Last week was one of great excitement at the track, swimming and skiing state championships.
Track
The Deering boys’ indoor track team last won a Class A state title in 2004. Last Monday, the Rams came agonizingly close to ending that drought.
Deering had the lead going into the final event, the 800 relay, but was disqualified, didn’t score and wound up with 45 points, one shy of Scarborough, which won its second straight championship and third in four years. Cheverus came in seventh with 28 points. Portland did not score.
The Rams were paced by Jared Bell, who won the shot put (51 feet-11.5 inches). Tony Sen was runner-up in the 55 hurdles (8.17 seconds). Anthony Miller finished second in the 55 meter dash (6.69). Matt Kimball placed third in the 55 (6.74) and seventh in the 200 (23.63). Bryan White was third in the shot put (46-11.5). Billy Farrell finished fifth in the triple jump (40-11.75). Ricardo Delgado placed fifth in the high jump (5-10).
“Needless to say, it was a heartbreaking ending to a track meet,” said Deering coach Dick Kress. “Our two sprinters scored second and third in the 55, but our two long jumpers Miller and Sen, failed to score. We got a boost with unexpected points in the triple jump from Billy and Ricardo in the high jump. We were seeded for 16 points in the shot put, but were counting on 18 with a 1-2 finish. Jared threw a personal best to win the shot put, but Bryan had a tough day and fouled five 0f six times to finish third. Tony was leading the hurdles after the trials, but hit a hurdle in the finals and recovered to finish second.
“The biggest disappointment was the 800 relay, where the team was instructed to be safe and conservative with the start and the handoffs but dropped the baton between the second and third legs and subsequently was disqualified. Scarborough needed to win the relay and ran their fastest time to upset Gorham and Cheverus and there went our state championship. Shoulda, woulda, coulda, etc. We were seeded for 41 points and scored 45, but it was still a very disappointing ending. We were so close!”
Cheverus was led by Jackson McMann, runner-up in the 200 (23.28). Brady Foshay placed third in the 800 (2 minutes, 00.78 seconds). James Campbell placed fourth in the 55 (6.78) and sixth in the 400 (52.56). Michael Orne finished seventh in the high jump (5-8). Joe Slattery was seventh in the long jump (19-11.25). The Stags’ 3,200 relay team (Adam Zieba, Andrew Rose, David Woodbury and Foshay) was third (8:24.11).
In the Class A girls’ meet, won by Scarborough with 66 points, Cheverus (45) was fourth and Deering (32) came in seventh. Portland didn’t score.
The Stags’ 3,200 relay team (Lizzie Gwilym, Shannon Conley, Kiera Murray and Fiona Hendry) was first in 9:52.00. Hendry captured the mile (5:16.20) and the two-mile (1:31.73). Katie Shapiro was runner-up in the shot put (34-9). Murray placed fifth in the two-mile (11:44.91) and was sixth in the mile (5:28.28). Conley was sixth (11:46.47)
The Rams had runner-up showings from Edie Pallozzi in the 800 (2:22.70) and Rashad Zagon in the high jump (5-2). Deering’s 3,200 relay (Veronica Mitchell, Lizzy Fowler, Katie Donlan and Pallozzi) was third (9:59.63). Mitchell placed fourth in the 55 hurdles (8.94) and seventh in the 400 (1:02.28). Tricia Stewart finished fourth in the triple jump (34-1.25) and was seventh in the long jump (16-8).
“The girls performed very well,” said Deering coach Kevin Campbell. “It was nice to have all grades represented in our state qualifying team. We’re happy finishing seventh out of 25 schools and we qualified for New Englands in five events. It will be difficult to replace the graduating seniors. They’ve all been an important part of our program for four years. Their leadership and guidance will be greatly missed.”
In the Class B girls’ meet, McAuley tied Foxcroft Academy, Freeport and York for 23rd with 3 points (Waterville won with 118). The Lions’ points came from their 3,200 relay (Adele Werner, Taxia Arabatzis, Katherine Possiel and Cristina Leake), which was fifth (11:02.85).
Swimming
At the Class A boys’ swimming and diving state championships, Cheverus’ boys team had a superb performance and was second to perennial champion Bangor with 280 points (the Rams had 304). Deering (120) came in eighth. Portland (32) finished 16th.
The Stags got wins from Performer of the Meet Trebor Lawton in the 200 individual medley (57.94 seconds) and the 100 backstroke (53.08), in which he set a school record, and their medley relay (Lawton, Lars Murphy, Reed Fernandez and Connor Pothier, 1 minute 43.49 seconds).
Cheverus was second in the 400 free relay (Fernandez, Lawton, Lukas Temple and Pothier, 3:32.67) and fourth in the 200 free relay (Pothier, Spencer Lindsley, Spencer Amberson and Temple, 1:36.31).
Skiing
Local skiers were also busy last week.
At the Class A championships, Portland’s girls stole the thunder by placing second to Leavitt. Abby Popenoe was third in the freestyle (15 minutes, 33.9 seconds) and ninth in the classical (19:21.6). Laura Frank finished 12th in the freestyle (16:38) and 18th in the classic (20:43.1). Lizzy Landry was 15th in the freestyle (17:02.1) and 17th in the classic (20:37). Katherine Suslovic finished 23rd in the freestyle (17:54.2) and 25th in the classic (21:13.6).
Portland’s boys were fifth in the Nordic standings. Deering was ninth.
The Bulldogs were led by Ben Allen, who came in third in the classic (14:50.8) and seventh in the freestyle (12:49.2).
Deering’s Kuba Chandler was sixth in the freestyle (12:47.2) and seventh in the classic (15:09.9).
Cheverus’ boys’ Alpine team finished 12th in Class A. Ryan Hoffman finished 34th in the giant slalom (a two-run combined time of 1:37.02). Spencer Reynolds was 44th in the slalom (1:59.22). Deering didn’t score, but Jakob Chandler was 28th in the slalom (1:48.22) and 29th in the GS (1:34.90).
In Class C, Waynflete’s boys tied Freeport for fifth in the Nordic competition, while the girls came in ninth.
Josh Espy was second in the boys’ classic (13:30.3) and third in the freestyle (11:52.0). The Flyers top girl was Jo Moore, who was 11th in the classic (18:30.1) and 13th in the freestyle (16:00.3)
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
Sidebar Elements
McAuley’s Taxia Arabatzis competes in the mile at last week’s Class B state championship meet. Arabatzis came in 14th. The Lions tied for 23rd as a team.
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