There was no shortage of drama at Saturday’s outdoor track and field state championship meets.

Local athletes were able to excel, even though they had to overcome some challenging weather conditions.

Here’s a recap:

Class A

At the Class A boys’ state meet, held at Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham, a long day was made even longer by a two-plus-hour rain delay, but when all was said and done, Falmouth tallied 73 points and fell just three points shy of champion Brunswick.

The Navigators got first-place showings from Miles Gay in the 400 (49 seconds), Judd Armstrong in the high jump (6 feet, 6 inches) and their 4×400 relay team (Max Shapiro, Finn Caxton-Smith, Miles Woodbury and Gay, 3 minutes, 26.94 seconds).

Falmouth’s 4×100 relay team (Ali Carter, Shapiro, Jackson Boyd and Caxton-Smith) was second to Marshwood in 43.7 seconds. Kaleb Barrett was runner-up in the long jump (20-6.5) and fifth in the triple jump (41-10). Gay finished third in the 200 (22.73). George Klatsky placed fifth in the javelin (152-6). Caxton-Smith was sixth in the 100 (11.29) and seventh in the 200 (23.03). Shapiro came in sixth in the 200 (22.93) and seventh in the 100 (11.33). Christopher Jaynes finished seventh in the 300 hurdles (42.8). Woodbury placed eighth in the 800 (2:01.56).

Scarborough, which had won three straight Class A state titles and five of the past six, finished fourth this time around with 55 points.

The Red Storm got a win from Wyatt Martin in the pole vault (13-0).

Adam Bendetson came in second in the two-mile (9:18.55). Nate Murray was runner-up in the shot put (47-3.5) and third in the discus (144-6). Scarborough’s 4×800 relay squad (Gavin Cote, Landen Springer, Baxter Merriam and Bendetson) placed third (8:32.05). The 4×100 relay team (Joel Nji, John Read, Nolan Badger and Cooper Mallar) was fifth (45.86). Ethan Keller placed fifth in the two-mile (9:49.86). Miguel Torres finished fifth in the 110 hurdles (15.96), placed seventh in the long jump (20-0) and was eighth in the 300 hurdles (42.93). Read finished seventh in the 110 hurdles (16.14).

South Portland (50) came in sixth, its best outdoor finish since 2016.

Josh Lamour was runner-up in the pole vault (12-6). Alexandy Pierre finished second in the racewalk (7:58.96). Evan Small was fourth in the two-mile (9:46.35). Arnaud Sioho placed fourth in the triple jump (42-4.5) and was eighth in the long jump (19-11.75). Patrick Heffernan was sixth in the racewalk (8:26.18). Jacob Jones finished seventh in the racewalk (8:26.56). Caleb Ramsell finished seventh in the triple jump (40-9.5). Henry Risch placed seventh in the shot put (44-1.5) and was seventh in the discus (122-5). The Red Riots’ 4×100 relay team (Gedeao Buanza, Lamour, Enoque De Dieu and Sioho) placed fourth in 45.69. The 4×400 relay squad (Lamour, Jack Smart, Harrison Jones and Sioho) also finished fourth in 3:33.72. The 4×800 relay team (Michael Lawlor, Small, Kyle Hartford and Smart) came in seventh in 8:45.79.

Portland tallied 37 points and came in eighth, its best state meeting showing since a sixth-place finish in 2009.

The Bulldogs’ 4×800 relay team (Charlie Brewer, Charlie Jacques, Elias Coleman and Jason Hargesheimer) was second to Brunswick in 8:24.96. Myles Hang was runner-up in the 110 hurdles (15.09). Benjamin Prestes finished fourth in the 800 (1:58.84). Nathan Blades was fourth in the mile (4:28.29) and fifth in the 800 (1:59.81). Hargesheimer finished fifth in the 300 hurdles (41.91). Portland’s 4×400 relay team (Hargesheimer, Brewer, Prestes and Blades) was sixth in 3:37.29.

Cheverus (29 points) finished 10th.

