Class B Boys State Meet Preview


Class B Boys State Meet Preview


Welcome to our event-by-event Class B State Meet preview. Check out your favorite event to see who some of top ranked runners are. Included for each event is a potential 'dark horse' candidate: a competitor who we think could pull off the biggest upset and outperform his/her seed. The state meet record for each event is also included. Enjoy and feel free to comment your thoughts, predictions, dark horses, or corrections.



55m: MDI senior Ryan Bender is the top seed, he ran 6.70 in the prelims of the EMITL Championship on Monday evening, showing he's in peak form at the right time, he would go on to run 6.72 to win the final. He will be challenged by Traip's Evan Porter who clocked a 6.73 in the WMC regular season. NYA's Xander Bartone is a threat at 6.75, as is last year's 4th place finisher Ian Haddow who has a seed time of 6.77, which is almost .10 faster than his time from a year ago.

Dark horse: Ben Smith of Winslow is the 8th seed with a time of 6.85, Smith ran his fastest time last Saturday to take the KVAC title, his fastest previous time was 6.93, so Smith is peaking at the right time, and with this level of competition could find his way to the podium. He placed 7th a year ago.

State meet record: 6.53, Denzel Tomaszewski (2013)



55m Hurdles: Traip Academy's Evan Porter has been the best hurdle in Class B all year long, the junior enters the state meet with a best of 8.03. A year ago Porter placed 3rd in the state final. Watch for York's dynamic duo of Colt Santoro & Matt Arsenault who are the #2 & #3 seeds respectively with identical seed times of 8.14. Santoro is no stranger to success in hurdles, he is the defending champion in the event. Arsenault placed 4th a year ago.

Dark horse: It's amazing to think there were only 7 hurdlers entered who hit the state qualifying mark, barring a False start or DQ, all 7 will make the podium

State meet record: 7.68, Donald Boyer (2013)



200m: This should be a tremendous race with Old Town's Troy Crawford & MDI's Ryan Bender who have battled each other all season long.Crawford has the top seed at 23.17, which he ran on Monday at EMITL championship defeating Bender. The duo previously were both clocked in 23.26 in which Crawford was given the nod when they went the thousandths. Ben Smith of Winslow & Xander Bartone of NYA are seeded next, both with identical 23.85 efforts.


Head-to-Head
MeetTroy CrawfordRyan Bender
EMITL Championship 201623.1723.27
EMITL Championship 20166.846.72
EMITL: BRW, BUC, FOX, MAT, MDI, OT, SUM 201623.2623.26
EMITL: BRW, CEN, FOX, HER, JB, MDI, OT 201624.5023.47


Dark horse: Evan Gallagher of Poland is the 10th seed, he has a best of 24.47 this winter and has improved each time he has raced, with a long 2 week break expect Gallagher to have fresh legs, and challenge for the final podium spot.

State meet record: 22.67, Nate Martin (2009)




400m: MDI's Ryan Bender is the only one in the field that has broken 52 second this winter. Bender enters the top seed with a 51.26 clocking, and the odds on favorite to win the individual title. Wells Alexander Lumenello is seeded #2 at 52.89. #6 seed Chris Perry of Greely is the only returning scorer in the field, Perry placed 4th a year ago.

Dark horse: Fryeburg's Evan Wadsworth is expected to medal as the #7 seed but watch out for him, he started the season at 57 seconds and has brought his time down each week in the event, last time out he ran 54.75, so if this improvement trend continues he could shoot up the podium.

State meet record: 50.65, James Sawyer (2005)



800m: The 800m title is up for grabs with a handful of athletes with a legitimate shot at taking first place. Greely's Ryan Morrison leads the seeds with his 2:02.91, Morrison placed 7th in the state meet a year ago. #2 seed Henry Quesada will be fresh for the race, he enters with a 2:03.17 best. Last year Quesada placed 5th in the state. #3 Jacob Fandel of Orono just missed the podium a year ago in 8th, his 2:03.73 indicates he's got a shot at gold this winter.

Dark horse: Freeport senior Erik Brobst is the #8 seed with a 2:07.77 best, he has only run the 800m once this season, so the potential to improve is there. He placed 18th in the event a last year

State meet record: 1:56.12, Kevin Floster (2005)



Mile: The mile should be one of the best races of the day. Yarmouth's Luke Laverdiere has dominated Class B all year long running a best of 4:26.83 on the year. He'll face off against John Hassett of George Stevens Academy who clocked 4:29.26 last time out in the mile. Laverdiere is a front runner who will likely set the pace, and Hassett will be sure to let that happen. If that happens Hassett might have the edge with his sub 2 800m speed.

Dark horse: Rex Brockleman was our pick last year and is again this year. The senior is the #8 seed entering the championship, and the way he has been running we feel he'll have a chance for another podium finish. He finished 6th a year ago.

