Red Storm Sweep Class A Titles

Feb 21, 2017

Red Storm Sweep Class A Titles

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The Scarborough boys started the meet off with a win in the high jump, and a win in the 4x800, that start got Red Storm off and running and they never looked back. Scarborough scored 102 1/4 points as they won their second consecutive state title, and their seventh state title in the last nine years

Scarborough was led by senior standout Sam Rusak who won three individual events. Rusak started the day off by winning the high jump (6-0), he followed that up by running a personal best 22.99 to edge teammate Jarett Flaker in a photo finish. He saved the best for last though as he broke the state meet record of 16-2 1/2 of David Slovenski as he cleared 16-3 to win the pole vault.

Freshman Jarett Flaker added 18 individual points as he won the 55m dash in 6.68, then came back to run 22.99 in the 200m, his time matched teammate Sam Rusak but he was given second place after reviewing the finish line photo. The time in the 200m lowered his own Maine freshman all-time best mark. He would also run anchor on the the winning 4x200m as the Red Storm stopped the clock at 1:33.81, the 4th fastest time run at the state meet.

Senior Ben Batoosingh was another standout for Scarborough as he won the 400m race as he came behind over the last 100m, his winning time was 52.44. Batoosingh added a third in the 200m (23.29) before running a key leg on the winning 4x200m relay.

Scarborough went from the seventh seed to the top of podium in the opening event on the track the 4x800m relay. Senior Shamus Malia provided the come from behind win with a strong anchor leg.

Senior Austin Lufkin of Brewer broke the 40 year old state meet record of Ed Bogdanovich in the shot put as the heaved the 12lb shot out to 61-2 on his his third throw of the meet. Lufkin had two more throws further than the old record as he dominated the event winning by 9ft 8 inches.

One of the most exciting races on the track was the boys 800m race as Messalonskee's Zach Hoyle & Bonny Eagle's Ben Steeves battled back and forth. Hoyle set the fast opening pace as they came through the 400m mark in 57.4. Steeves increased his turnover, taking over the lead with 300m to go and came through 600m in 1:26.5. With a 100m to go Steeves continued by 10m but Hoyle started closing the gap. Hoyle caught up to Steeves on the homestretch with 30m to go and went on the break the tape in 1:56.74, while Steeves finished in 1:57.08. The times were the 2nd & 3rd fastest in Class A state meet history, and the 5th & 6th fastest in state history

The Red Storm girls claimed the title as they tallied 88 points to outdistance runner-up Cheverus by 27 points. It was the first title since 2012 for Scarborough.

The Red Storm were led by freshman Emily Labbe who scored 26 points. Labbe won the 55m dash in a photo finish as she was able to lean past the field, her winning time was 7.47, second & third place was 7.48. She added a runner-up finish in the 55m hurdles (8.79) & the 200m (26.98)

The Red Storm got a win in the two mile from junior Bethany Sholl who was able to pull away for the win over the final two laps, Sholl was timed in 11:40.31. The 4x200m relay was also victorious as they put the icing on the cake running a state leading time of 1:49.45.

Cheverus was paced by freshman Emma Gallant who scored 26 individual points. Gallant won the 400m in 58.86 as she accelerated on the backstretch and pulled away. Her time is equal to the 10th fastest effort in state indoor history, and broke her own freshman all-time best. She came back int he 200m to win easily as she stopped the clock at 26.44. In the 55m she narrowly finished third in 7.48.

South Portland's Juliana Selser broke the 4 year old state meet record of Edie Pallozi as the junior ripped the final 200m in 32 seconds to stop the clock at 2:16.82. The time was a personal best and the tenth best time in Maine history.

Westbrook sophomore Nyagoa Bayak was a double winner as she repeated as high jump champion with a leap of 5-6, she also took the triple jump as she hopped out to 37-0 3/4.

Bangor's Rihan Smallwood repeated as the pole vault champion but it wasn't easy as she was down to her last attempt at 10-6 before making it. After that the senior got into the groove as she went on to clear a personal best 11-4. That mark moves her to the third best jumper in state history.

Lewiston's Jenny Martin won the 55m hurdles in a personal best and state tying 8.73 seconds.

Full recap coming later

Girls Highlights

Two Mile Run - Bethany Sholl (Scarborough High School) 11:40.31; Katherine Leckbee (Mt. Ararat High School) 11:42.73;
400 Meter Dash - Emma Gallant (Cheverus High School) 58.86; Emily Turner (Cheverus High School) 59.43; Kiana Letourneau (Lawrence High School) 59.90;
800 Meter Run - Juliana Selser (South Portland High School) 2:16.82; Kayla Raymond (Bonny Eagle High School) 2:20.10; Malaika Pasch (Falmouth High School) 2:20.17;
High Jump - Nyagoa Bayak (Westbrook High School) 5-6; Lingdong Bol (Windham High School) 5-4;
Pole Vault - Rihan Smallwood (Bangor High School) 11-4;
Shot Put - Daija Misler (Hampden Academy) 40-9;
Triple Jump - Nyagoa Bayak (Westbrook High School) 37-0.75; Emma White (Cheverus High School) 36-5.5;

Boys Highlights

200 Meter Dash - Sam Rusak (Scarborough High School) 22.99; Jarett Flaker (Scarborough High School) 22.99;
Two Mile Run - Paul Casavant (Hampden Academy) 9:28.24;
4x200 Meter Relay - Scarborough High School 1:33.81;
4x800 Meter Relay - Scarborough High School 8:21.05;
55 Meter Hurdles - Tanner Burton (Messalonskee High School) 7.73;
800 Meter Run - Zachariah Hoyle (Messalonskee High School) 1:56.74; Ben Steeves (Bonny Eagle High School) 1:57.08;
One Mile Run - Cameron Meier (Mt. Ararat High School) 4:29.32;
Pole Vault - Sam Rusak (Scarborough High School) 16-3; Johann Bradley (Hampden Academy) 14-6; Travis Snyder (Thornton Academy) 14-6;
Shot Put - Austin Lufkin (Brewer High School) 61-2;