By Michael Hoffer
Another year of indoor track at the Portland Expo came to a close Saturday with the boys’ and girls’ SMAA championships and featured one of the finest performances ever seen in the venerable building’s long history.
The three-time defending Class A state champion Scarborough girls didn’t just beat every team in the field, the Red Storm more than doubled the score of their closest competitor, winning with 197 points. Bonny Eagle was a very distant second with 92. South Portland tied Portland for 12th with 3 points.
In the boys’ meet, won by Bonny Eagle with 112.33 points, South Portland came in third with 81.83 points and Scarborough was fourth with 72.33 points.
Cape Elizabeth took part in the Western Maine Conference championships at the University of Southern Maine Saturday. The Capers came in fourth on the girls’ side with 74 points (Greely was first with 138). The boys were eighth with 27 points. Greely won that meet as well with 162.
SUBHEAD-Sheer domination
The Scarborough girls keep raising the bar and almost seem to be competing against themselves at times. Saturday, the Red Storm showed just how deep and talented they are.
Scarborough won all three relays and seven individual events, which would have been enough to win the conference crown on its own.
In the junior 840 relay (Samantha Armishaw, Emily Tolman, Emilia Scheemaker and Nicole Kirk came in first in 1 minute, 53.30 seconds). Jenny Snyder, Jessica Solender, Lauren Blaisdell and Rachelle Greene won the senior 840 in 1:54.20. Melissa Dellatorre, Abby Chick, Jenna Van Dam and Whitney Chamberlain were first in the 1,600 relay (4:11.70).
Individually, Chick won the junior 800 (2:32.50), Scheemaker was first in the junior 45 hurdles (6.7 seconds) and the 300 (41.60), Snyder was tops in the senior 45 hurdles (6.8), Catie Funk won the senior shot put (38 feet, 6 inches), Chamberlain took the 600 (1:32.00) and Dellatorre was first in the 800 (2:32.30).
Kirk finished runner-up in the junior 200 (29.0) and third in the junior 40 (5.4). Tolman placed runner-up in the junior 800 (2:36.80) and was third in the junior 400 (1:06.4). Chick was fourth in the junior 40 (5.4).
In the senior division, Blaisdell was runner-up in the 40 (5.3), Greene finished third in the 40 (5.4), and Van Dam was fourth in the 40 (5.4) and second in the 400. Blaisdell and Greene tied for second in the 200.
Snyder was second in the 300 (42.50). Erin McElwain finished fourth in the 600 (1:40.80). Scheemaker came in fourth in the high jump (4-10). Meghan Summerson was fourth in the 800 (2:35.80). Emily Robbins placed fifth in the 300 (43.90). Katrijn Moulin came in sixth in the 600 (1:45.20).
Scarborough scored in every event but the junior shot put, mile and two-mile.
“It’s probably the most balanced team I’ve ever had at the Expo,” said longtime Red Storm coach Ron Kelly. “We covered pretty much all of the events. Everyone had a strong day. I had the luxury of having almost two people in every event. That’s probably the highest we’ve scored. Maybe the most points ever.”
The Red Storm will be favored to make it four straight Class A crowns, but Kelly is wary.
“It’s probably Edward Little, Brewer, Brunswick and us in a battle,” he said. “We’ve got potential, but we have to go perform. Relays will be key. The unknown for us is converting to longer races. I think 65 points will probably win it. Anyone over that shouldn’t have a problem. The points are there for us.”
That’s an understatement!
South Portland’s points came from Annelise Donahue (fifth in the mile; 5:54.30) and Torie Catrett (sixth in the 300; 44.20).
On the boys’ side, Scarborough had three first place finishers. Nick Morris won the junior 600 (1:26.50), Sam Chick took senior 600 (1:18.60) and Nate Hathaway was first in the mile (4:36.50).
James Wright finished runner-up in the 800 (2:09.50). Alex Dulac was second in the high jump (6-2). Tom Hague was third in the junior 600 (1:27.40). Brian Woodbury placed third in the senior shot put (47-6). Sean Griffin finished fourth in the mile (5:01.90). Jimmy Rouse was sixth in the senior 600 (1:28.00). Luke Bogdanovich was sixth in the senior shot put (42-1 1/2). Dennis Liu finished in a three-way tie for sixth in the junior 300 (38.60).
The Red Storm were also runners-up in the senior relay (2:18.00).
“I thought we ran well,” said Scarborough coach Derek Veilleux. “We would have liked to finish in the top three, but illness and injury have hampered us all season. Bonny Eagle had an excellent meet. We scored most of the points we were seeded for, but weren’t able to move up enough to challenge.
“I feel we’re in a great position for the state meet. We have several events covered and should score well in them. We’ll rely on our seniors for the bulk of our points. I expect Bonny Eagle and Brunswick to be our biggest competition. If we run, throw and jump well, I have a good feeling about our chances.”
South Portland continued its strong season thanks to several contributors.
The Red Riots were third in each relay as the junior finished in 1:07.60, the senior had a time of 2:18.10 and the open finished in 1:41.40.
Individually, David Hardison was second in both the senior 45 hurdles (6.13) and the senior 300 (36.70), and tied for sixth in the high jump (5-8). Jon Clement finished second in the two-mile (10:29.00). Adrian Reid was runner-up in the junior 40 (4.99) and finished in a three-way tie for sixth in the junior 300 (38.60). William Darling was second in the junior shot put (39-2 1/2). Matt Welch placed third in the junior shot put (38-4 1/2). Brian Arsneault had a fourth-place showing in the senior 300 (37.20). Tony Haeuser placed fourth in the senior 45 hurdles (6.23). Daniel Medici came in fourth in the junior 500 (1:28.50). Tanner Burgdorf placed fifth in the senior 600 (1:27.50). Brandon Emerson was sixth in the senior 45 hurdles (6.37). Sam Redstone placed sixth in the two-mile (10:59.10). Theodore Lefay finished sixth in the junior 40 (5.19).
SUBHEAD-Going the distance
At USM, Cape Elizabeth’s girls’ distance acumen served them well.
Rachel Nichols won the 800 (2:24.62) and the mile (5:18.86). Marita Stressenger captured the two-mile (12:00.59) and was runner-up in the mile (5:27.84). Emma Hockmuth took the senior high jump (4-10), the pole vault (9 feet) and placed fifth in the senior 55 hurdles (10.12). Kelsey Barton was third in the mile (5:30.70) and third in the two-mile (12:05.61). Hannah Doss came in fifth in the two-mile (12:31.55).
On the boys’ side, Jack Ross was runner-up in the junior shot put (35-7). Donald Martin placed fourth in the junior shot put (33-5 1/4). Ryan Ayers was fourth in the junior high jump (5-2). Matt Rand finished fourth in the mile (4:37.65) and fourth in the two-mile (10:16.08). Jon Bass came in fifth in the senior 55 hurdles (9.69) and was sixth in the pole vault (10 feet).
SUBHEAD-States
The indoor track state championships are Monday, beginning at 10 a.m. Scarborough and South Portland will travel to USM to compete in the Class A meet. Cape Elizabeth goes to Bates College in Lewiston for the Class B championships.
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net
Cape Elizabeth’s Jon Bass soared over the pole at 10 feet to finish sixth at the Western Maine Conference championship meet Saturday. (John Jensenius photo)