Class A State Meet Preview
Girls Team Outlook- The team title is up for grabs with a few teams expected to be in the mix, this one could come down the the 4x200m relay. Bangor, the EMITL champ will be looking for the first program's first indoor state title. The Rams have the fire power to get it done with standout jumpers Tiffany Gray & Grace Maclean leading the way. If the Rams are going to win they will have to knock off the 7 time defending state champions from Scarborough. The Red Storm have entered several state meets as the underdog as they are this year, but have found a way to come away with the trophy at the end of the day. Scarborough will need a big day from seniors Nicole Kirk & Emily Tolman to make it 8 in a row! Thornton Academy & Cheverus are two other teams in the mix as well. Cheverus will have to a huge day from their distance runners, but if they can come through the Stags will be right in the mix. Thornton Academy has several threats across a plethora of events so look for the Trojans to be fighting for the top spot all day long. The shot put as well as the hurdles & jumps will be key events for the Trojans. If the meet comes down to the 4x200, Bangor & Scarborough are in the final heat, while TA is in section 3 & the Stags don't have a team entered. Expect a tight battle with several lead changes throughout the meet as in several events these contending teams will be going against eachother.
Individual Athletes to Watch
Alexis Dickinson (Brunswick) Dickinson the defending 55m champ, enters with the top seed time 7.31, she also is the #4 seed in the 200m & has lane 6 which produced the winner in last year's meet, she will also run on the 3rd ranked 4x200m relay
Tiffany Gray (Bangor) Gray had an outstanding winter, where she broke the PVC record in the long jump, her mark of 17-5 leads all jumpers, as well as her 36ft seed in the triple jump. Gray could take aim at the state meet LJ record of 17-6 1/2
Sarah Perkins (Gorham) Perkins has been the most dominant female athlete this season, she'll be looking for 30 individual points and three trips to the top of the podium. Perkins is the top seed in the 55m hurdles 8.60, 400m-59.22 & the #2 seed in the 200m 26.04
Grace Maclean (Bangor) Maclean is the other part of the dynamic jumping duo of the Rams. Maclean is the #2 seed in the 55m hurdles, tied for the top seed in the hJ (5-2), the event where she is the state meet record holder, & is also seeded #2 in the long jump behind Gray.
Nicole Kirk (Scarborough) The defending 200m champion will need to come up big for the Red Storm, Kirk is the #4 seed in the 55m, she placed #2 last year, and the #3 seed in the 200m. Additionally it maybe her anchor leg in the 4x200m that decides the meet for the #2 ranked team, who are the defending champion in the event.
Teal Jackson (Brewer) Jackson is coming off a huge performance at the EMITL Chmaps, where she won 3 events & broke the league record in the 200m. She enters the meet tied for #2 seed in the 55m, #2 seed in the 400m & the top seed in the 200m
Emily Tolman (Scarborough) Tolman has a daunting task ahead of her, but she's a proven commodity in the state meet. Tolman is the 3rd seed in the LJ, and event where she'll go head to head against Bangor & TA jumpers, then she heads to the 400m where she is the #5 seed, she'll get a scant 30 minutes rest before toeing the line in the 800m as the #3 seed.
Fiona Hendry (Cheverus) Hendry is one of the top distance runners in the state, she'll run a leg on Cheverus's top ranked 4x800, additionally she is the top seed in the mile & the #2 seed in the 2 mile
Charlotte Pierce (Thonrton Academy) Pierce is the #2 seed in the mile, & is the top seed in the 2 Mile
Jaclyn Masters (Edward Little) Masters enters the meet as the #2 seed in the 55m 7.43, the #2 seed in the pole vault 10-6 & will run on the top ranked 4x200m relay team. Last year if you remember Masters suffered a freak injury vaulting a few days before the state meet that prevented her from competing the rest of the year,
Record Watch
4x800- The first event of the meet could produce a record if the Stags of Cheverus decide to go after the 9:45.51, their seed time is 4 seconds off the record
55m- 7.25 is the meet record, with all the fast times this season I wouldn't be surprise to someone break through, Alexis Dickinson the top seed has run 7.31
200m- With 4 girls in he race with great speed the 25.80 record could be approcache. Teal Jackson ran 25.87 at Orono last weekend, outdoor record holder Nicole Kirk would like to add the indoor record to her resume.
