Class B Girls State Track & Field Indoor Championship Preview

55m: MDI senior Ashley Anderson is the top seed with her 7.50 clocking, Anderson was the runner-up at the EMITL Championship, and placed 4th a year ago. Fryeburg's Bridget Tweedie is coming off a win the WMC Championship, and has a 7.56 to her credit this winter. GNG's Madison Post is the third seed, she ran in the junior division on the WMC, so with the step up in competition look for her to run faster.

Dark horse: Belfast senior Faith Beaulieu is the 8th seed at 7.82, and is coming off a strong second place finish at the KVAC Championship two weeks, she's just .06 away from the 4th fastest seed.

State meet record: 7.05, Kate Hall (2014)

55m hurdles: Cape Elizabeth freshman Darcy Cochran won the WMC junior division title a week ago, her 8.81 is the fastest hurdle time in the state this season. Can she repeat that race again, if she does it seems like she'll run away like it. This is a big event for the Greely Rangers title chances, they have sophomores Skylar Cooney & Morgan Selby seeded 2nd & 3rd.

Dark horse: Danica Chadwick of Lake Region is the 9th fastest entering the state meet, her time of 9.69 was good enough for 2nd at the WMC senior division hurdle race a week ago. She's our pick to surprise and make it on the podium.

State meet record:8.40, Chelsey Tewell (2009)

200m: Last year's state 200m runner-up Ashley Anderson is the the top seed at 26.62, her time is the only sub 27 clocking entered in the race. Lincoln Academy's Tahlia Mullen is the second seed at 27.43, while freshman Darcy Cochran of Cape 27.50 is the third seed.

Dark horse: Waterville senior Alexis Brandon is the 8th seed at 27.89, she is coming off a strong third place effort at the KVAC Championship, and our choice to make a run at the podium.

State meet record: 25.36, Kate Hall (2013)

400m: MDI's Ashley Anderson will be looking for 10 important points for the Trojans as they try to win the team title. Anderson enters with a best time on the season of 61.42. WMC senior 400m champion Morgan Smith won't be easy to beat, Smith brings a 61.44 seasonal best. Defending champion Tahlia Mullen is the third seed at 62.34, don't count her out.

Dark horse: GNG's Jaley Martin is the 10th seed at 64.96, she's our pick to break through to the podium.

State meet record: 59.51, Olivia Thurston (2011)

800m: Defending champion Tia Tardy is back as the top seed, the senior has a best of 2:18.0 to her credit this winter. Tardy showed she can still triple as she won all three distance events at the EMITL Championship a week ago. She won't have it easy as junior Anneka Murrin of Yarmouth the WMC Championship has a best of 2:20.40 and is running at a high level. Orono senior Rebecca Lopez-Anido is another strong runner her 2:20.84 has her seeded third.

Dark horse:  10th seed Eliza Broughton of George Stevens Academy has a best of 2:30.95 that she recorded last weekend when she paced 5th in a strong EMITL Championship race. We think she's got what it takes to make a run at the podium

State meet record: 2:15.28, Abby Chapman (2003)

Mile: Defending champion Tia Tardy will have this race as her first of the day, she ran a 5:02.81 to win the EMITL title last weekend. Could she make a run at Bethanie Brown's 4 year old 5:00.31 state meet record? She will be pushed by Katherine Leggat-Barr of Greely the second seed at 5:09.90, and watch out for Anneka Murrin of Yarmouth who has a best of 5:14.82. This is another big race for Greely with the #2, #4, #5, #7 seeds.

Dark horse:  Camilla Grosso of Cape Elizabeth has a best of 5:34.56 this season which has her ranked 8th overall, she didn't have her best race at WMCs so look for her to rebound on Saturday.

State meet record: 5:00.31, Bethanie Brown (2013)

Dark horse: Audree O'Meara of Old Town is the 10th seed with a best of 12:29.0. O'Meara placed 5th at the EMITL Championship last week after running the mile, with just the 800m in her legs we think she's ready for a podium run

State meet record: 10:46.95, Bethanie Brown (2013)

Long Jump: Orono's Katherine O'Brien popped off the best jump of her life at the EMITL Championship as she leapt out to a league record 17-7 3/4, that mark is also the tops in the state this year and 6th best jump in indoor state history. Old Town junior Oliviah Damboise is ranked second at 16-7, which she did at the EMITL Championship last week. Belfast's Kylie Nelson has a best of 16-5 1/4 as the third seed, she won the KVAC league title

Dark Horse: Greely junior Morgan Selby is the 10th seed at 15-4, the sophomore was third at the WMC Championship and knows her points could be key to a Rangers title.

State meet record: 19'6.5", Kate Hall (2015)

Triple Jump: Defending state champion Oliviah Damboise is the top seed at 34-8 3/4 as she looks to make it two titles in a row. Last time out she won the EMITL title with a 34-2 effort. KVAC Class B runner-up Victoria Friend of MCI has a best of 33-10, while WMC champion Maddie Amidon of York is the third seed at 33-3 1/4.

Dark horse:  12th seed Danica Chadwick of Lake Region placed 4th at the WMC Championship, her best jump of the season is a 30-7 1/4 effort, and we think she's got a chance to make a podium jump.

State meet record: 37'9.5", Shelby Tuttle (2009)

High Jump: The top three seeds all come in with 5-2 marks so being clean through the early heights will be important. Senior Lauren Williams of Greely will be looking for important team points, she won the WMC title last week. McKenna Smith of Old Town jumped 5-2 to win the EMITL title. John Bapst's Olivia St Germain is the other jumper at 5-2.

Dark horse: With a handful of jumpers at 4-10 it is a toss-up as to who come make it on the podium

State meet record: 5'6", Emma Egan (2016)

Pole Vault: Belfast's Kylie Nelson in top seed at 10-0, she won the KVAC title with that effort two weeks ago. No one else in the field has jumped that high before besides Nelson. WMC champion Maggie McCormick has a best of 9-6 as does Old Town's Oliviah Damboise who was the EMITL runner-up.

Dark horse: 4 jumpers in the field have cleared 7-0 which ranks 6th best in the field, a couple of these jumpers will make the podium, and we think Isabelle Boisvert of Greely will be one of them.

State meet record: 11', Chantelle Haggerty (2002)

Shot Put: Waterville sophomore Sarah Cox is the top seed at 36-0 3/4. Cox won the KVAC Class B title two weeks ago. GNG senior Emma MacCallum has her seasonal best of 35-10 1/4 to win the the WMC title. Lake Region's Sam DeSouza is the other thrower over 35ft with her best of 35-0 3/4

Dark horse: Dorothy LeMoine of MDI is the 9th seed at 31-5, she placed 4th at the EMITL Championship, and think she'll carry that over to the state meet.

State meet record: 49'11.75", Becky O'Brien (2008)

4x200m: Defending champion Fryeburg Academy is the top seed at 1:52.49 as they look to make it back to back titles. They are almost 2 full seconds better than second seeded Freeport. Orono at 1:54.44 is the other team under 1:55.

State meet record: 1:48.96, Greeley (R.Doucette, G.Doucette, Griffin, Mason) (2005)

4x800m: York is the top seed at 10:04.20 and the favorites to win the state title. Greely (10:10.39) could be in the mix depending on who they opt to run, as well as EMITL Champion, George Stevens Academy who has a best of 10:14.94

State meet record: 9:52.16, Waterville (Bard, Croswell, Hunter, Rancourt) (2007)