Track is always in season in Forecaster Country, but there’s something about the spring which seems to bring out the best in local runners, jumpers and throwers.

Falmouth, Greely and North Yarmouth Academy all entertain championship hopes this year, while Freeport and Yarmouth expect to be competitive.

The curtain rose on a new season last week and at first glance it appears as if all of that optimism is well-founded.

Smooth sailing

Falmouth went to Traip Academy Friday for its meet, joining Gray-New Gloucester, Lake Region and Sacopee Valley. The Yachtsmen came in first in both the boys’ and girls’ competitions.

The boys’ team had 155 points to win by 70.5, while the girls’ total of 164 points  was more than double that of runner-up Gray-New Gloucester (80).

The boys featured seven individual and two relay winners. Luke Barbour won the 800 (2 minutes, 11.9 seconds), Kellen MacDonald was first in the 110 hurdles (16.3 seconds), Alex Dunn took the 300 hurdles (44.8), Tommy Winger captured the long jump (20 feet, 2 inches), Kris Floridino won the shot put (43-3.5) and the discus (138-1), and Charlie Swerdlow was first in the racewalk (7:58.2). Falmouth also won the 1,600 (3:39.7) and 3,200 (9:40.3) relays.

In the girls’ meet, the Yachtsmen swept the three relays (400, 52.9; 1,600, 4:38.3; 3,200, 12:03.0) and had eight individual wins. Francesca D’Alfonso won the 800 (2:36.6), Erin Morris took the mile (6 minutes), Annalise Keeler was first in the two-mile (14:07.5), Rachel Mazerolle won the 100 hurdles (17.3), Abby Smith took the pole vault (8 feet), Jenna Serunian was the winner of the shot put (33-11.5) and discus (106-4), and Tina Pruyn took the racewalk (10:18.8).

The other local team to win its first meet was the NYA girls. The Panthers had 112 points to down host Sacopee (77.5), Yarmouth (35) and Old Orchard Beach (31.5).

NYA won the 1,600 relay (4:42.8) and got first place showings from Hillary Detert (racewalk, 10:51.6; and 800, 2:49.1), Alison Carpenter (100, 13.8; and 400, 1:04.3), Hilary Gibson (long jump, 14-11; and 200, 28.4), Hadley Gibson (mile, 6:38.4), Maggie Meixell (300 hurdles, 53.4), Alexandra O’Reilly (shot put, 30 feet), Katie Lentine (discus, 68-6) and Hannah Bewsey (high jump, 4-10).

For Yarmouth, Haley Knaub took the triple jump (32-3) and javelin (117-1), and Chloe Sarapas was first in the two-mile (14:32.2). The Clippers also took the 400 relay (58.3).

The three-time defending Class C champion NYA boys had 90 points and came in second to Sacopee (147). Yarmouth (46 points) was third.

Individually for the Panthers, Doug Goldstein won the racewalk (9:04.3), Steven Lentine took the 110 hurdles (18.3), Sam Fear was first in the high jump (6-2), shot put (44-4.5), javelin (130-4) and the discus (119-11), and Henry Sterling was the winner of the 800 (2:02.3). NYA was tops in the 1,600 relay (3:48.3).

Yarmouth’s 400 (49.4) and 3,200 (9:42.7) relay teams were first.

Greely’s girls are always in the hunt, but met their match in their initial meet at Poland where the Rangers were a distant second to York. Greely did win seven events as Tess Carley (mile, 5:37; and two-mile, 12:20), Abby Diehl (300 hurdles, 48.5), Liza LePage (800, 2:25), Hillary Cederna (long jump, 15-10), Hannah Werneth (shot put, 34-3), and Lili Greaves (discus, 100-10.5) were all victorious.

The Greely boys had 66 points and were third behind Poland and York. Four Rangers came in first. Mark McCauley won the mile (4:29), Andy Fitch took the 800 (2:10), Logan Price was tops in the two-mile (10:03), and Ryan Storey won the pole vault (8-6).

Freeport went to Cape Elizabeth in its opener for a meet which also included Greater Portland Christian School, Waynflete and Wells. Both Falcons teams came in third.

The boys got first place showings from Henry Loughlin (800, 2:16.3; and mile, 4:46.2), Orion Sickels (110 hurdles, 18.5), the 1,600 (4:02.5) and 3,200 (9:44.7) relay teams.

Rachael Foster (javelin, 70-7), Abby Roney (100 hurdles, 19.4) and the 1,600 relay team (4:46.5) came in first for the girls.

Up next

Falmouth is back in action Thursday as it hosts NYA and Poland. Greely goes to Gray-New Gloucester. Freeport and Yarmouth (along with Traip) go to Fryeburg Friday.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net