Class A Boys State Meet Wrap-Up
The boys Class A state meet started off on the track with a new state meet record in the 4x800 by Scarborough, and ended the same way with a new best in the 4x200m by Falmouth. Ironically those two team stood above the rest with the Red Storm tallying 74 points to win the state title. It was the 6th title in the last 8 years for Scarborough and a team record 17 overall state indoor title (11 Class B, 6 Class A). Falmouth was the team runner-up with 45 points. Lewiston edged Deering 33-32 for third place.
The 4x800 got the meet started with some fireworks as Scarborough took the lead on the second leg as they broke the state meet record with their winning performance of 8:10.32. It wasn't a cakewalk as Messalonskee put up a great effort with their 8:12.39 effort, #3 time in state meet history. Westbrook had a great showing as they shattered the school record with a 8:19.48.
Scarborough's Griffin Madden took top honors in the 55m hurdles as he ran 7.79. Tanner Burton of Messaonskee had a lifetime best of 7.93 to nab second place. While Westbrook showed hurdle quality and depth as they went 3-4-5 with Shammah Gahomera leading the way in a personal best 8.08.
Ernie Ruby of Windham shocked the field in the 55m dash as he crossed the line first in 6.72. Junior Thomas Darby of Hampden Academy ran 6.76 for second while Matt Polewaczyk clocked 6.78 for third.
The was an exciting race as Osman Doorow of Lewiston set the quick early pace, only Owen Concaugh of Messalonskee went with him. Concaugh would eventually take over the lead with 600m to go, and it wasn't until the bell lap that Colin Tardiff of Scarborough would take the lead and kick his way to victory. Tardiff's winning time was 4:29.16 with Concaugh a second back in 4:30.17. Jacob Maloney of South Portland kicked home for 3rd with a huge personal best 4:31.85.
Abdi Shariff of Lewiston took the pace out hard setting up a very fast race. Paolo DeMarco of Deering was the winner in a new personal best 50.62, Shariff improved almost 2 second with his runner-up effort of 51.14, while Burt Dow of Marshwood had a strong run clocking 51.27.
Brunswick's Keenan Welzel used his superior speed to easily pull away from the field in the 800m, Welzel made it 2 in a row for the Dragons in the 800m with his winning effort of 2:00.91. Early race leader Russell Allen, a sophomore from Edward Little finished 2nd in 2:01.90, with Osman Doorow of Lewiston 2:02.18 nabbing third.
Junior Matt Polewaczyk of Falmouth had a great battle with Paolo DeMarco of Deering in the 200m. In the end Polewaczyk was the victor in a personal best 23.14, with DeMarco a blink of the eye behind in 23.21. Nick Sanzari of Falmouth ran 23.65 to finish third.
It was all Paul Casavant of Hampden Academy who lead the entire race en route to a 9:34.68. Connor Doherty of Scarborough closed well over the final mile to finish 2nd in 9:50.92, while Jacob Gamache of Edward Little the only runner who went with Casavant held onto 3rd in a gutty race.
As usual the pole vaulters had something special in store for there podium shot, they flexed their muscles! Scarborough's Sam Rusak cleared 15-6 to win the title and narrowly missed 15-10 hitting the bar off with his chin, while Peter Hegarty jumped 14-6 a new personal best & national qualifier to finish 2nd. In third Aaron Thomas of Falmouth broke the Falmouth school record with a 13-6 effort.
Scarborough's Sam Rusak opened his day with a 6-2 clearance in the high jump, he was the only one over the height as he captured first place. Freshman Trejyh Fletcher of Cheverus showed tremendous power in his jumped, he cleared 6-0 to secure second place with fewer missed. Jon Whitcomb of Gardiner/Hall-Dale cleared 6-0 as well he scored 3rd overall.
Top seed Erick Seekins of Brewer took home the gold in the long jump, Seekins won the event with a leap of 21-2. Freshman Trejyh Fletcher went big with his 20-8 1/2 leap, good for over a foot personal best. Nathan Pratt-Holt of Mt Blue was third with a 19-11.25 effort.
Austin Lufkin a junior from Brewer set a personal best of 54-9 1/2 to win the shot put state title. Junior Matt Brady was the runner-up with a heave of 51-8 1/2, while senior Thomas Sappier was third with a toss of 49-11 3/4
Stefan Porter of Lewiston won an exciting tripe jump competition with a best effort of 42-7 3/4. Brunswick's Shane Lyons grabbed second place with a his last round jump of 41-8, while Windham sophomore Alex Wilkins exploded out to 41-3 1/4 to grab third place. (Photo by Maine Running photos)
Falmouth saved its best for last as the 4x200m relay of Matt Polewaczyk, Nick Sanzari, Nigel Dunn & Tony St Angelo broke the state meet record with their winning time of 1:32.89. The time is the #2 performance all-time in Maine history. Thornton Academy 1:34.68 ran a strong second with Deering 1:34.91 right on their heels in third.