Brendan Rogers was runner-up in the 400 (49.63) and eighth in the 200 (23.19). Dominic Cortez placed third in the pole vault (12-6). James Baur was fifth in the pole vault (11-6). George Kabongo was sixth in the high jump (5-10). Gio St. Onge tied for seventh in the high jump (5-8). The Stags were fifth in the 4×800 relay (Cash Kellen, Ambrose McCullough, Danny McCartney and Bryan Stark-Chessa, 8:38.5) and came in seventh in the 4×400 relay (Matt Fogg, Kellen, Lucas Plumb and Baur, 3:37.78).

Deering finished with four points and placed 25th.

Haytham Ramadan was seventh in the 800 (2:01.52). The Rams’ 4×100 relay team (Rocco Ciccomancini, Devonte Prom, Dany McLaughlin and Ramadan) placed seventh (45.96).

The Class A girls’ title was won by Bangor with 100 points, which was enough to hold off runner-up Scarborough (80.5). The Red Storm posted their best finish since winning the crown in 2012.

Emerson Flaker was second in the 400 (1:00.1), third in the 200 (26.06), third in the 300 hurdles (46.97) and fourth in the 100 (12.46), accounting for 25 points on her own. Laurel Driscoll was runner-up in both the mile (5:15.2) and the two-mile (11:19.23). Scarborough’s’ 4×100 relay team (Bailey Stoddard-Baugham, Amelia Caruso, Julia Black and Caroline Fallona) was second to Brunswick in 50.98 seconds. The Red Storm’s 4×400 relay squad (Avery Pettingill, Black, Fallona and Kyleigh Record) finished third (4:17.32). Fallona came in third in the 100 (12.3) and fifth in the 200 (26.47). Record was third in the 800 (2:26.02) and third in the mile (5:22.21). Caroline Benson tied for seventh in the pole vault (7-9). Black finished eighth in the 200 (27.12) and eighth in the 300 hurdles (50.7). Daisy Stone tied for eighth in the high jump (4-10).

Portland posted 69.5 points and came in third, the program’s best showing at a state meet since winning Class A way back in 1991 and the Bulldogs’ first top 10 finish since 1999.

Sophomore Samantha Moore dazzled, winning the 800 (2:23.27) and mile (5:06.37) and coming in third in the two-mile (11:22.73), accounting for 26 points individually.

“I felt really good, but I didn’t want to go too fast because I’m quadrupling,” Moore said, after winning the mile.

Anneliese Collin was first in the high jump (5-2), second in the 300 hurdles (46.57) and was third in the pole vault (8-6). Portland’s 4×100 relay team (Joy Mba, Iman Alaari, Adong Vincent, Inas Alaari) was fourth (52.09). The Bulldogs’ 4×400 relay squad (Iman Alaari, Lindos, Moore and Collin) was also fourth in 4:21.02. Portland’s 4×800 relay team (Alice Anderson, Tenley Flint, Sylvie Holmes and Chadbourne) placed fifth (10:28.64). Inas Alaari tied for sixth in the high jump (4-10). Alisandra Lindos finished seventh in the triple jump (33-5.75). Ava Chadbourne was eighth in the two-mile (11:47.19).

Falmouth (37 points) placed seventh.

The Navigators were led by their 4×800 relay team (Sydney Young, Bella Koepsell, Fiona Hanrahan and Sara Tennent), which came in first in 10:06.4.

Ruby Prentiss was second in the discus (111-5) and fourth in the shot put (32-10). Samantha Gaudet came in third in the discus (109-4). Hanrahan finished fifth in the two-mile (11:34.15). Falmouth’s 4×400 relay team (Skylar Bush, Kelly, Koepsell and Tennent) was sixth (4:22.94). Keira Kelly was eighth in the 400 (1:03.49).

Cheverus (18.5 points) finished 14th.

The Stags’ 4×800 relay team (Annie Vigue, Lucy Olson, Grace Alexander and Annabelle Brooks) placed third in 10:16.58. Amelia Dedikian tied for fifth in the pole vault (8-6). Finley Brown was fifth in the 300 hurdles (49.12). Brooks was sixth in the mile (5:23.86) and seventh in the two-mile (11:41.54).

