BATH — The Cony girls’ were powered by two sets of twin sisters to capture the program’s first track and field state title on Saturday. Mount Desert Island, meanwhile, got a lift from a sophomore sprint star to come from four points down in the last event and edge York for the boys’ title at the Class B state championships at McMann Field.
“We’ve been wearing these Hawaiian shirts since 2019,” said MDI Coach Aaron Long. “It’s bringing some island pride to the meet, our version of island pride, to show where we come from. Something the kids can pull from.”
The Cony girls won by a comfortable margin with 95 points ahead of York’s 69, while Belfast finished third with 51. The MDI boys took the title with 88 points, while York finished with 84 points and Caribou took third with 64.
The Cony girls were led by senior twin sisters Anna and Julia Reny and juniors Grace and Kristen Kirk. Anna Reny won the 300-meter hurdles in 46.75 seconds, and took second in both the 100 hurdles (15.75) and the 200 (26.50). Julia Reny won the javelin with a throw of 115 feet, 11 inches and was fifth in the 400 (1:01.18).
Grace Kirk took second in the 1,600 (5:24.92) and the 800 (2:25.31) and ran on the fourth-place 3,200-meter relay (10:22.46). Kristen Kirk finished third in the high jump (5-2).
Julia Reny said the girls’ team felt poised to win the state meet last outdoor season, but the coronavirus pandemic denied them the chance. They worked hard this outdoor season with their first Class B title in mind.
“We were very focused on this opportunity. We were seeded first (as a team), but only by a little. And in a meet like this – seeds mean nothing. On a day like this, kids can PR and change everything. We are very proud of this state title,” said Julia Reny, who also ran on the second-place 400-meter relay (52.59).
Cony’s Kristen Kirk competes in the high jump at the Class B track and field state championships Saturday in Bath. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel
In the final event, both Reny sisters and both Kirk twins ran on the 1,600-meter relay.
“To have both those sets of twins anchor the relay and lead us to the win would be pretty damn special. They are all tough,” said 16-year Cony Coach Shawn Totman before the last event.
The girls’ meet also featured a dominant performance by newcomer Hadley Mahoney – a Cape Elizabeth freshman who said she nearly didn’t run track this year, intending only to compete in cross country. After sweeping the 1,600 (5:20.22) and 3,200 (11:48.25), she said she’s glad she gave outdoor track a try. Mahoney said many commented on her long, fluid stride that looked effortless.
“Yeah, a lot of people said that. But I promise, I was in pain,” Mahoney said with a laugh.
The MDI boys chased York for much of the meet, fueled by sophomore Walker St. Germain, who won the 400 by over a second (50.34). In the 200, MDI had freshman Miles Burr and St. Germain – seeded third and fourth – take second and third, with Burr running 23.44 and St. Germain at 23.60.
The Trojans also won the 400 relay (44.69) – with Burr anchoring – as well as the 3,200 and 1,600 relays. In the 1,600, they had a dramatic come-from-behind anchor leg by St. Germain on the last straightaway (3:31.64).
“Last week in the PVC Championship, I went out after Bangor too fast and died. So I learned from that and I was patient,” St. Germain said.
The York boys were tough in the field events with two of the state’s top throwers – Aidan Martin and sophomore Matt Charpentier. Martin won the shot put (54-5) and took the javelin by 10 feet (174-3).
“Honestly, Aidan is so powerful, if someone had thrown further in the javelin, Aidan would have,” said York throws coach Missy Freeman.
In the discus, Charpentier had a personal-best throw to better his senior teammate and win with 152-10, while Martin took second with 143-7. Charpentier said he stormed back in the shot put to upend his friend and training partner
“When he won the discus, it definitely helped me. I got angrier and it made me want to throw farther. We were our only competition all season. Nobody pushes us like we push each other,” Martin said.
State records fell in the wheelchair events as Johnathan Schomaker of Leavitt broke his previous 800-meter state record of 4:15.55 by clocking a 3:35.87.
In the 1,600 wheelchair race, Schomaker wiped out his previous state record of 8:50.08 with a time of 7:30.67.
The junior also won the wheelchair shot put – in which he faced competition from Yarmouth freshman Ethan Hennig. Schomaker won with a record throw of 15-0 – while Hennig also broke Schomaker’s previous state record of 12-33/4 with his throw of 14-8.
Deirdre Fleming — 207-791-6452
dfleming@pressherald.com
Twitter: @FlemingPph
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