). Caroline Macleod was sixth in the discus (62-4)

The Clippers also placed third in the 4×800 (12:02.30) and fourth in the 4×100 relays (56.01.)

The Big Dance

It’s safe to say that Forecaster Country has plenty of standout athletes that will shine at their respective state championships next week (Falmouth, Greely and Yarmouth in Class B and Freeport and NYA in Class C.) And while trepidation is a common emotion during the later part of the season for track athletes, it is another “T” that looks to be the name of the game for local squads: teamwork.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Wegener. “I have complete confidence in my teammates. They’re a great group of guys. We’ve been training hard and it’s starting to pay off.”

“Having not had a track last year (due to the construction of the new Falmouth Athletic Complex), we had to bus the kids to Gray,” added Paul. “They were still able to win the (state) championship. That says a lot about them and their drive. They’re very focused.”

Based on what they showed Saturday, it may be foolish to bet against them bringing the hardware home once again.

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Falmouth’s Jimmy Polewaczyk was tops in the Division I 400.

Greely’s Kaley Sawyer hands to Sara Schad in the Division I 1,600 relay. The Rangers were a close second to Fryeburg.

Falmouth’s Will Wegener (front) and Jacob Buhelt race down the track in the Division I 100 meter dash. Wegener was first in 11.58 seconds. Buhelt second in 11.77.

NYA’s Alex Coffin had no peer in winning the Division II 800.

Falmouth’s Jenna Serunian edged York’s Nicole Taylor to win the Division I shot put.

NYA’s Hillary Detert won the two-mile by over two minutes in Division II.

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Greely’s Michael Burgess unleashes a new conference record shot put toss of 55 feet, 3.5 inches at Saturday’s WMC championship meet.

Greely freshman Kirstin Sandreuter was second in the mile in Division I.

Greely’s Sarah Ingraham shows her long jump form. Ingraham was second in Division I.

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Yarmouth’s Asa Arden soars to a first place finish in the Division II long jump at Saturday’s Western Maine

Conference championship meet.

More photos below.


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