Thornton Academy swept the team titles at the York County Championships at Noble High School on Saturday thanks to several outstanding performances.
Travis Snyder came home with the most accolades as he won the 110 meter hurdles, 300 meter hurdles, pole vault and long jump. In the preliminary rounds of the 110 hurdles, Snyder became the second athlete this spring to break 15 seconds, finishing in 14.84. Then in the finals, he went on to win in a time of 15.08, going unchallenged. Snyder then won the 300 hurdles in a PB of 41.75 to win by close to two seconds. He jumped 20 feet, 3 inches to win the long jump, then cleared 13 feet in the pole vault.
His teammate, Jason Montano, won the shot put, throwing 54 feet, 7 ¼ inches, and the discus with a throw of 154 feet. Together, Snyder and Montano scored 60 points for the Trojans.
On the girls side, it was Mia Taranko doing the most damage for Thornton. She jumped 18 feet, 3 inches in the long jump. That is the third-best distance in state history, and marked the first time Taranko has gone over 18 feet. Taranko then jumped 34 feet, 9 ½ inches in the triple jump to pick up her second win of the day.
Other winners for Thornton included Kylie Bedard in the 300 hurdles (48.73), Paige Boudreau in the shot put (32-10.5), and Jaigan Boudreau in the discus (120-01).
Nina Tasker of Noble High School won the 100 hurdles, finishing in 15.35 seconds. The time is a season-best for Tasker, and is the second-fastest time in the state this spring. She also finished fifth in the 100 meter dash, running a personal-best of 13.04.
Winning the 100 was freshmen Rori Coomey, who finished in a PB of 12.62 seconds. The time currently sits as the third-fastest dash in the state.
Also joining the ranks of sub-13 was Caitlin Wolff of Kennebunk, who was third in a PB of 12.87. The three would all face off again in the 200 meters, with Wolff coming out victorious running 26.61 seconds. Coomey was second in 27.23, while Page was right behind in 27.31. Wolff and Page also competed in the 400, with Wolff edging Page, 1:00.95 to 1:01.05.
Bonny Eagle swept the first four spots in the 800 meters, with Kayla Raymond winning in 2:18.98. Ami Beaumier (2:21.39), Christine Toy (2:24.53) and Emma Abbott (2:27.07) followed.
Beaumier would go in to win the 1600 meters in what was a tightly contested race. The top four finishers were separated by less than three seconds, with Beaumier winning in 5:36.14. Mackenzie Young of Marshwood was second in 5:37.88, while Amelia Alexander of Bonny Eagle (5:38.26) and Miranda Duncan of Kennebunk (5:38.26) were right behind in third and fourth.
The other big meet in the SMAA this weekend was the Cumberland County Championships, which was held at South Portland High School. Standout sprinter Jarett Flaker of Scarborough impressed once again as he won both the 100 meters and 400 meters, running 11.11 and 50.23 respectively. Both times lowered his state-leading marks.
In the 800 meters, it was John Auer taking the win in 1:59.47. It marked the second time Auer has dipped under 2:00 this spring.
Dominic Creenan of Westbrook won the long jump for the second consecutive season. Creenan, who was the runner-up in Class A last season, jumped 20-11.75, which is a season-best for the senior. Creenan also took the 110 hurdles, finishing in 15.64 seconds -- another season-best.
Winning the 3200 meters was Deering's Alec Troxell, who pulled away in the final stages to win in 9:54.96. Anthony Chase of Gorham was close behind in 9:57.54, while Tristram Coffin of Scarborough (9:58.03) and Benjamin Potter (9:59.10) rounded out the top-four. Troxell broke 10:00 for the first time in his career along with the other three.
Keller Nicolai of Portland won both the shot put in the discus. Nicolai three 51-7.25 feet in the shot put, then came back to win the discus with a throw of 132-1.5 feet.
The girls 1600 was arguably the most competitive event of the day. South Portland senior Juliana Selser came out victorious in a personal-best time of 5:08.60, with Gorham's Anna Slager less than two seconds back in 5:10.10 (PB). Falmouth's Malaika Pasch was third in 5:14.90.
Nyagoa Bayak continued her dominance in the high jump as she won in a clearance of 5-06 feet. Bayak also finished second in the triple jump (34-08 feet), which was won by Emma White of Cheverus. White jumped 36-11.50 to set a PB.
