BATH, Maine — Very few track athletes in the state of Maine can say they’ve had consistent, exceedable success throughout all four years of their high school careers. Most athletes will get better as time goes on, some start as phenoms and slowly decline and others suffer the infamous season-ending injury midway through their prime.

 

After the 2011 Class ‘C’ Outdoor State Championships conclude this Saturday in Bath, Maine, there is no doubt Traip Academy senior Carley O’Brien will join this elite group. The Rangers star track and field athlete is a 3-time individual state champion and a 7-time runner-up, and over her high school career, has averaged 11.5 points per indoor state meet and 24.8 points per outdoor state meet.

 

O’Brien is the heart and soul of her team, and has been ever since she’s worn the team colors. In all six of the point-scoring state meets she’s shared with Traip Academy, she has accounted for an average of 82-percent of the team’s overall scoring points.

 

Last weekend, O’Brien led Traip Academy to a Division II title win at the 2011 Western Maine Conference meet on Saturday by placing first in three different events — winning the 100-meter hurdles in 15.94 seconds, the long jump in 16 feet, 8 inches and the triple jump in 34–8. According to O’Brien, she “was not expecting to do so well last week.”

 

So much for expectations.

 

O’Brien will be competing in the same three events this Saturday in Bath, and according to her, the 100-meter hurdles will be her strongest event.

 

“I practice hurdles almost every practice and it’s definitely where most of my focus goes,” says O’Brien. “I have PR’ed in hurdles a lot this year.”

 

For every great athlete comes a weak spot, and for O’Brien, it’s the triple jump.

 

“Triple jump is going to be a tough event,” says O’Brien. “I have really bad knees so triple jump doesn’t help them at all.”

 

The Rangers leader has competed in track and field since freshman year, and over the years has noticed a growth in maturity. “I still goof off and have a good time, but I’m not as naive as I was as a freshman,” says O’Brien. “[As a senior], I know what’s going on.”

 

Nevertheless, O’Brien didn’t always need maturity to gain points for her team. The most points O’Brien has ever scored for Traip Academy in a state meet came during her freshman year in 2008 at the Class C Outdoor meet when she scored 29, after taking first in the 100-meter hurdles, fifth in the 300-meter hurdles, second in the long jump and second in the triple jump.

 

The senior powerhouse doesn’t limit her talents to just the sport of track and field. O’Brien plays varsity soccer in the fall and “love[s] both sports.”

 

“They are both so different,” says O’Brien. “Soccer is such a team-bonding sport . . . with track it’s definitely more individual, but there is also the team aspect.”

 

O’Brien will attending Keene State College next fall. She plans to major in film and to also compete for the college’s track and field team.

 

When asked how she’ll prepare for Saturday’s meet, O’Brien replied, “I plan on being really easy going and laid back — not stressing.”

 

“I don’t want to over think anything.”

 

O’Brien is ranked No. 1 in the 100-meter hurdles, long jump and triple jump going into this Saturday’s state meet. She will also anchor the No. 1 ranked 4x100-meter relay team.

 

 

 

 

Here is both an individual and team preview of the Girls Class ‘C’ State Meet results:

 

 

 

 

 

Girl’s 4x800-meter relay —

 

10 - Sacopee          10:56.20

          1) Kayla Brown           2) Morgan Sanborn

          3) Maya Richmond     4) Dani Pierce

8 - John Bapst        10:59.99

          1) Maggie Bryan         2) Adrienne Carmack

          3) Mary Carmack        4) Laura Donovan

6 - Lisbon            11:06.98

          1) Meagan Thomas    2) Olivia Bulgin

          3) Angelica Bulgin       4) Kayla Angelico

4 - Traip              11:27.44

          1) Eileen Macomber   2) Elsie Drummond

          3) Emily Clyatt            4) Carolin Reinke

3 - Winthrop        11:38.94

          1) Anna Doyle            2) Sarah Warner

          3) V. Chamberlin        4) Grace Burnett

2 - MCI                11:49.20

          1) Paula Arias             2) Katie Cronkite

          3) Chimene Goewey   4) Meghan Hughes

1 - Freeport         11:52.24

          1) Ciera Wentworth     2) Brianna Roy

          3) Caroline Rowell       4) Kelly Edwards

 

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John Bapst enters this race with redemption on their minds after losing to Winthrop in a heartbreaker last year by just under three seconds. The Crusaders have a rich history in the 4x800-meter relay, holding the Class ‘C’ record of 9:43.30, set in 2005. Sacopee Valley puts forward a very young team, but with the right amount of confidence, there’s no stoplight in sight. Expect a very close race between these two teams.

