WINDHAM – Dan Webb of Sanford won the 400 and 200 meters with unexpected ease Saturday at the Class A outdoor track and field state championships.

And Nicole Kirk of Scarborough won the 100 and 200, which ended a high school career on a high note for a sprinter who has been one of Maine’s top runners.

But it wasn’t enough to put their teams over the top — at least not yet — as their teams walked away from the meet at Windham High wondering who would claim state titles.

With the championship battle tight for both the boys and girls, the titles will be decided Wednesday, when the pole vault is held at a time and place to be determined. The pounding rain and slippery conditions led meet officials to move the event to a safer day, with the option to possibly hold it indoors if the rain continues.

A four-point margin separates the top two boys’ and top two girls’ teams.

The Sanford boys have a 69-65 lead over Cheverus, and each team has one pole vaulter, though Sanford’s vaulter — Nick Wall — is seeded higher. Bonny Eagle, which was in the running throughout most of the day, trails Sanford by 13½ points but still has an outside shot at winning a second straight championship, with two Scots scheduled to compete in the pole vault.

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In the girls’ meet, Edward Little has a 69-65 lead over Scarborough. Both teams have two of the top eight ranked vaulters.

For the Sanford boys, it would be their first outdoor state title. Wall can clinch at least a share of the championship with a third-place finish in the pole vault, but Sanford might not need that many points.

“I don’t know how this will go. I’ve never been at a state meet that was delayed,” said Sanford Coach Kevin Way.

But then the eighth-year head coach added with a smile: “I’m confident in Nick Wall. He’s dependable. He’s a powerhouse. I’m excited. There is some amount of suspense.”

Sanford was led Saturday by Webb, one of his team’s two double winners. Webb, a senior, performed beyond expectations in both of his victories.

He was seeded fourth in both the 200 and 400, but he came from behind to take the 400, crossing the line in 49.93 for a personal-best time by a half-second on a cold, wet day. Then he raced to victory in the 200 with a time of 22.88.

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“I never expected to run sub-50 on a day like today. Every meet we’ve had except last week has been rainy. I expected (second-seeded James Ociti of Biddeford) to beat me,” said Webb, who was pulled into the stands by his father.

Sanford also had Alex Shain, who took first in the 100 (11.33) and triple jump (42 feet, 6¾ inches).

Bonny Eagle stayed in contention largely due to Tyson Goodale, who came back from a hamstring strain to place second in the 110 hurdles (15.80) and long jump (20-5½) — in just his third meet of the season.

“He only did one hurdle race and the long jump in one meet before this,” said Scots Coach Greg Wilkinson.

The Scots also got victories from Kyle Bailey in the 110 hurdles (15.71) and Jeremy Collins in the 300 hurdles (40.78). Collins thought after his event that the Scots had a chance to win the meet.

But Sanford and Cheverus proved too deep. The Stags only captured two events — the 1,600 relay and long jump, where Joe Slattery leaped 20-6¼ to win with ease. But they scored enough points elsewhere to stay close to Sanford and open a gap on Bonny Eagle.

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In the girls’ meet, Scarborough was led by Kirk, who won the 200 in 25.80 and the 100 in 12.25. She also ran on the 400 relay team that took third place (52.28) and the 1,600 relay team that won in 4:07.81.

“It’s not the best day with the rain, but it’s my last state meet. I was excited,” Kirk said.

The Red Storm also had help from Emily Tolman, who came away with second in the 400 (59.17) and third in the 200 (26.62).

Tolman’s twin sister, Andrea, will help decide the team champion. She is seeded sixth in the pole vault, and her teammate, Catherine Bailey, is seeded fourth.

Meanwhile, Edward Little has the second seed in Jacyln Masters.

Red Eddies Coach Rebecca Hefty has eight seniors who won the state title as freshmen in 2009, and she expected her team to make up ground throughout the meet, which Edward Little and Scarborough tend to do.

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“That’s usually what happens. And we both have very competitive vaulters. It will be a great ending,” Hefty said.

The fact the pole vault had to be delayed didn’t bother the 10th-year coach.

“They will be rested. It will be a level playing field. It will make for an exciting ending,” Hefty said.

Staff Writer Deirdre Fleming can be contacted at 791-6452 or at:

dfleming@pressherald.com

Twitter: Flemingpph

 


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