State meet record:4:19.66, Louie Luchini (1998)



2 mile: Luke Laverdiere is the top seed with his 9:40.60, Laverdiere has shown that the 2 mile maybe his best event. It will be interesting to see his approach to this race, he's shown he can run out front, or come from behind in this event. He'll have plenty of competition in this race. Morse senior Chris Walfield is the #2 seed at 9:54.97. he will be running this race fresh. Freeport's Henry Jaques is the other runner under 10 minutes in the field, Jaques a junior has a best of 9:55.70 on the year. 4th seed Ben Garcia is a threat as well, Garcia was the runner-up a year ago and has a best of 10:07.11 this winter. #5 seed John Hassett is one to watch, he was the Class C XC champion, and hasn't gone all out in a 2 mile all season.

Dark horse: Ryan Morrison of Greely is someone we feel that can jump up into the top 7 of the 2 mile, Morrison is the #8 seed with a 10:28.69 best. He was the 3rd place finisher in the Class B XC championship. Plus he finished 5th a year ago in the event.

State meet record: 9:15.5h, Bruce Bickford (1975)



Shot put: Defending champion Trever Gray of Waterville will put his title on the line against MCI senior Curtis McLeod. Gray has thrown a best of 56-11, while McLeod's best is a 55-2. McLeod came up big at last weekend's KVAC Championship as he took down Gray, that was the first time all season he had beaten Gray.


Head-to-Head
MeetTrever GrayCurtis McLeod
KVAC Championship 201650-955-2
KVAC:Mess,Wtv,Ersk,MCI,Law,Cony,Nok,LA 201654-150-4
KVAC:Mess,EL,Brun,Wtv,Erk,MCI,Law,Win,Mt B, OH, Morse 201656-1152-3.5
KVAC: Skow, EL, Law, Win, OHS, Gard, Nok, MCI @ Colby 201551-8.551-7.75


Dark horse: Phillip Wich of Belfast started the season throwing 32-8 at the Bowdoin Relays, he has continued to improved throwing 39-8 at the KVAC Championship to place 4th. If he can improve another foot he'll give he a real good shot at a podium finish.

State meet record: 55'11", Dawson (1979)



Long Jump: Defending champion Ryan Bender has given up the jumps for the sprints so there will be a new champion this winter. Judson Smith of Foxcroft competed in one indoor meet, and made an immediate impact as the Umaine bound senior jumped 20-8 1/2 to lead the pack. He's the only one that has jumped above 20ft. Dakota Stover of Lake Region has been the most consistent jumper in the field, he's jumped over 19 ft , 6 times, and has improved each time this season.

Dark horse: Evan Porter of Traip Academy is seeded #12 at 18-6, Porter has jumped just one time this indoor season. Porter has a long jump pr of 19-3 from outdoor a year ago. No question he has the ability to make it to the podium.

State meet record: 22'7.75", Rob Pendergist, (1989)



Triple Jump: This should be a show between Judson Smith of Foxcroft & Dakota Stover of Lake Region. These two are the only ones to jump over 40ft this winter, with Smith's 40-11.5 the leading mark.York's Matt Arsenault has seen steady improvement throughout the season and could move up if either of the two favorites falter.

Dark horse: Bucksport's Danny Bunker is the #9 seed at 37-9, he has steadily improved throughout the season, and placed 4th at the EMITL championship with his 37-9. If he can get into the 38's he'll be on the podium

State meet record: 45'11", Johnson (1985)



High Jump: Judson Smith is the only jumper above 6-0 with his 6-6 leading mark. It's hard to imagine anyone beating Smith if he is healthy. Smith might be able to take a shot at Rob Pendergist state meet record of 6-7. With seeds #2-5 all at 5-10 the battle for the 2nd should be a good one.


Dark horse: Deandre Reid of MDI is coming off his best jump 5-6 from the EMITL Championship where he went from 5-2 to 5-6, if he can do it again he could fins himself on the podium

State meet record: 6'7", Rob Pendergist (1989)



Pole Vault: Defending champion Drew Nealey is back to defend his title, the senior has jumped a best of 14-9 this season. However, Nealey's health could be of concern, he pulled his hamstring last Saturday at the KVAC meet, and it remains to be seen how it will effect him at the state meet. Erskine Academy's Ray Wentworth has jumped a best of 13-0 this winter. Bucksport's Johann Bradley has been consistently above 12-0 this season. Waterville's Drew Burgess is the 4th seed, he was the state runner-up a year ago.

Dark horse: There are 4 vaulters who have cleared 10-0, it's likely if there will be a darkhorse it will come from one these guys.

State meet record: 14'0.75", Brian Johnson (1986)



4x200: The top 3 teams are separated by just .61 of seconds. Poland is the top seed followed by fellow WMC team Frybeurg Academy. Foxcroft Academy is the #3 seed, and could be looking to seal a state meet victory with points in the relay.


Dark horse: MDI the 8th seed at 1:41.59, they were 3rd at the EMITL championship, and last year they were the 8th seed and placed 3rd.

State meet record: 1:34.33, Gorham (Lord, Sawyer, Wise, Nason) (2005)



4x800: Foxcroft Academy has the #1 seed time with their 8:28.51, they figure to be challenged by Greely who has run 8:32.83. Orono at 8:40.40 is the only other team under 9 minutes.

Dark horse: John Bapst as the #8 seed seems to be the team to watch.

State meet record: 8:20.53, York (Hosmer, Green, McMahon, and Rose) (2006)