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Girl’s 100-meter hurdles —

 

10 - Carley O’Brien (Traip)            15.64

8 - Danielle Bumman (Monmouth) 16.85

6 - Shelby Wheeler (Orono)          17.09

4 - Ashleigh Roberts (Traip)          17.44

3 - Jessie Batchelder (Traip)          17.64

2 - Melissa Brassard (Monmouth)  17.88

1 - Tiffany Pease (Monmouth)        18.06

 

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Traip senior O’Brien finished first her freshman year, third her sophomore year and second last year at the outdoor state meet. During indoors this year, she won the 55-meter hurdles at the state meet. She is seeded an over entire second under the next athlete. This should be a breeze for arguably the best Class ‘C’ hurdler.

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Girl’s 100-meter dash —

 

10 - Katie Hatch (OOB)               12.74

8 - Karen Rice (Winthrop)          12.81

6 - Bri Crisci (Hall-Dale)             12.82

4 - Jocelyn Lorrey (Traip)          13.04

3 - L. Jacques (Livermore Falls) 13.41

2 - Marley Byrne (St. Dominic)    13.41

1 - Jenny English (Seacoast)     13.64

 

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Old Orchard Beach’s Katie Hatch ran her No. 1 seeded time of 12.74 seconds at the beginning of May, so it will be interesting to see if she can gut out the victory. Winthrop senior Karen Rice, on the other hand, ran her No. 2 seeded time of 12.81 seconds at last weekend’s MVC Championship meet, and is also the event’s defending champion. The same goes for Hale-Dale junior Bri Crisci and her No. 3 seeded time of 12.82 seconds, who was the runner-up in last year’s race. Count on Hatch leading until midway through and a photo-finish ending between Rice and Crisci.

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Girl’s 1600-meter race walk —

 

10 - Analies Dyjak (Orono)         8:47.15

8 - Lindsey Whitney (Lisbon)     8:51.24

6 - Krysta Moulton (Madison)     9:00.40

4 - Samantha Hutchinson (Jay) 9:17.00

3 - Christina Long (John Bapst)  9:23.72

2 - Robyn Handley (John Bapst) 9:27.35

1 - Katie Cronkite (MCI)             9:32.97

 

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Orono sophomore Analies Dyjak returns as the event’s defending champion. Since last year’s state meet, she has shaved nearly 15 seconds off her time. Lisbon junior Lindsey Whitney, who finished third last year, has also drastically improved her time by taking off 36 seconds. Don’t be suprised to see Dyjak win by a large margin and begin her own racewalking dynasty just her second career win in as many years.

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Girl’s 1600-meter run —

 

10 - Abby Mace (Maranacook)         5:21.73

8 - Carsyn Koch (Washburn)           5:27.74

6 - Sadie James (Mt. Abram)          5:38.63

4 - Allie McClintock (Madison)          5:39.98

3 - Adrienne Carmack (John Bapst) 5:40.67

2 - Mary Carmack (John Bapst)       5:40.84

1 - Nelly Winship (Bucksport)           5:45.76

 

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Maranacook junior Abby Mace returns as the event’s defending champion. She won with ease last year, beating the field by nearly 20 seconds, but this year the victory might not come quite as easy. Up and coming distance star and 2011 Class ‘C’ cross country champion Washburn freshman Carsyn Koch should be right on the heels of Mace.

