The Penobscot Valley Conference lays claim to some of the speediest sprinters in the state this spring.
More evidence was on display during recent meets.
Sophomore Kaitlin Saulter of Hermon turned in the fastest 400 meters among Class B girls this season when she sped to victory in 59.14 seconds last week at Dover-Foxcroft.
It ranks second only to Brewer’s Teal Jackson, whose 58.26 has her atop the state and Class A performance lists. The junior is coming off a Saturday meet during which she won the 100 (12.93), 200 (26.45) and 400 (59.57).
Aleta Looker of Ellsworth also has begun making her move as the outdoor track and field season enters its final three weekends. The sophomore won two individual events last week on her home track, placing herself among the state’s top performers in each.
Looker won the 400 meters in 1 minute, 1.48 seconds and took the 800 in 2:21.59. The effort in the 400 was a personal record, while the 800 clocking was a season best. Both times rank her third in Class B and fifth in the state during 2012.
Outstanding runs were rampant around the region. Waterville’s Bethanie Browne impressed again last week while competing at the Glenn D. Loucks Games in White Plains, N.Y.
The junior established a personal record and a No. 1 state ranking by running the 1,600 in 4:51.84. She also ran her best time of the spring in the 800 at 2:17.03.
Other girls standouts last week included Old Town’s Tia Jackson, who won the 200 (27.55), high jump (5-0) and pole vault (7-6) in the May 11 meet at Dover-Foxcroft.
Bangor’s Denae Johnson took first place in the 200 (28.16), 110 hurdles (16.67) and 300 hurdles (48.13) in Saturday’s action at Caribou. Teammate Tiffany Gray claimed the long jump (17-0) and triple jump (35-7).
Marissa Shaw of Nokomis High School in Newport had another notable effort with a throw of 98-9 in the javelin that ranks second in Class B.
On the boys side, Matt McClintock of Madison established himself as the leading 1,600 and 3,200 runner in Maine. The senior ran those events in 4:23.24 and 9:25.23, respectively, winning them in the May 11 meet at Foxcroft Academy.
The 1,600 effort was a personal record for McClintock.
Dan Curts of Ellsworth also excelled in the 1,600, running a personal-best 4:24.37 on his home track a week ago. It ranks him second only behind McClintock.
Conor Patrick of Hampden Academy reached new heights Saturday in Brewer, where he went over the bar at 13-0 in the pole vault. The senior’s personal record is the best of the season in Class A statewide and ranks third for all classes.
Jonathan Hendrickson-Belloguet of Medomak Valley High in Waldoboro unleashed a jump of 43-8 Monday in winning the triple jump in a meet at Erskine Academy of South China.
The junior’s personal record is the best effort in Class B this season and is second only to a 43-9 1/2 turned in recently by Edward Little’s Conor Harris.
Medomak Valley’s Yannick Price-Prevot also shone Monday, throwing the discus 141-2, good for second in Class B and fourth statewide.
Orono’s Miguel Caballero was a one-man wrecking crew Saturday, winning four individual events at Brewer. The senior won the 100 (11.41), 200 (23.24), 400 (52.61) and took the long jump (20-10).
Caballero ranks either first or second in all four events among Class C competitors.
Monday marked another double-win day for Camden Hills sprinter Caleb Pease. He won the 200 in 22.81 seconds, the top time in Class B for 2012, and ran a 52.00 in the 400, which is the second-best “B” time of the season.
In Wednesday’s Aroostook County meet at Caribou, Derik Michaud took advantage of his home turf to run a speedy 100 meters. The sophomore burst into the top five among Class B sprinters this season when he clocked an 11.4 hand time to win the event.
This week’s busy schedule includes Thursday’s meet at Orono, Friday competitions at Bucksport (Hancock County Meet) and Foxcroft Academy, and Saturday action at Presque Isle and Auburn, where Bangor and Brewer will take on host Edward Little and Lewiston.
Next week, numerous Eastern Maine teams will gather at two sites for the PVC Championships. Brewer holds the large-school competition May 25, then Foxcroft Academy hosts the small schools on May 26.