GORHAM — Greely junior Alyssa Coyne wasn’t happy with her winning throw in the shot put at the Western Maine Conference indoor track and field championships Friday. On the other hand, Coyne has big shoes to fill.
Coyne, who won two events to help lead her team to the championship with 122 points over York’s 98 and Falmouth’s 95, is the latest in a long line of Greely shot put standouts.
Additional Images
Top Three teams
Boys
1. Falmouth 168
2. York 129
3. Fryeburg 78
Girls
1. Greely 122
2. York 98
3. Falmouth 95
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“It’s an embarrassment of riches. In the 20 years we’ve been in this conference it’s easier to say how many times we’ve lost (the girls’ meet),” said Greely Coach Jon Foley. “We’ve lost this meet (only) three times.”
In the boys’ meet, Falmouth won with 168 points, beating York, which finished with 129. Falmouth will be among the favorites at the upcoming Class A state meet, and York has won two of the last three Class B state titles.
Fryeburg was third with 78 points.
Coyne placed first in the shot put with a throw of 39 feet, 11/2 inches, and also captured the pole vault title with a height of 8-6. She still wasn’t satisfied. She’ll be looking for her first Class B state title Feb. 16 after taking second in the shot put both indoors and outdoors last year. And even if she wins, she might not be completely happy.
“My goal all season has been to break 40 in the shot put. Hopefully next week. My toughest competitor is myself,” said Coyne, a junior.
Greely’s throwing coach is Dennis O’Brien, whose daughter, Becky, won a high school national championship in the shot put.
O’Brien said Coyne could be the next Greely shot put state champion.
“She has a lot of energy,” said O’Brien. “We try to calm her down, not let her do too much. You see her doing pushups and drills at meets. That would tire some athletes out but that’s what gets her ready.
“We trained her through this meet. Last year she went down to New Englands tired. This year we hope to do better at New Englands.”
Greely also was led to the conference championship by Izzy Evans, who won the 2-mile (12:12.24) and took second in the mile (5:30.31), and Jocelyn Mitiguy, who placed first in the 55-meter hurdles (9.09) and second in the 200 (28.43).
Greely’s 3,200-meter relay team finished second (10:27.96).
Lake Region senior Kate Hall swept her events for the fourth straight year, winning the 55-meter dash (7.07) and the long jump (19-71/4), but she did not compete in the 200.
Hall is ranked first in the nation in the long jump after breaking the 20-foot mark (20-11/2) during a regular-season meet Jan. 16.
In the boys’ meet, Falmouth was led by Spencer Brown, who won the 800 (2:04.24); Bryce Murdick, who won the 2-mile (10:12.47); and Nick Sanzar, who placed first in the 200 (23.75) and also ran a leg on the winning 800-meter relay squad (1:34.64), which is ranked first in the state.
Sanzari, who broke 24 seconds in the 200 for the first time Friday, said the Yachtsmen are ready to “make some noise” at the Class A state meet.
Falmouth finished 10th at the state meet last year, its first in Class A after moving up from Class B, where the Yachtsmen won five state championships from 2006-11.
“Yes, I feel we can make more of a splash. I am very excited for our (800) relay. If we win the state title, that would be pretty awesome,” Sanzari said.
The Yachtsmen also won the 3,200 relay (8:22.53).
Falmouth sprinter Sean Soucy, who ran a leg on the 3,200 relay and took fifth in the 400 (54.40), said the Yachtsmen plan to finish closer this year to defending state champion Scarborough.
“Everyone ran (personal-best times) today. Almost everyone,” Soucy said. “We feel we can do better than we did at states last year. I’m thinking positive.”
York had winning performances from Tucker Corbett in the 400 (51.25) and Colt Santoro in the 55 hurdles (8.25).
Corbett said his team loves running against Falmouth because the level of competition is always raised.
“It’s nice to get that level of competition,” Corbett said. “My time in the 400 is a new school record. And my time in the 200 is a new school record.”
Deirdre Fleming can be contacted at 791-6452 or:
dfleming@pressherald.com
Twitter: FlemingPph
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