GORHAM — In some of the marquee events at the Southwestern Maine Activities Association track and field championships, the top competition was between teammates.

Both 100-meter sprints came down to teammates pushing each other all the way to the finish, like they were in practice. In the girls’ race, Scarborough’s Emerson Flaker edged Caroline Fallona, 12.334 seconds to 12.338. Flaker and Fallona were neck and neck throughout the sprint.

“I didn’t know who won at first. It give me a reason to run fast. She really pushes me to do better,” said Flaker, a sophomore. “We push each other a lot in practice, going back and forth a lot.”

That was the first of four victories for Flaker. She also took first in the 200 dash (26.02) and 300 hurdles (45.58), and she ran a leg on Scarborough’s 400 relay team, which won in 49.27 seconds.

Flaker’s triumphs helped the Red Storm win the team title with 116 points, well ahead of runner-up Portland (70). Windham was third (61.5) and Falmouth fourth (55).

Bonny Eagle was the boys’ champion with 98 points, ahead of Falmouth (84), Gorham (71) and South Portland (68).

In the boys’ 100, Marshwood teammates Rowan Carter and Andre Clark battled to the wire, with Carter taking the win in 10.89 seconds. Clark was just behind in second place at 10.96. Clark held a slim lead at 50 meters before Carter rallied to overtake his teammate.

“It’s kind of fun, because I get to practice with him every day. It’s like an iron-sharpens-iron situation. His start is definitely better than mine, so we’re working on our weaknesses together,” said Carter, who also won the 200 with a time of 22.12. “I trusted my last 50 meters, and it worked out for me.”

Windham’s Tayla Pelletier took three individual titles, winning the 100 hurdles (15.67 seconds), high jump (5 feet, 2 inches), and triple jump (37-2). Each of those wins came in the early part of the meet, leaving Pelletier busy and tired, but exhilarated.

“It was all at once,” said Pelletier, a sophomore. “(The 100) hurdles felt really good. I felt really strong. The weather made for perfect conditions, and I felt like it was my day.”

Earning a spot in the Class A state meet next week at Mt. Ararat High in the 100 hurdles was a goal of Pelletier’s, as was breaking her school record in the triple jump. She accomplished both. Already having good enough jumps to win the event, Pelletier got her 37-2 on her final leap.

“I never thought I’d get anywhere near the 37s in triple jump. Honestly, it shocked me, seeing the mark on the tape,” Pelletier said.

Pelletier’s bid for a fourth championship was stopped by Flaker in the 300 hurdles.

“I just started it this year. It was something my coaches wanted me to try. I’ve been working on trying to stay low in the hurdles and not stutter. I think I did pretty good. I can still work on some things,” Flaker said.

Bonny Eagle senior Ethan Kane turned in two of the most impressive results of the day, with wins in the 110 and 300 hurdles.

Kane felt fast when running the 110 hurdles and cruised to the win, but when he heard his time was 14.69  seconds, he was shocked. He was the top seed in the race, but at 15.37 seconds.

“That came out of nowhere. I didn’t believe it. I will admit, there was a little bit of a tailwind, and I felt like I was flying over those hurdles,” said Kane, who placed third in both hurdle events at the state meet last year.

Kane ran 15.13 in the prelims and had an idea he could get under 15 seconds.

“I could definitely go faster,” said Kane, who also took first in the 300 hurdles, cruising to the win in 40.27 seconds.

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