4x200- The top two teams Edward Little & Scarborough are capable of setting a new mark, the existing mark of 1:48.71 (Scarborough) was set Kirk's freshman year
LJ- Tiffany Gray is just 1 1/2" off Maria Curit's 2 year old record of 17-6 1/2
Event to Watch
Long Jump- This will start of the meet & will have huge team title implentations. 6 of the top 7 seeds come from title contenders. Bangor is seeded for 18 points (Tiffany Gray & Grace Maclean), while Scarborough(Emily Tolman) is seeded for 6, & Thornton Academy (Marie Vermund, Tori Daigle, & Amanda Arnold) is seeded for 8. If Bangor goes 1-2 in the event this would give them a great start & could be the momentum for a huge day for the Rams. Tolman could give the Red Storm a big boost if she can move up, she'll be competing in the long jump for the first time this season without a race in her legs. Thornton has 3 athletes which gives them power in numbers, if just one of the 3 can move up it'll give the Trojans a big push early on.
Boys Team Outlook- The meet projects to be a low scoring affair so that meets there are several teams with a shot at bringing home the state title. Defending champion Scarborough has a shot to defend to their title, and make it 3 iin 4 years. The Red Storm have one top seed, so they have plenty of room to move up in several events, the distance runners will need to have strong meets for the Red Storm to be the last team standing. Last year's runner-up Mt Ararat is peaking at the right time, they are right back in the title picture. The Eagles have standout Mckenzie Gary who is the top seed in the 200m & LJ, along with some strong 800m runners. Mt. Ararat has never won an indoor state title. Deering comes into the meet a serious threat, the Rams have several high seeds, if they meet those and get a little help in a few other events they can win their first title since 2004. The shot put, 55m, and hurdles will be key events for the Rams. Other teams like Bangor, Cheverus, Bonny Eagle, Edward Little, & Brunswick should score above 30 points which could put them into the mix if other teams falter a bit.
Individual Athletes to Watch
McKenzie Gary (Mt Ararat) Gary won 3 events at last year's meet, he's the top seed this year in the long jump & 200m, while holding down the #2 spot for 400m. His points will be key to Mt Ararat's team chances. He's a proven performer on the biggest stage.
Harlow Ladd (Messalonskee) Ladd has been the dominate distance runner in the state this winter, he holds state best at the Mile & 2 Mile, and is ranked nationally in both. Ladd will be shooting for the Mile/2 Mile double, The question maybe how fast can he run both not can he win both.
Connor Harris (Edward Little) Harris is defending triple jump champion & has excelled at the event all winter. He's the top seed in the Triple (45-5 1/4) & High Jump (6-4). He was runner-up last year in the high jump. Additionally he's the #2 seed in the long jump.
Tyson Goodale (Bonny Eagle) Goodale has been nursing an injured hamstring for most of the season, if he can return at full strength he'll give the Scots a huge boost. Tyson is seeded #4 in the 55HH, #4 long jump, & #3 in the triple jump.
Luke Dang (Cony) Dang is peaking at the right time, last week he scored a big upset over McKenzie in the 55m, setting a personal best that has him ranked #3, Dang is also ranked #4 in the 200m
Ethan Beaulier (Noble) Beaulier is the #2 seed in the 55m (6.74) & #2 in the 200m 23.30, he'll be looking for his first individual state title.
Anthony Miller (Deering) Miller is the top seed in the 55m (6.71), #5 seed in the long jump, & will run on the Rams 6th ranked 4x200. Deering needs Miller to be on top of his game toincrease their title chances
David Correale (Bangor) Correale is the top seed in the 800 (2:00.78) & could run a leg on the #3 ranked 4x800 team
Alec James (Scarborough) James is the Red Storm's lone #1 seed, his 12-6 seasonal best leads all vaulters by 6". Scarborough has had a history of pole vault state champs, James will be looking to add his name.
Bryan White (Deering) White is the top shot putters in the state with his 53-10 3/4, he's got a 4ft plus lead over the next seed
Record Watch
2 Mile- Harlow Ladd showed he can run fast off a triple last weekend, on Monday he'll only be doubling so the 9:24.26 record of Eric Giddings is in danger.
Triple Jump- Connor Harris has been very consistent this winter jumping over 45 ft numerous times, his best 45-5 1/4 is just 6 1/2"off Peter Phelan's 16 year old record
Event to Watch
4x800 - The opening race of the meet on the track could set the tone for the team title. Mt Ararat is the top seed by 4 plus seconds, & has 3 legs that will run in the fast section of the 800m later on. Cheverus was the surprise champion in the SMAA, have a strong squad anchored by Brady Foshay. Bangor could be the team to beat if David Correale runs, last weekend the Rams clocked 8:30.30 without their two best 800m runners. Scarborough the defending champion in the event is the 4th seed, they will get a boost as Nick Morris will return to run anchor. Gorham is running the 4x800 seriously for the first time all season, they should be able to mix it up with the top teams as well. This race should back and forth depending on where teams decide to run certain legs, ans the final outcome could be the deciding factor in the meet despite it being the first event.
Other State Meet Information
