The upcoming league championships should turn into a close battle among boys’ teams in Class A.

In the Southern Maine Activities Association, Gorham has a strong junior corps as well as talented seniors, but if Scarborough’s half-miler Nick Morris is back from an illiotibial band injury, he’ll give the Red Storm a big lift.

Scarborough also has the consistent winning form of Alex James in the pole vault, and point-getters in Wout Moulin and Robert Hall in the distance events, as well as loaded relays.

“A lot of the kids who won it in the junior division (last year) are now in the senior division. I think that’s very important in championship meets: experience,” said 10-year coach Derek Veilleux. “The league meet is definitely something we focus on. There is a nice break between the conference championship and the state meet; there is no reason to hold back.”

In the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference, Brunswick has the potential to collect top finishes in several events. And 400-meter runner Alex Nichols (51.06) and 2-miler Benson Worthington (10:09.78) rank first and third in Class A.

WHILE THE SMAA still uses the junior and senior division scoring system at its title meet, the KVAC has an open-scoring system.

Mt. Ararat Coach Diane Fournier thinks it’s better.

“For one reason, when you get to the state level you don’t have junior division, you compete against the big boys. If a freshman is exceptional, they can do it at the open level. And you don’t have the junior division outdoors so it’s not really preparing you for that,” Fournier said. “It’s not watered down with the junior division.”

AMONG CLASS B boys’ teams, it could be a fight between York, Falmouth and Greely in the Western Maine Conference meet Feb. 10.

York’s best are ranked first or second in six events in Class B, and the Falmouth boys rank high on the state performance list in the sprints, hurdles, distance and relays.

“We’re getting equal points from our senior division, junior division and open events. Our boys hope to do well,” said York Coach Ted Hutch. “(But) Falmouth and Greely are the gold standard when it comes to championships. They have incredible athletes and are very well coached.”

IN CLASS A girls, Brunswick should dominate with talent and numbers in the KVAC.

The Dragons have a corps of distance runners and Alexis Dickinson, ranked first in the state in the 55 meters (7.31) and second in the 200 (26.39).

“In the girls’ meet, it will be tough to beat Brunswick,” said Fournier of Mt. Ararat. “They collect a lot of points with seconds and thirds.”

In the SMAA, Gorham may not win the title but could win a number of events — all with top performances by Sarah Perkins.

Perkins is ranked first in the state in Class A in the 55-meter hurdles (8.54), first in the high jump (5-2), first in the 200 (26.04), second in the 55 meters (7.40) and first in the 400 with a blistering 59.22 that she clocked Jan. 14, putting her well ahead of any other quarter-miler in the state.

THE GREELY GIRLS should dominate in the Western Maine Conference meet with top athletes across the board in the sprints, distance and field events, as well as the relays.

Greely athletes are ranked first, second or third in the state in Class B in six events.

Staff Writer Deirdre Fleming can be contacted at 791-6452 or at:

dfleming@pressherald.com

Twitter: Flemingpph

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