NORTH BERWICK — The SMAA track and field championship meet Saturday at Noble High was a study in patience, most notably in the field events, where Biddeford’s Matt Brady broke a 38-year-old conference record in the discus after sitting out four months this winter because of an injury.

Brady threw the discus 172 feet, 9 inches to break the record of 168-1 set by James White of Cheverus in 1979.

Brady strained a pectoral muscle after opening the indoor season with a state-leading throw of 57-1 in the shot put. While he was recovering, he worked on his speed. He won the shot put Saturday with a throw of 60-41/4 and has improved his career-best this spring to 62-2.

“It was really tough indoors. I wanted to come back for states,” Brady said. “But I didn’t want to come back at 80 percent. I wanted to come back at 100 percent. That was my decision. I feel confident now. There’s more I want to do.”

The girls’ team championship was a fight between Scarborough and Thornton Academy, and Thornton prevailed, 86-78. South Portland finished third with 68 points.

Scarborough ran away with the boys’ title with 131 points, ahead of Deering (80) and Thornton (68).

The Scarborough boys were boosted by several career-best performances.

Ben Batoosingh, a senior, posted a personal-best times while finishing third (11.30) in the 100 meters and second in the 300 hurdles (41.96).

Connor Coffin improved his PR in the 3,200, placing second (9:58.22).

“Connor did incredible. That’s how we win,” Batoosingh said. “We just try to be role models for the underclassmen and show them what we do at championship time.”

Scarborough freshman Jarett Flaker took notice, winning the 400 (50.65), and taking second in the 200 (22.49) and 100 (11.14).

Sam Rusak, a senior who is coming off an injury, set a conference record of 15-6 in the pole vault and also won the high jump (6-0).

In all, seven boys’ conference records were set. Other record setters were Johnny Rosario of Thornton in the 100 (10.97) and 200 (22.35), Steven Smith of South Portland in the racewalk (6:43.75), Ben Steeves of Bonny Eagle in the 800 (1:55.21), and Yahya Nure of Deering in the 3,200 (9:40.86).

The Thornton girls continued their strong tradition in the throws, with senior Sam Curran taking first in the discus (115-9) and shot put (39-61/4). Teammate Isabella Capozzi was second in the discus (105-3) and fourth in the shot (33-111/4), and the Trojans also got points in the shot put from Paige Boudreau (fifth, 33-81/4) and Abigail Cook (sixth, 33-2). In the javelin, Hannah Dill tied for fourth (97-9) and Jaigan Boudreau was sixth (95-2).

Thornton also went 2-3 in the 100, with sophomore Sabria Merrifield taking second (13.13) and freshman Mia Taranko finishing third (13.13). Taranko was also second in the long jump (16-101/2) and triple jump (34-101/2).

“I feel good about it, I’ll say that,” Thornton Coach Lisa Huntress said about her team’s chances at next week’s Class A state meet at Massabesic High.

“We have a veteran team in the throws, but we’re quite young in the running events and jumps. But we now have help.”

Anna Gardner of Scarborough tied the conference pole vault record of 10-0. The Cheverus girls broke league records in the 400 relay (50.35) and 1,600 relay (4:04.94).

Deirdre Fleming can be reached at 791-6452 or:

dfleming@pressherald.com

Twitter: FlemingPph