GIRLS

1. Cheverus: The Stags placed fourth at the Class A state meet last season after winning the SMAA title. With a number of athletes who scored at the state meet back, Cheverus is a definite contender for the state championship. Sophomore Macey Weisberg is one of the top sprinters in the state. Juniors Grace Alexander and Lucy Olson should score in the distance races, where sophomores Paige Alexander and Allie Schmitt provide more talent and depth. Finley Brown (400, relays), Stella Hang (hurdles, long jump, triple jump), Alaina Holmes (sprints and relays) and Hana Hirschkorn (400, relays) will also contribute. Coach John Wilkinson said he’s excited to see what some talented newcomers can provide.

2. Scarborough: The Red Storm are led by junior Lauren Driscoll, who played second in the mile and third in both the 800 and 2-mile at the Class A state meet last season. Junior Isabella Harmon was a state-meet qualifier in the 55 hurdles, placed fifth in the high jump and third in the pole vault, and is poised for improvement in all of her events. Caroline Benson also scored in the pole vault. Maiya Marquis is back after placing fourth in the state meet in the shot put. The defending Class A state champion, Scarborough will be in the hunt for another title.

3. Greely: The Rangers return most of the team that placed second at the Class B state meet to York last season, losing just one athlete who scored. A sophomore, Victoria Zandan made an impressive debut last season, earning top-four finishes in the long jump, triple jump and 55 hurdles. Jackie Franklin placed second in the 400 and will also compete in the long jump and relays. Other key returners include Lily Pierce (sprints), Samantha Santerre (800), Abby Lennox (800), Emma Stein (distance), Marinna Emery (pole vault) and Katie Spencer (pole vault). Newcomer Sarah Weisz will contribute in distance events.

4. Portland: With senior Samantha Moore going for a Class A state championship threepeat in the 800 and mile, the Bulldogs have one of the top athletes in the state. Anneliese Collin placed second in the 400 at the state meet last season, and is also a contender in jumps, hurdles and pole vault. Alisandra Lindos will be a factor in the jumping events. The Bulldogs’ 3,200 relay team that placed fifth at the state meet – Alice Anderson, Ella Vinkemulder, Kate Morrison, and Maia Endicott – returns intact. Morrison and Endicott are also potential point scorers in distance events.

5. York: While the Wildcats lost a pair of phenomenal distance runners with the graduation of Cary Drake and Molly Kenealy, junior Zoe Carroll is there to continue the distance tradition at York. The Class B state champion this past cross country season, Carroll will likely race everything from the 400 up through the 2-mile. Veda Kiper-Phelps (middle distance), Audrey Drennan (hurdles), Eliza Dunn (hurdles) and Karianna Hulstrom (hurdles and middle distance) give the Wildcats the depth needed to make a run at a third straight Class B state title.

BOYS

1. South Portland: The defending Class A state champion Red Riots return a talented team that will be among the favorites again this winter. It starts with Arnaud Sioho, the state-record holder in the triple jump. Sioho won four individual state titles at the outdoor state meet last spring and will be the favorite in the hurdles, triple jump and long jump. Evan Small (2-mile), Michael Lawlor (800), Fischer Petrlik (mile), Tyler Bryant (high jump, triple jump), Jackson Whitehouse (high jump) and Gavin Nicholson (jumps) are among the other top returning athletes on a deep and talented roster. Bossay Ditanduka (sprints, jumps) and Rush Morrison (shot put) are new to indoor track but are among the newcomers that Coach Dave Kahill expects to contribute to the team’s success.

2. Scarborough: The Red Storm saw their run of seven consecutive Class A state championships snapped by South Portland, but with a deep roster and a number of state-meet participants back, Scarborough should once again contend for SMAA and state titles. Nate Murray is back after winning the shot put state championship last season. Wyatt Martin is back after suffering an injury while running the hurdles at the state meet, sidelining throughout the entire outdoor season. He’s expected to contend in the pole vault. A trio of distance runners – Ethan Keller, Baxter Merriam, and Atticus Merriam – give the Red Storm depth. Ryan Marshall is the third-fastest returning hurdler in Class A. and Cooper Mallar should contribute in jumps and sprints.

3. Greely: While the Rangers graduated some key athletes, they return a number of strong contenders and add newcomers who can help in the push to repeat as Class B state champions. Alex Mendoza returns after finishing third in the triple jump and high jump last season, as well as seventh in the long jump. Liam Coull placed fifth in the mile and will compete in the distance events. Connor Skillin is one of the top returning runners in Class B in the 800. Cade Potts (distance), Liam Magoon and Sam Anania will contend for the pole vault title. Holden Pierce and Bez Mendelsohn will compete in the sprints. Newcomers Tate Harvey (distance) and Jackson Walton (sprints) bring the Rangers more depth.

4. Mt. Ararat: The Eagles won the KVAC Class A title last season and finished second to South Portland at the state meet, just 4.5 points behind the Red Riots. With a number of athletes back, Mt. Ararat should be among the contenders in both the conference and state again. Bryce Holden was runner-up in the pole vault in last year’s indoor season and won the outdoor state title. He’ll also compete in the 55 hurdles and long jump. Evan Weymouth was a state qualifier in the triple jump, and Ian Britt is a contender in the distance races. Eli Burt and Randall Lagrange give the Eagles a pair of contenders in the 400 and 800. Theo Forcier has the potential to pick up points in the triple jump and hurdles at both the conference and state meets.

5. Marshwood: When you have the fastest sprinter in state history who is also coming off a win at the New England outdoor championships, you have an athlete around which to build a contending team. That’s the case with Marshwood’s Andre Clark, who won the New England 100-meter title last spring. Clark set a state record of 6.38 seconds in the 55 at last season’s indoor state meet while also winning the 200. Isaiah Perodin can score in multiple events for the Hawks, including hurdles, jumps and relays, but he had to withdraw from the state meet last season because of an injury after the 55 hurdles finals. Henri Rivard placed sixth in the mile at the state meet and looks to improve on that.