State leaders galore highlight USM Relays

Dec 27, 2014

State leaders galore highlight USM Relays

Boys Results | Girls Results | Race Videos

Updated Boys Records | Updated Girls Records

With school from around the state invading the Costello Sports Complex on the campus of the University of Southern Maine on state, three meet records fell & sixteen state leading performances highlighted the USM Relays.

Starting things off was the 1600m racewalk, as Drew York of Gorham set the fast pace as he walked his way to a 7:12.42 meet record, in the girls walk it was Kayla Allen of Lewiston competing unattached who set the gold standard with her 7:41.84 record breaking effort.

The girls mile was one of the best races of the day as several of the top distance runners in the state toed the line. Freshman Anna Slager of Gorham did most of the heavy lifting early on as the pack came through the halfway point in 2:45. Halee Phelps of Westbrook took the lead briefly but Slager was content to lead. On the bell lap it was down to Slager & Bonny Eagle's Kyaunna Libby. Libby who ran the state leading time for 800m a week ago, 2:22.62, showed her wheels as she made her move on the back stretch. Libby had to much turnover for Slager as crossed the line first in a state leading 5:26.68. Slager who finish second followed by Caroline Driscoll of MDI, & Halee Phelps of Westbrook all under 5:30.

In the boys mile it was a three runner battle until the final 400m as Hampden Academy's Paul Casavant pulled away for a six second victory with his state leading 4:31.17 performance. Falmouth's Bryce Murdick was rewarded with staying with Casavant for most of the race as he set a huge personal best of 4:37.15, the third best effort in the state this winter.

The boys Distance Medley was a runway for Scarborough, as they ran a state leading 10:53.5 breaking their school record by 6 seconds. On the girls side Scarborough was also the victor winning by 27 seconds in 13:53.49

The hurdle races produced some outstanding performances. In the girls race Madeline Reny of Cony handled the field with ease clocking a state leading 9.19. Sophomore Callie O'Brien of South Portland was second in a personal best 9.37

On the boys side it was a 1-2 finish for Scarborough's Griffin Madden & Maxim Doiron as they clocked times of 8.07 & 8.24 respectively. Madden's time currently ranks him #2 in the state, with Doiron's time the fourth fastest.

The girls sprint medley relay was one of the best races of the day as Gorham & Hampden Academy battled. In the end it was the freshman Anna Slager kicking by Elizabeth Labun in the final 100m to give the Rams the victory in 4:37.20 to 4:39.82. On the boys side Falmouth lead from wire to wire as the Yachtsmen crossed the line in 3:53.90 to win by 3 seconds over Yarmouth.

The boys 4x400 was one of the best relays of the day as four teams entered the last lap with a chance to win. Thornton Academy who got two strong legs from Tyler Lebel & Keegan Fowler to open up a lead had to much for the rest of the field as anchor leg Dan Marsh hit the afterburners with 100m to go to give the Trojans the win & state leading time of 3:37.49. Mt Desert Island was second in 3:38.59 while Cheverus behind a huge anchor leg of Jake Dixon was third in 3:38.74.

The girls 4x400 was won by Wells as they came from behind on the final lap to earn the win in 4:34.68 edging out Scarborough 4:35.96.

Lewiston's Heather Kendall took the girls 55m as she clocked a Class A leading 7.51 to win over a talented field. Lauren Magnuson of South Portland was second in 7.63 with Alexandra Pettaway next in 7.64.

Thornton Academy's Derek Boissonault was the top boys 55m sprinter as he clocked a 6.74 in the prelims, followed by his winning effort of 6.77 in the final as he edged Sanford's Peyton Weigand 6.80.

The 4x800's saw state leading times set in both races. In the girls it was South Portland who bested the field of 5 with a 10:36.79 effort, Westbrook was second in 10:41.84. On the boys side it was Scarborough cruising to win in 8:27.36.

The final event on the track was the 4x200's and they didn't disappoint. The Lewiston girls showed they may be the team to beat in Class A this winter as they ripped a state leading 1:52.09 to easily take the win. On the boys side Noble came from behind witha strong anchor carry from Cam Johnson to win over Lewiston 1:37.58 to 1:38.23.

Bangor dominated the girls vault taking 3 of the top 4 spots to win the relay. Leading the way for the Rams was Abby Reynolds the defending Class A champion who jumped 9-6. Bangor won the boys team title was well with all three vaulter above 11-0. Individually Peter Hegarty of Sanford jumped a Sanford school record 13-7 to win the event. The mark is the third best in the state this winter.

In the high jump relay on the girls side there was a tie between Scarborough & South Portland as each cleared a total height of 14-4. Alexis Wintle of Windham the defending Class A champion was the top individual, clearing 5-2 to best Ellen Shaw of Scarborough on misses at the height. On the boys side only Scarborough had three jumpers clear a height giving the Red Storm the victory. Tony St. Angelo of Falmouth was the top individual clearing 6-0.

The boys shot put saw some fireworks as Nick White of Cheverus & Daniel Guilani of South Portland both brought their "A" to the circle. White opened with a new indoor personal best of 52-5 1/2, Guiliani followed with his indoor personal best of 55-8. Dan would go on to add to his state leading performance as he threw another personal best of 56-7 1/4, moving him to #7 in the country. South Portland had the top team overall combining their 3 best throwers.

The girls shot was just as good as the duel between Alyssa Coyne of Greely & Maddie Stella of Noble. Coyne would win the match-up but it produced the two best throws in the state this winter. Coyne's winning & state leading effort of 38-4 1/4 bested a personal & Class A leading 37-4 1/2 from Stella. Noble had the best trio of throwers winning the team title.

Brooke Sulinski of Old Town was the top girls triple jumper with her 33-8 3/4 effort leading her Old Town team to the team win as the Coyotes has 3 jumpers above 31 feet. On the boys side it was state leader Michael Cuesta of South Portland leading the way with his 42-7 effort, he also helped his squad to the team win.

In the long jump, Milena Opielowski of Cheverus was the top jumper with her 15-10 1/4 effort. Hampden Academy was the top team. On the boys side Michael Cuesta had the top leap of 20-3 1/4. Thornton Academy with three jumpers above 19-3 easily took the team win.

Meet Records

Boys 1600m Racewalk Drew York (Gorham) 7:12.42

Girls 1600m Racewalk Kayla Allen (Unattached) 7:41.84

Boys Pentathlon Charles Moody (Old Town) 3027

State Leading Performances

Boys

4x800m Scarborough 8:27.36

Shot Put Daniel Guiliani (South Portland) 56-7 1/4

4x400m Thornton Academy 3:37.49

Distance Medley Scarborough 10:53.5

Pentathlon Charles Moody (Old Town) 3027

1600m Racewalk Drew York (Gorham( 7:12.42)