Winning the pole vault was Anna Gardner of Scarborough, who cleared 10 feet to tie the state-leading mark.
There were plenty of standout performers at a WMC meet at York High School on Friday. The boys' 800 provided the most intrigue, as Mitch Libby of Wells took the win in a PB of 1:56.18, with Dalan Hubbard of Traip Academy close behind in 1:56.64. It was the first time Hubbard has gone under 2:00 this season. This duo could face off the next two weekend in this event.
York's dynamic tandem of Jake Martin and Zach Westman continued to shine. Martin won the 110 hurdles (15.15), high jump (6-00), discus (126-01), and finished second to Westman in the long jump (20-05). Along with the long jump, Westman earned wins in the 200 meters (23.51), 300 hurdles (39.82) and triple jump (41-02). Westman's time in the 300 hurdles is a state-leading mark.
On the girls' side, York's Erin O'Donnell had herself a day as she won the 200 meters (27.30), 400 meters (1:00.29), and finished second to Chenille Eccleston of Wells in the 100 meters (13.49). Eccleston won in 13.32 seconds, who ranks seventh among all sophomores in the event.
Audrey Grimes and Hayley Smith of York went 1-2 in the 300 meter hurdles, running 47.11 and 47.20 respectively. Those are currently the second and third fastest times in the state.
Elsewhere in the WMC, Darcy Cochran lowered her state-leading time in the 300 hurdles at Fryeburg Academy last Thursday. Cochran won the event in a season-best time of 46.35 seconds. She's the only athlete in the state to have run under 47 seconds this season. Cochran also won the 200 meters (27.31), 100 meters (13.18) and the 100 hurdles (15.40).
There was a showdown in the 1600 meters between Marin Provencher and Carolyn Todd of Greely. Provencher eventually took the win in 5:21.73, with Todd less than two seconds back in 5:23.50. Provencher's time is now tops in Class B, while Todd currently ranks third. Both times are season-bests.
Sarah Cox of Waterville, the reigning Class B champion in the shot put, won the event with a best throw of 37-2.5 feet. Cox, who holds the state leading mark in the event, also finished second in the discus (113-04 feet) and third in the javelin (75 feet).
Winslow's Max Spaulding had himself a stellar day, as he won the 400 meters (51.27), 110 hurdles (16.26) and 300 hurdles (43.38), racking up 30 points for the runner-up Raiders. Spaulding's time in the 400 is a PB and is the second-fastest among all sophomores (only behind Flaker of Scarborough).
Spaulding's teammate, Jake Warn, won the triple jump, jumping a PB of 44-07.25 feet. That currently sits as the second-best distance in the state. Finishing second was Kyle Jacques of Skowhegan, who jumped 44-00.50 feet. That broke his previous PB by nearly three feet and leads Class A.
Waterville's Nick Dall took both the 1600 (4:29.24) and 3200 (9:58.67). Both times are PB's for Dall.
Jacob McCluskey continued his dominant spring as he won the discus at the River Rivals track meet in Bangor, throwing 174 feet, 9 inches -- which is a PB. He also won the javelin throwing 156-04 feet, and was the runner-up in the shot put with a throw of 49-5.5 feet. His teammate, Garrett Graham, won the event, throwing 52-11.75 feet.
Christa Carr of MCI won the shot put and discus at the Downeaster Classic at Belfast High School on Friday. Carr threw 38-01.5 feet in the shot put to set a PB in the event, then threw 93-02 feet in the discus. Carr's mark in the state is currently the top distance in the state.
At a PVC meet at Old Town High School, Cayden Spencer-Thompson of Mattanawcook Academy won both the long jump (22-06.25) and the triple jump (48-02.50). His distance in the triple jump is an outdoor PB. Oliviah Damboise of Old Town took both events on the girls' side, with marks of 16-09 feet and 35-01.
At the Capital City Classic at Cony High School on Friday, Boothbay's Jay Hasch won the high jump (6-02), triple jump (42-03) and finished second in the long jump (19-04). Hasch's marks in the high jump and triple jump are PBs.
Molly McGrail of Maranacook won the girls' 400, running 59.61 as she dipped under 60 seconds for the fourth time this season. She would also go on to finish third in the 200, running 27.47, and second 800 in 2:28.49.