Scarborough senior Sam Rusak went to the Rhode Island Classic to chase the 16ft barrier in the pole vault. Rusak who opened his season a week ago with a 15-4 effort came in ranked US #7 in the event.
He opened his competition at 14-0, and won the event with his first jump clearance. He opted to go for 14-7 on his second jump, and cleared that on his first attempt to break James Strawderman's six year old meet record of 14-6. Next up Rusak had the bar raised to 15-1 as he attempted to break Strawderman's fieldhouse record at the Providence Career & Technical High School facility of 15-0. It was no problem as he soared over the bar of his first attempt.
Rusak next jumped at 15-7, where he missed his first attempt before adding to his record breaking day with a second attempt clearance. After that the bar went to 16-1, but it wasn't to be as Rusak bowed out of the competition. The 15-7 jump moved him to US #4, and was the second best effort of his career.
For his record breaking performer Rusak was chosen as the male field events MVP of the meet.
Earlier in the meet Rusak competed in the 55m hurdles, where he posted a personal best 8.20 to finish 9th overall, he missed the finals by .01 seconds.
For the second consecutive year the Deering boys freshman-sophomore sprint medley relay took the top spot. The team of Samacha Sam, Songha Loth, Jerry Mixangelo & Iessa Ramadan clocked 3:54.87 to take first place, in the process they just missed the meet record of 3:54.11.
The Rams also earned a runner-up finish in the freshman-sophomore 4x400m as they ran 3:45.06, competing athletes were Songha Loth, Alex Troxell, Iessa Ramadan & Jerry Mixangelo.
The Deering distance medley ran 11:25.63 to finish 5th overall. While the 4x200m relay team ran ME #2 1:37.85 with their win in section 4.
Individually Ezra Chapola of Deering placed 4th in the triple jump with a mark of 40-4 1/4.
Yarmouth junior Anneka Murrin ran in the mile where she would go on to finish 6th running a 5:26.74.
Falmouth senior Jeremiah Sands competed in boys mile, Sands clocked a new indoor personal best 4:31.43 to finish 4th overall. Sands time moves him to the fastest in Class A, and ME #2 effort.