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Girl’s 4x100-meter relay —

 

10 - Traip          52.94

           1) Jessie Batchelder     2) Jocelyn Lorrey

           3) Mary Lambrecht       4) Carley O’Brien

8 - Orono         54.52

           1) Alex Crocker             2) Analies Dyjak

           3) Sherraiah Grace       4) Elizabeth Nelson

6 - Lisbon         54.52

           1) S. MacWhinnie         2) Gabby Ouellette

           3) Allicyn Fitzgerald      4) Tara Metzger

4 - Winthrop     54.58

           1) Rachel Ingram          2) Mary-Claire Blanchard

           3) Lauren Selwood       4) Karen Rice

3 - John Bapst 54.95

           1) Carolyn Benner        2) Kristen Weed

           3) Jennie Wainer          4) Taylor True

2 - Foxcroft       55.06

           1) Holly Fortier              2) Monica Miles

           3) Leah Mooers            4) Chastity Vainio

1 - Sacopee     55.11

           1) Morgan Sanborn      2) Raven Thibodeau

           3) Maeve Downey        4) Alexis Toolin

 

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Traip finished runner-up last year to a John Bapst team that has undertook a complete facelift. They’ve also added senior star hurdler Carley O’Brien as their anchor leg. These two reasons are all I need to select them as the winner.

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Girl’s 400-meter dash —

 

10 - Emily Panciera (Foxcroft)         1:02.46

8 - Morgan Dodge (Wiscasset)       1:03.10

6 - Silvia Lutick (Dirigo)                   1:04.21

4 - Emma Houston (Mt. Abram)       1:04.21

3 - Brianne Robertson (John Bapst) 1:04.86

2 - Chelsie Oldfield (Foxcroft)           1:05.18

1 - Mary Lambrecht (Traip)             1:05.28

 

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This one is could be up for grabs. Foxcroft senior Emily Panciera, who is coming off a win in the 400-meter at last weekend’s PVC Small School Championship, is the heavy favorite, but there’s no telling who will have bad days or good days. Expect a close finish, but Panciera holds on for the win.

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Girl’s 300-meter hurdles —

 

10 - Danielle Bumman (Monmouth) 49.13

8 - Maeve Downey (Sacopee)          50.94

6 - Alex Crocker (Orono)                 51.17

4 - Shelby Wheeler (Orono)           51.53

3 - Logan Wilson (Central)              52.72

2 - Tiffany Pease (Monmouth)         52.83

1 - Jennie Wainer (John Bapst)       52.94

 

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Orono senior Alex Crocker, the event’s defending champion, is undoubtably still a threat, even at the No. 3 seed. Crocker ran nearly 3 seconds faster last season at this time. Monmouth sophomore Danielle Bumman has shown great development from freshman year, improving her time by more than a second. Don’t forget about Sacopee Valley senior hurdler Maeve Downey who will certainly be in the mix at the finish line.

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Girl’s 800-meter run —

 

10 - Maggie Bryan (John Bapst)      2:30.18

8 - Chelsie Oldfield (Foxcroft)          2:30.29

6 - Annika Durrell (Livermore Falls) 2:32.31

4 - Carsyn Koch (Washburn)          2:32.34

3 - Dani Pierce (Sacopee)              2:32.56

2 - Amelia Mitchell (Waynflete)        2:33.00

1 - Allie McClintock (Madison)         2:35.54

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With Maranacook junior Abby Mace now gone from the field, this race is going to be close — real close. Just over two seconds separate the No. 1 seed from the No 5 seed. John Bapst senior Maggie Bryan was runner-up to Mace last year with a time nearly 3 seconds faster than her No. 1 seeded time this year. This is going to be closest race of the day, and with that will come some great times

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Girl’s 200-meter dash —

 

10 - Bri Crisci (Hall-Dale)              27.00

8 - Emily Panciera (Foxcroft)        28.10

6 - Marley Byrne (St. Dominic)       28.44

4 - Karen Rice (Winthrop)             28.64

3 - Hannah Clough (Maranacook) 28.70

2 - Ashleigh Roberts (Traip)          28.74

1 - Molly Hunt (Bucksport)             28.86

 

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Hall-Dale junior Bri Crisci is back to defend her title, and in great fashion. Her No. 1 seeded time is more than a second better than her next opponent, a margin which is so difficult to make up in a short race like the 200-meter dash. Don’t be amazed to see Crisci break the 27-second mark.

