DOVER-FOXCROFT — Monmouth Academy and Traip Academy had the early hope. Then the Orono girls and boys took the titles late.

Again.

The Red Riots swept the Class C meet for a third straight year, and in convincing fashion.

The Orono boys finished with 102 points to outdistance Traip (69 points) and George Stevens Academy (61 points).

The Red Riot girls extended their reign with a sixth straight state title. Orono finished with 125.33 points, followed by George Stevens (56 points) and Maranacook (48.50 points).

The Red Riots were led by Katherine O’Brien, who won the 100-meter dash (12.93) and the long jump (16-8.50).

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In the boys’ meet, Orono and Traip were neck-and-neck until the 800, when Jacob Fandel put the Red Riots ahead for good by winning with a time of 2:03.34.

“It’s a pretty awesome team,” Fandel said. “All the guys are really nice and funny to talk to. The girls are awesome, too. I like them all. We’ve got a great team. I’m glad to be a part of it.”

O’Brien said the girls’ team wasn’t feeling any pressure.

“Our coach (Chris Libby) is really good about it. He doesn’t pressure us,” O’Brien said. “He just wants us to do our best, and that’s what we’re doing out here. I think you’ve seen some really good performances from our team and everyone else.”

The Monmouth girls, who finished fifth with 39.50 points, had led after four events before Orono took over.

On the boys’ side, William Green of Maranacook took home the pole vault title with a height of 12-6 – a full foot over second-place finisher Evan Michaud of Caribou.

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“The strategy was just like practice,” Green said. “Just try to relax, take it easy.”

Jon Whitcomb of Hall-Dale won the high jump at 6-4. He also finished third in the pole vault (11-6) and discus (125-8).

“I had a pretty solid meet,” Whitcomb said. “I haven’t done exactly what I wanted to do but I still placed well, so I’m happy with that.”

Zack Wallace of Monmouth (45-0.50) was third in the shot put and Darrin Libby of Madison finished fourth in the long jump (20-5.25).

Other top performers included Evan Porter of Traip, who won the 110 hurdles (15.28), 300 hurdles (39.98) and 100-meter dash (11.55).

“I can’t be upset with the placement but I wish I had come out with better times,” Porter said. “The weather is not the greatest. We’ve got a head wind. A three-hour trip from Kittery doesn’t help at all.”

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Jake Coffman of Orono won the shot put (55-2.75) and discus (173-6). Michaiah Robinson of Washington Academy won the 200-meter dash (22.86) and 400-meter dash (49.8).

On the girls’ side, Christa Carr of MCI won the shot put at 36-9.50 – more than two feet longer than runner-up Nicole D’Angelo of Maranacook (34-5).

Carr, who had been nursing a sore shoulder, did a standing throw on her first attempt, reaching 30 feet.

“I was really mad about myself and everybody was like, ‘It’s OK, just go throw,’ and I said, ‘No, I’ve got to do better.’ Then I threw a 36, and it was a foot better than my (personal record).”

The Maranacook 400-meter relay team of Grace Despres, Nicole D’Angelo, Abby Despres and Janika Pakulski finished second to Orono with a time of 52.65. It was only the second time this season the group has run together, Pakulski said. The first time came at the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference championships.

“I’m the only sprinter on the team so I’m pretty proud of us,” Pakulski said.

Maddie Amero of Monmouth was second in the javelin (112-9), finishing behind Morgan Dauk (115-7) of George Stevens. Also placing second was Victoria Friend of MCI (32-3.25) in the triple jump.

Ashley Cray of Maranacook (4-10) was third in the high jump, as was Tori Spencer of Monmouth (8:22.34) in the 1,600-meter race walk.


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