– By TOM CHARD
Staff Writer
Additional Photos
PORTLAND – Veteran performances from twins Peyton and Amber Dostie, and strong efforts from underclassmen highlighted a balanced team effort Saturday that carried Bonny Eagle to its first Southern Maine Girls’ Indoor Track Conference championship at the Portland Expo.
The Scots became the fifth team in the 28-year history of the league to win the championship.
“We’re very excited,” said Bonny Eagle Coach Stephanie Beattie, who was named the league’s coach of the year before the meet.
“The girls worked really hard and pulled it off with an overall effort. We had great senior performances. Winning a few key events, like the 800 and hurdles, is what did it for us.”
Bonny Eagle finished with 124.5 points. Thornton Academy was second with 111.50 points. Following were defending champion Scarborough (103), Deering (60) and Biddeford (59).
Loading up the senior relay with their top runners was strategic for the Scots.
Bonny Eagle led Thornton by two points with the 840-yard senior relay and 1,600-yard open relay remaining. The Scots sealed it by winning the senior relay; the Golden Trojans were disqualified in both.
The Scots’ only loss in the regular season was to Thornton, which entered with a 14-0 record to Bonny Eagle’s 13-1.
“It feels awesome,” said Peyton Dostie. “It’s kind of a big deal we beat them. All of us working together, knowing we could do it made it happen.”
Peyton won the 45-yard senior hurdles, and finished second in the senior 400 and open high jump. Amber won the senior 800 and teammate Samantha Cox won the junior 800.
The Dosties were two legs of the winning senior relay.
“We had events that people weren’t supposed to do as well as they did, but they showed up and really performed,” said Amber Dostie.
Like freshman Shawna Meserve, who placed third in the junior 800. Another freshman, Audrey Weyand, won the junior 400 and was second in the junior 40.
Morgan Costa of the Scots was second in the senior 40 and third in the open 300.
The meet seesawed between the top two teams. The Golden Trojans and Scots exchanged leads until the Scots pulled ahead heading into the relays. Thornton could muster only eight points in three relays.
Asked about her team’s chances in the Class A state meet Feb. 21 at the University of Southern Maine, Amber Dostie said: “I think we have a very good chance of winning.”
The Golden Trojans nearly carried their depth in the two shot put events to the title. They finished 1-2 in the senior shot with Abby Huntress and Emily Morin, and had a 2-4-6 finish in the junior shot.
Maria Curit of Biddeford finished her Expo career by breaking her own record in the senior 400 with a time of 1:01.2. She finished third in the senior 40. Curit won the Angie Abraham Award, which is the league’s top award.
Scarborough had double winners in junior Nicole Kirk and freshman Morgan Rodway. Kirk won the senior 40 and 200, and Rodman did the same in the junior division.
Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:
tchard@pressherald.com
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