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Girl’s 3200-meter run —

 

10 - Abby Mace (Maranacook)         11:37.62

8 - Adrienne Carmack (John Bapst) 12:05.74

6 - Sadie James (Mt. Abram)          12:24.58

4 - Allie McClintock (Madison)          12:34.00

3 - Hillary Detert (NYA)                    12:34.43

2 - Meredith Roderka (Dexter)         12:48.19

1 - Kelly Edwards (Freeport)           12:50.94

 

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Maranacook junior Abby Mace is going to have to try hard not to win this race. Her No. 1 seeded time is just about 23 seconds better than her winning time from last year — 12:00.42 seconds. John Bapst sophomore Adrienne Carmack will be by herself too, separated behind Mace by 28 seconds and in front of the pack by nearly 20 seconds.

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Girl’s 4x400-meter relay —

 

10 - John Bapst 4:25.79

           1) Maggie Bryan         2) Maggie Lynn

           3) Taylor True           4) Brianne Robertson

8 - Sacopee       4:27.04

           1) Morgan Sanborn    2) Kayla Brown

           3) Maeve Downey      4) Dani Pierce

6 - Foxcroft        4:29.75

           1) Chelsie Oldfield      2) Emily Panciera

           3) Chastity Vainio       4) Holly Fortier

4 - Orono          4:30.98

           1) Alex Crocker          2) Analies Dyjak

           3) Sherraiah Grace    4) Kayla Marquis

3 - Monmouth    4:31.73

           1) Danielle Bumman  2) Ashley Coulome

           3) Tiffany Pease        4) Rosemary Bryant

2 - Hall-Dale      4:32.28

           1) Kate Cart              2) Bri Crisci

           3) Sara Price            4) Teresa Withee

1 - Traip             4:34.34

           1) Jocelyn Lorrey       2) Hailey Frisbee

           3) Selena Lorrey        4) Mary Lambrecht

 

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John Bapst is the event’s defending champion and returns exactly half of their team. Sacopee Valley, again, brings in a young team. Both Foxcroft and Orono can both be considered as threats for this race, but I believe John Bapst and Sacopee Valley will hold their own and compete for the victory, mano e mano.

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Girl’s high jump —

 

10 - Jen Daley (John Bapst)      5–2

8 - Amberle Bennett (Seacoast) 5–0

6 - Brianna Worster (PCHS)      5–0

4 - Marley Byrne (St. Dominic)   4–10

3 - Gabby Ouellette (Lisbon)     4–10

2 - Rowan Wilson (Orono)         4–10

1 - Becca Sue Ellis (Carrabec)    4–10

 

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John Bapst senior Jen Daley was just two inches away from winning last year’s gold medal. Since then, she’s added two inches onto her jump, and now stands two inches above her competitors. Expect Daley to be the only jumper to clear 5 feet.

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Girl’s long jump —

 

10 - Carley O’Brien (Traip)            16–10 1/4

8 - L. Jacques (Livermore Falls)    16–0 1/2

6 - Tara Metzger (Lisbon)             15–10 1/2

4 - Vika Grindle (George Stevens) 15–7 3/4

3 - Madeline Nazar (Maranacook) 15–6

2 - Rachel Ingram (Winthrop)        15–5 3/4

1 - Ashleigh Roberts (Traip)         15–4 1/2

 

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Traip senior O’Brien finished second her freshman year, first her sophomore year and second last year at the outdoor state meet. During indoors this year, she placed second in long jump at the state meet. Livermore Falls junior Lindsey Jacques has shown some freakish improvement from last year, taking her leap from 14–8 1/2 to 16–0 1/2 — a foot and four-inch difference. All set aside again, another event bites the dust for O’Brien.

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Girl’s triple jump —

 

10 - Carley O’Brien (Traip)           34–8

8 - Madeline Nazar (Maranacook) 34–6

6 - Maria Ullo (John Bapst)            34–5 1/4

4 - Rachel Ingram (Winthrop)        33–0 3/4

3 - Tara Metzger (Lisbon)             33–0

2 - Jocelyn Lorrey (Traip)             32–9

1 - Maeve Downey (Sacopee)       32–6 3/4

 

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Traip senior O’Brien finished second her freshman and sophomore years and fourth last year at the outdoor state meet. During indoors this year, she placed third in long jump at the state meet. If anyone is to upset O’Brien, it will be Maranacook senior Madeline Nazar who is the event’s defending champion. Despite her knee problems, O’Brien is still a good two inches above Nazar going into Saturday, but Nazar is still an inch off last year’s winning jump.