Deering (12) came in 19th. Lara Gin was third in the 400 (1:00.8) and eighth in the triple jump (33-3.25). Saya Breiting-Brown finished fifth in the 100 hurdles (16.2). Meseret Day was eighth in the racewalk (9:30.38).

South Portland (10) tied Sanford for 20th. The Red Riots’ 4×400 relay team (Ava Smart, Samantha Clyde, Iris Young and Anna Brown) finished fourth (4:22.63). Makayla Edwards-Burwell was fifth in the shot put (32-5.75). Brown finished seventh in the 800 (2:30.68).

Class B

At the Class B state meet, held in Freeport, not everything was completed and with a few events postponed because of the weather, no team state champions were crowned.

The girls’ and boys’ pole vault and boys’ high jump will be contested at a place, day and time to be determined by the Maine Principals’ Association. As a result, final team scores are still in progress.

York’s girls will be the champion, as their 98 points are 36 more than Leavitt, an insurmountable lead.

Greely (60) is currently third.

The Rangers’ 4×800 relay team was runner-up to York, as Jacqueline Franklin, Abigail Lennox, Emma Stein and Rowan Barry had a time of 10:18.23. Lia Traficonte was second in the long jump (15-7.5), third in the 200 (27.63) and sixth in the 400 (1:04.62). Abigail Jacobson finished third in the triple jump (33-1), fourth in the long jump (15-2) and seventh in the 100 (13.55). Barry came in fourth in the mile (5:28.72) and fourth in the two-mile (12:22.32). Franklin was fifth in the long jump (15-2) and seventh in the 300 hurdles (51.07). Greely’s 4×100 relay team (Grier Wright, Danica Pleau, Sydney Madore and Jacobson) placed fifth (54.41). Lennox finished eighth in the 300 hurdles (52.36). Stein came in eighth in the 800 (2:33.91).

Freeport (58) is currently fourth. If that result holds, it would be the program’s best at a state meet since finishing fourth in Class C in 2009.

The Falcons’ 4×400 relay team (Luciana Borgeois, Lizalyn Boudreau, Lilah Hall and Lucy Riggs) finished first in 4:24.78. The 4×100 relay squad (Burgeois, Taryn Curry, Riggs and Boudreau) was also first in 52.57. Avery Baker-Schlendering won the girls’ high jump at 5-4, missing on her tries at 5-6, which would have broken the Class B record.

“At first it was OK, but as the rain got a little heavier, there was a puddle in front of the mat,” said Baker-Schlendering. “I was a little more hesitant with my approach, which caused a couple more attempts and I couldn’t make 5-6.”

Burgeois was second in the 300 hurdles (49.38). Boudreau was third in the 400 (1:02.88). Lucy Huggett was fifth in the mile (5:29.4) and seventh in the 800 (2:31.31). Lilah Hall finished sixth in the 800 (2:28.17) and sixth in the mile (5:34.01). Riggs placed eighth in the 200 (28.07). Esther Penney was eighth in the mile (5:40.9).

Yarmouth (34) was tied with Morse for eighth place. The Clippers haven’t finished in the top 10 at states since 2016.

Freshman Abby Noble took home a pair of titles, winning the 100 (13.08) and the 200 (27.27).

The Clippers’ 4×100 relay team (Julia Lawwill, Ava Feeley, Rachel Groves and Noble) finished fourth (53.93). The 4×800 relay squad (Eliza Grimnes, Taylor Oranellas, Josephine Nicholas and Lilah Connor) was fourth (10:47.68). Chloe Bubula came in sixth in the two-mile (12:32.83). Lawwill was eighth in the long jump (14-11).

Cape Elizabeth (23 points) finished 12th.

Grace Gray finished second in the 200 (27.44) and was third in the 100 (13.25). Sloan Gardner was fourth in the shot put (31-10.5). Maya Nelson placed fifth in the 400 (1:04.02).

