Big marks at Red Riot Invitational
Guiliani shatters the Maine All-time in the shot put with a massive 65'6 heave
It didn't take long for the stars of Maine high school track and field to start recording some impressive marks in the first competition of the season for many competing at the Red Riot Invitational at South Portland High School on Wednesday.
In the long jump, indoor national champion Kate Hall put together a strong series of jumps going 19'4 3/4, 19'5 3/4 & ending with a best of 19'6 1/2". The 19'6 1/2" mark was just 1/4" off her own Maine all-time best outdoors, and ranks her 6th in the country. "I was just shooting to jump 19', so I'm pleased with how the long jump went" Hall commented after the meet. "I've only been able to get into the pit one time, and that was on Monday". Kate added state leading marks in the 100m (12.37) & 200m (26.45) both un into a strong headwind
Next to her on the adjacent runway was the boys triple jump where senior Justin Gagnon of Biddeford was able to get out to 43'5 1/4", a new state leading mark in the triple. He then jumped into the blocks for the 110m hurdles, and dominated the field into a headwind clocking a very fine 15.46. Gagnon's personal best of 15.06 certainly isn't going to last long this spring. For good measure he added a 20-5 1/2" effort to win the long jump and then won the 300m hurdles in 43.9. The long jump mark was also a state leading mark.
At the other end end of the track all eyes were on the shot put circle as Daniel Guiliani of South Portland was up against Nick White of Cheverus. Guiliani applied the pressure on his first throw as he got out to a new outdoor personal best of 60'6, the mark was just 1/4" off the all-time Maine best, and left him feeling confident with two throws remaining. On his second throw, he had great speed and balance coming through the circle and the 12lb shot exploded from his hands, when it landed Coach Kahill gave a clap and as the tape was pulled tight, the official called out 65'6. That mark was the furthest throw ever from a Maine athlete adding an incredible 4'11 3/4 to the previous best of 60'6 1/4 set by Dan Smith of Thornton Academy. The mark ranks Dan #4 in the country currently, and moves him to #2 on the all-time New England outdoor mark of 67-10 3/4.
Watch the record throw
Over at the Discus, Nick White the defending Class A champion in the event had his best throw of his competition on his final attempt as the University of Rhode Island bound senior launched it out to 152'7, the mark improved on his 148-0 opener from a year ago. Unfortunately White was in an earlier flight, and Guiliani was in the flight after him so they didn't get to go head to head. Guiliani full of confidence from the shot put put on another show in the discus as he rattled off throws of 156, 163-4, & 160-0. Coming into the meet his personal best on the event was just 136-6.
Other State leading marks on the day were Henry Hintermeister of Noble in the boys javelin (157-10), the Cheverus boys 4x400 (3:40.75), while Kyle Broughton of Kennebunk equalled the state lead in the pole vault with a 12-6 mark. On the girls side Kayla Allen lowered her own state lead in the 1600m racewalk down to 7:29.47, while Halee Phelps of Westbrook clocked 5:40.35 for a new lead in the 1600m. Lewiston's Jennie Martin clocked 17.19 in the 100m hurdles, then helped the 4x100 (50.91) & 4x400 (4:24.66) set new leading marks as well. In the triple another Blue Devil had a big day as Adela Kalilwa getting out to 35-8. In the javelin Michelle Medici of South Portland got over 100ft with her 100-3 effort.