Cape Elizabeth senior Kevin Harrison has always thought of himself as being a better athlete than his sister, Leslie. It’s a sibling rivalry thing. To prove it, he told himself, he needed to set a Western Maine Conference record – just like she did in the hurdles.

Saturday’s WMC meet at the University of Southern Maine was Harrison’s last chance. He took full advantage of the opportunity, setting his record while winning the triple jump with a distance of 43-09.

He also took first in the long jump as the Capers, depleted by injuries, finished sixth (49 points). Falmouth was first with 161, followed by York (112), Wells (93), NYA (51) and Greely (51).

The record probably wouldn’t have been possible earlier in the season, according to both Harrison and his coach, Doug Worthley.

“He’s a pretty gifted athlete, and he just had it stuck in his brain for the last two or three years that he didn’t really need to take a big step,” said Worthley. “We’ve been working on his steps for most of the season, and it’s finally starting to pay off. He’s starting to see the gains.”

Harrison expanded.

“I’ve improved my jump because my second phase used to be wicked short,” he said. “I used have a long hop, short step and then a big jump at the end. But now I’ve just stretched them out and made them even and it’s just paid off obviously.”

Harrison was hoping to set a personal best with in the long jump as well, with a 22-foot leap, but he finished at 21-1. He might’ve reached the mark had teammate Ben Weimont be around to push him.

Weimont pulled his hamstring on the long jump in Cape’s final regular season meet. With pole vaulter Dustin Turin (sprained wrist) also out, Cape’s team score suffered.

“(Weimont) was probably going to be second or maybe third in the long jump at states, and he probably would’ve been third or fourth in triple at states, and he probably would’ve scored at shot put, so that hurt us badly,” said Worthley. “(Turin)’s also a hurdler, so there’s maybe a third place or fourth place in the hurdles and a first or second place in the pole vault.

“Not to make excuses, but we’re not quite where we wanted to be by this time.”

The Lady Capers were fifth in their meet with 51 points, behind Greely (186), York (99), Falmouth (88) and NYA.

Sophomore Blair Griffin led the way with a win the junior 400 – with a time of 1:03.41, she also set an indoor personal record – and a second-place finish in the junior 55.

“For me, it was really time-based,” she said. “I enjoy doing well, and I think success is always something to strive for, but I really enjoy getting the personal records, and it just so happened that with my indoor personal record I also got a first, so that was nice.”

Griffin knows she has some work to do in the 55 before the state meet.

“The 55 is more challenging for me because it’s a really quick race and every aspect of it is really important,” she said. “My coach always tells me it’s my arms. You’ve got to snap those arms and really get out of the blocks. Since I’m taller immediately I stand straight up, and I’m supposed to work gradually to stand up.”

Cape also got strong performances from Grace Needleman (fourth in the senior 55) and Erin Gross (fourth in the open two mile).

The Class B state meet will be held Monday at Bates College.