Leavitt (79 points) sits first on the boys’ side, with York (73) hot on its heels.

Greely (61) is currently third.

Jonah Guibord was second in the 300 hurdles (42.93) and third in the 110 hurdles (16.0). Thomas Leggat-Barr was runner-up in the racewalk (7:40.15). Kennett Adande Kinti was second in the shot put (47-11.5) and sixth in the discus (118-6). The Rangers’ 4×800 relay team (William Coull, Charles Anania, Cade Potts and Hayden MacArthur) came in third (8:41.47). MacArthur was also fourth in the 800 (2:03.95). Anania finished fourth in the javelin (136-6) and seventh in the 300 hurdles (44.22). Coull was sixth in the mile (4:37.27). Owen Partridge finished sixth in the 400 (53.96). Alexander Mendoza was sixth in the triple jump (38-4.75). Gaelan Lucey was eighth in the 300 hurdles (44.41).

Freeport (50) is currently fourth.

Senior Henry Horne won the difficult distance triple crown, taking home titles in the mile, 800 and two-mile.

Horne’s big day began with a time of 4:24.01 in the mile, as he edged Gray-New Gloucester’s Carter Libby.

“It was definitely a mind game,” said Horne. “I didn’t want to have to go that fast. I didn’t want to slip up on the track. It’s just nasty weather. I was just trying to go as slow as possible and still win. The rain also made it pretty fun. It was a memorable race, for sure.”

Horne then won the 800 (2:01.83) and two-mile (9:52.57) with strong kicks over the final lap.

The Falcons’ 4×800 relay squad (Ian Moore, Jean Antoine, Conner Smith and Finn Furtney) was second to John Bapst in 8:35.93. Alex Gilbert was third in the mile (4:35.0). The 4×100 relay team (Israel Ditanduka, Alden Rice, Cody Wall and Tristan Hatton) was fourth (46.47). Ditanduka finished eighth in the 100 (11.76).

Yarmouth (41 points) is currently sixth.

The Clippers were paced by their first-place 4×100 relay team, consisting of Wes Merrill, Caleb Farrell, Colby Ting and Harry Dougherty, which posted a winning time of 45.4 seconds.

Ethan Hoffman placed third in the 400 (53.43) and eighth in the shot put (41-3). Merrill was fourth in the 100 (11.43). The 4×400 relay team (Evan Hankins, Jonny Fulton, Stuart Baybutt and Hoffman) was fourth in 3:39.71. Hankins placed fifth in the 800 (2:04.18). Dougherty finished fifth in the 200 (23.43), seventh in the 100 (11.59) and seventh in the long jump (19-6). Fulton was seventh in the 800 (2:06.16).

Cape Elizabeth (6 points) is tied with Fryeburg Academy and Lawrence for 21st place.

Tommy Gray came in third in the shot put (45-2.5).

Class C

The Class C state meet was contested at Cony High School in Augusta, where there was also a weather delay, but every event would be completed.

The North Yarmouth Academy/Maine Coast Waldorf girls had 79 points and came in second behind Orono (121).

The Panthers got wins from Sarah Moore in the high jump (5-2) and long jump (17-1.75). Moore was also second in the triple jump (34-4.25) and third in the 100 (13.04), producing 34 points on her own.

NYA’s 4×400 relay team (Cass MacCarthy, Madilyn Oronato, Hadley Smith and Graca Bila) was runner-up to Bucksport (4:32.0). The Panthers’ 4×800 relay (Lydia Sharp, Smith, Murreal Wilmot and Onorato) finished third (11:13.17). Mary Litz was second to Moore in the high jump (4-8). Rahel Delaney was runner-up in the racewalk (8:20.4) and eighth in the 800 (2:40.97). Bila was fourth in the 300 hurdles (50.34) and fourth in the triple jump (33-5.25). MacCarthy finished fourth in the javelin (95-5).

The Class C boys’ title was also won by Orono with 105 points. NYA/MCW didn’t score.

Press Herald staff writers Steve Craig and Travis Lazarczyk contributed to this story.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.

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