Christina Kouris, a sophomore from Cape Elizabeth, shaved 20 seconds off her personal best in the 800 while becoming the first wheelchair athlete to compete in a state high school track meet.

At the end of her two laps around the track in the Class B meet at Augusta Saturday, Kouris, who was born without a right leg, received applause from the fans in the stands and the runners in the infield waiting to run in the next heat.

“I think it was amazing everyone was cheering for me,” Kouris said. “Hopefully, since I’m out there, more athletes will come out and be willing to try it and won’t feel embarrassed.”

Kouris finished the 800 in three minutes, 23 seconds.

“Every day, we complain about running and how hard it is for us,” said Melissa Jacques, a junior from Greely who ran in the same heat as Kouris. “When you see someone like that doing the thing we do, and they’re using their arms, it’s just amazing. It’s great this sport had allowed wheelchair racers.”

KENNEBUNK’S Maria Varano, a junior, won the state schoolgirl singles tennis championship Saturday (beating Brunswick freshman Maisie Silverman 6-2, 6-1). Varano will remember this spring for more than just that individual honor.

After concentrating on playing on the USTA New England circuit for years — travelling to Boston for practices and around New England for weekend tournaments — she decided to play for her high school this year.

It couldn’t have gone better.

The Rams had an outstanding team season, with Varano in the middle of it.

“I’ve loved it, I’ve loved the whole experience,” said the personable Varano. “I was lucky to have such a great coach who knew so much about tennis.

And I was lucky to be with such a great group of girls.

“Playing on a team, you have that camaraderie with your teammates. Usually in the springtime, I’m playing in tournaments on the weekends and I never get to see my friends. It was great to be able to share this experience with them and share this season with them. And it was great to play for my school, and represent my school.”

Kennebunk Coach Paul Gaylord said it was obvious that Varano enjoyed her time with her teammates.

“She’s an incredible kid to coach,” he said. “She doesn’t think she knows it all and she listens.

“I know she’s told me this is the most fun she’s had playing tennis. She’s really enjoyed just being one of the gang.”

FALMOUTH’S Analise Kump lost to Varano in the semifinals, 6-2, 6-4.

Kump, a junior, lost in the championship match a year ago. She was simply glad to be back at this level. She began the season with an injury to her right shoulder that required intense physical therapy and limited her playing.

“It definitely feels good to be back where I was before,” said Kump. “I definitely started feeling more confident in my shot. I wasn’t worried whether I would hurt my shoulder on a shot.”

While disappointed that she and teammate Annie Criscione couldn’t advance to the singles finals, Kump said they’re looking forward to the team tournament.

Falmouth plays Cape Elizabeth in a regional semifinal today.

“Hopefully, we have three more matches,” she said.

PATRICK ORDWAY of Waynflete won the schoolboy singles championship, beating friend Justin Brogan of Falmouth, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

He played the first two sets in a dark blue T-shirt, then switched to a green T-shirt with “Waynflete” across the front.

Was he being superstitious?

“A little team spirit,” he said. “Plus, my other shirt was pretty wet.”

THE CHEVERUS baseball team had nice a turnaround from last season, when the Stags went 9-7 in the regular season and lost to Deering in the Western Maine Class A quarterfinals.

Last week’s 6-2 win over Westbrook gave the Stags a 14-2 record and the top seed entering Thursday’s quarterfinal game with No. 8 Thornton Academy.

Cheverus will host the Golden Trojans at 4 p.m.

Eight teams make the Western Maine Class A playoffs so there are no preliminary round games. With no clear favorite, the tournament is wide open.

For Cheverus, gaining the top seed was a goal it felt attainable before the season, but it’s just one stage in its quest to win a state title.

Coach Mac McKew is in his third season with the Stags.

“My first year, we probably overachieved a little big,” he said.

“Last year, we underachieved I feel. This season we felt we had the talent and the boys have played well. But we’ll have to continue to play well because it’s wide open,” he said.

The Stags don’t have one pitcher that you could call a stopper. With lefthander Joey Royer only able to pitch for an inning a game because of tendinitis, the Stags have what McKew calls “pitching by committee.”

That includes Louie DiStasio, Harry Ridge, Jack Bushey, freshman Mitchell Powers and Royer for spot duty.

They all have pitched well and McKew is confident with whomever gets the ball.

Royer and catcher Nic Lops have been the leading hitters with Di-Stasio also having swung a hot bat in the regular season.

Cheverus won be taking Thornton Academy lightly. The Stags beat Thornton 5-4 in the regular season.

— Staff Writers Paul Betit, Mike Lowe and Tom Chard contributed to this report.