It was fitting that the final event of Saturday’s SMAA boys track championship meet was the senior relay and fitting as well that Bonny Eagle topped the field in that race.

After all, it was a committed group of seniors that propelled the Scots to a solid team victory in the competition, which they won by 29 points.

“We have some talented seniors and we have some great senior leadership,” said Bonny Eagle coach Greg Wilkinson.

The Scots scored in 15 different events, compiling 126.5 points, well ahead of second-place Scarborough (97.5) and third-place Biddeford (95) in a field of 11 teams. Gorham was sixth with 73.83 points, while Westbrook, with 47, took seventh in the meet, held at the Portland Expo.

Ben Roy, a senior who was named as the league’s athlete of the year, won both the 200 and the sr. hurdles. He was also part of that 4 x 210 sr. relay.

Classmate Eric Favreau won the 800, while seniors Evan Embrey, Shawn Smith and Greg Gadbois were also part of the victorious quartet.

“The most exciting race was the relay,” said Smith, who also took sixth in the sr. 600. “I got the baton and they were right on us. I was the third leg, and I gained a little. Then I handed it to Greg. Once he got the baton, no one was catching him.”

Gadbois was also second in the 400 and third in the sr. hurdles, while Embrey was runner-up in the two-mile.

“After the first five or six events we started to realize that we were probably going to win the meet,” said Embrey, “and everyone just started to get psyched, and we started to perform even better.”

Other seniors who scored points included John Wiechman (2nd, shot put), David Carl (3rd, mile) and Josh Seal (4th, int. hurdles). The seniors’ success rubbed off on Bonny Eagle’s underclassmen, who offered up some good performances of their own.

“Some of our young kids came along and did really well,” Wilkinson said. “It was a domino effect. It was just a total team effort.”

Freshman Nick Winslow won the jr. hurdles with teammate Joe Bailey just behind in second. Bailey, a junior, was also fifth in the jr. 600.

Sophomore Tyler Shortsleeve was second in the sr. 600, and classmate Murphy Doughty was runner-up in the mile.

Jamie Ruginski surprised even himself with a third-place finish in the int. 600.

“Going in I thought I’d get fifth or sixth,” said the freshman, “but I got third, which was unbelievable. I was so excited.”

Junior Evan Semle finished in fourth, right behind Ruginski, while another freshman, Justin Denney, was fifth in the int. 40.

“Being seniors and putting everything together is a great feeling,” said Favreau, who was presented with several awards for his performances this season. “And being able to contribute is great.”

Gorham’s boys turned in a number of good performances as well. Duncan Allen won the sr. 600, while Justin Villacci won the int. 40 and was fifth in the 200.

Other Rams who scored points in individual events were Isaac Pease (2nd, jr. 300), Brett Connolly (4th, jr. 600 and jr. hurdles), Joe Wise (6th, 200), Cam Fecteau (4th, 400), Josh Maxwell, (5th, high jump; 4th int. 300; and 3rd, int. hurdles) and Jake Brown (5th, int 600).

Jimmy Arcaro teamed up with Villacci, Brown and Maxwell to win the 4 x 210 int. relay.

Westbrook’s Robbie Preston won the int. 300 and was third in the int. 40. Teammates Erik Born (2nd, sr. hurdles; 3rd, 400; and 6th, high jump) and Alex Baillargeon (2nd, int. hurdles and 3rd, 800) also did well for the Blazes.

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