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Girl’s javelin throw —

 

10 - Amberle Bennett (Seacoast)     108–8

8 - Angelica Bulgin (Lisbon)             106–5

6 - Sikwani Dana (Carrabec)           106–0

4 - S. Damboise (Livermore Falls)    105–2

3 - Taylor Zeigler-Miller (Bucksport) 100-4

2 - Kayla Angelico (Lisbon)               100–0

1 - Gretel Breton (Greenville)             99–0

 

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Seacoast senior Amberle Bennett returns as the event’s defending champion. All girls javelin throws look to be nearly 10 feet longer than last year’s. Bennett will most likely get the win here unless Lisbon junior Angelica Bulgin is able to hurl a personal record.

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Girl’s discus throw —

 

10 - Rebekah Campbell (Central) 112–3

8 - Meghan Hughes (MCI)           106–8

6 - Ruth Towne (Seacoast)           103–8

4 - Briana Moore (Lisbon)               99–2

3 - Amberle Bennett (Seacoast)      98–8

2 - Katy Donovan (Ft. Fairfield)       95–4

1 - Kirin DeSmith (Seacoast)           94–5

 

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MCI senior Meghan Hughes was the event’s champion last year, but she returns as the No. 2 seed this year, one spot behind last year’s runner-up Central senior Rebekah Campbell. Campbell’s throw of 112–3 came in mid-May but it’s still a complete bomb. Hughes has proven she can win, so don’t count her out, but I see Campbell taking center podium.

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Girl’s shot put —

 

10 - Briana Moore (Lisbon)         33–9 1/2

8 - Ruth Towne (Seacoast)         33–1

6 - Kayla Gaudin (Dirigo)             33–0

4 - Meghan Hughes (MCI)           32–6

3 - Hannah Emery (Madison)      31–9

2 - Selena Lorrey (Traip)             31–5

1 - L. Arquette (George Stevens) 30–5 1/2

 

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Shot put throws have improved overall from last year’s numbers by nearly two feet in some cases. Lisbon junior Briana Moore is our top seed at 33–9 1/2 with Seacoast junior Ruth Towne in the No. 2 spot at 33–1. The difference is by 7 1/2 feet which is exactly why Moore is going to win this event.

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Girl’s pole vault —

 

10 - Shelby Wheeler (Orono)  10–0

8 - Everlyn Staples (Sacopee)   9–9

6 - Kayla Marquis (Orono)         8–6

4 - Brooke Freeman (Madison) 7–0

3 - Ciara Myer (Sacopee)         7–0

2 - Katie Cronkite (MCI)            7–0

1 - Janae Libby (Ft. Fairfield)   6–6

 

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The top two seeds, Orono senior Shelby Wheeler and Sacopee Valley senior Everlyn Staples, both return in the same positions they left last season in, No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Both have added a half-foot to their heights and show no signs of slowing down for the state meet. Wheeler is the favorite but Staples won’t be too far behind.

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Projected Team Scores —

 

1. John Bapst         69      2. Traip                  64

3. Lisbon                56      4. Orono               56

5. Sacopee            42      6. Seacoast          37

7. Foxcroft             36      8. Maranacook      34

9. Monmouth         26    10. Winthrop           25

11. Madison           22    12. Livermore Falls  21

13. Hall-Dale          18    14. MCI                  17

15. Mt. Abram        16    16. Central              13

17. Dirigo               12    18. Washburn         12

19. St. Dominic       12     20. OOB                 10

21. Wiscasset          8     22. Carrabec            7

23. PCHS                6      24. Bucksport          5

25. George Stevens 5      26. Jay                  4

27. Ft. Fairfield        3      28. NYA                  3

29. Freeport            2      30. Waynflete         2

31. Dexter               2      32. Greenville         1

 

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Three-time defending state champion John Bapst will win their fourth straight championship if all goes well. Traip Academy is within reach though, and with a perfect day from senior hurdler Carley O'Brien and extra effort from surrounding teammates, they could possibly pull off a bittersweet upset.

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