Class A Girls State Meet 5 Events to Watch

Class A Girls State Meet Preview

We take a look at the 5 events to watch at the Class A State Indoor Track & Field Championship.

800M

This could be the race of the day with the top three seeds within one second of each other. South Portland's Juliana Selser will have the target on her back as she is the defending state champion with the fastest time of the winter (2:19.64). Selser has had a strong season that has seen her run a 5:13.53 mile, and a personal best 2:19.64 for 800m. She is undefeated in Maine in every event above the 200m this winter. Bonny Eagle sophomore Kayla Raymond has excelled in her first indoor season that has seen her run 5:24.91 for the mile, 1:29.24 for 600yd, 61.34 for 400m & 2:20.39 for 800m. Falmouth's Malaika Pasch has had a very strong indoor campaign that has seen the her run 5:12.91 for the mile, and 2:20.57 for 800m.

Not that she needed an edge but Selser looks to be coming into this race without another run in her legs, she is entered in the 4x800, but I'd be surprised if she runs a leg. Raymond will most likely run a leg on the 4th ranked Scots relay beforehand, while Pasch is the top seed in the mile.

The strategy in this race will be interesting to watch as everyone knows Selser has the strongest kick in the field, a kick that has resulted in winning the last 3 state titles at 800m indoors/outdoors. Who is going set the early pace? Where is the decisive move going to be made? 

If the field wasn't stacked enough already the fourth & fifth seeds Emma Concaugh of Messalonskee & Quicney Lyden of Westbrook are both freshman who have run 2:24.13 & 2:24.80 respectively.

State Meet Record Class A:  2:17.27  2013        Edie Pallozzi, Deering                     
2016 Champion:  2:20.34  2/15/2016   Juliana Selser, South Portland             

Section 2  Timed Finals
  1  Juliana Selser                JR South Portland      2:19.64 
  2  Kayla Raymond                 SO Bonny Eagle         2:20.39 
  3  Malaika Pasch                 SO Falmouth            2:20.57 
  4  Emma Concaugh                 FR Messalonskee        2:24.13 
  5  Quincey Lyden                 FR Westbrook           2:24.80 
  6  Natalie DuBois                SR Marshwood           2:29.30 
  7  Jaden Gray                    SR Lawrence            2:29.55 
  8  Avery Brennan                 JR Messalonskee        2:29.65 
  9  Abbie Nelson                  SO Bonny Eagle         2:30.12