Danny Paul has been coaching track and field for 35 years and has won numerous state titles. He says the most common makeup of a state championship team is one led by one or two multiple-event stars.
That’s exactly what his Falmouth boys’ team will face Saturday in the Class B state meet when it faces off against a York team led by seniors Tom Reid and Joe Vogel, and a Waterville squad led by senior Nick Danner — the No. 1 seed in all three throwing events.
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The Class B meet is at McMann Field in Bath. The Class A championships are at Brewer Community School, and the Class C meet will be hosted by Foxcroft Academy.
Last year, Falmouth and York tied for the Class B boys’ state title. Both teams are expected to be in the running again, although Waterville may be the favorite.
York is seeded first in four events, thanks to Reid, who is No. 1 in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles, with seed times of 15.30 and 40.40.
Reid will be tough to beat in the 300 hurdles, where his seed time is a full second ahead of the field. He also is seeded fourth in both the long jump and triple jump.
Meanwhile, Vogel is seeded first in the 400 (51.24) and third in the long jump, and also runs the leadoff leg on Class B’s top 1,600 relay team.
Competing in four individual events means it will be a hectic day for Reid, especially in the first half of the meet. Between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., he’ll likely have trials and finals in the 110 hurdles, two sets of three jumps in the long jump, and his first three jumps in the triple jump.
York Coach Ted Hutch said Reid takes all the activity in stride.
“He is very nonchalant about the whole thing,” said Hutch. “He’s good for a lot of points. He’s our MVP. And he’s so quiet about it. I was talking to him about it at practice today. It will be a really busy day for him. But there’s no complaint.”
Falmouth is seeded first only in the 400 relay — but Paul still likes his team’s chances.
“Some years you have someone who can win two events. Then you only need a couple of relays and you’re there. When you don’t have that, you pick away at it. It’s harder but it’s the fun way. Everyone has played a part,” Paul said.
Falmouth is lead by senior sprinter Jacob Buhelt, who is ranked second in the 100 (11.22), 200 (23.00), and 400 (51.74). Freshman high jumper Tony St. Angelo is also seeded second (6-2).
“Tony is a recent development. He could win it. That’s one of the things that’s a wild card,” Paul said.
“This year is a little more of a chess match for us. I think we have a real shot. But we could be fourth.”
CLASS B GIRLS: Waterville is a heavy favorite to win its seventh straight title. Bethanie Brown is the No. 1 seed in all three distance events, and Kellie Bolduc is seeded first in the triple jump and both hurdles events.
CLASS A: The boys’ meet figures to be a three-way battle between Scarborough, Cheverus and Edward Little. Bangor, Bonny Eagle and Thornton Academy are expected to be top contenders for the girls’ title.
CLASS C: Orono is favored to repeat as girls’ champion, and the Red Riots also should be in the hunt for the boys’ title, along with Foxcroft Academy, Lisbon and Hall-Dale.
Deirdre Fleming can be contacted at 791-6452 or at:
dfleming@pressherald.com
Twitter: Flemingpph
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