The action inside the Reggie Lewis Center on Saturday for the New England Indoor Track and Field Championship is expected to be hot. Getting to the meet might be a problem for some athletes as heavy snow is expected to blanket Maine Friday night into Saturday. The meet was supposed to start at 10:30a on Saturday but that was pushed back until noon on Thursday afternoon by meet management.
New England's Performance List
Updated Time Schedule
Boys Preview
Mt Desert Island junior Miles Burr the Maine state leader in the 55m (6.47) will be one to watch. The Class B champion moved to third best in state history with his winning dash time at the Class B meet two weeks ago. Burr ranks fourth overall in the field with his finals time, however his 6.47 would be the second fastest in the field. He will also compete in the 300m where he ranks fourth with a converted 35.08 from his 22.34 200m effort at the state meet. If he matches that effort he would move to the second fastest in state history in the event. Class A 200m champion Parker Killiard will also compete in the 300m, Killiard recently clocked the second fastest 200m in state history with his 22.30 at the BU Last Chance meet. Killiard comes in as the eighth seed. Rowan Carter of Marshwood the Class A runner-up is the tenth seed.
Junior Maddox Jordan of Noble has had an excellent championship season this winter most recently winning the mile and 800 at the Class A state meet. Jordan set a state-leading mark of 4:20.60 in the mile as he kicked his way to victory. Jordan's time ranks sixth best in the field, and if the last few races are any indication of his ability don't be surprised to see him challenge for the top spot, especially with his closing speed.
In the 2 mile look for Scarborough senior Adam Bendetson to be in the mix for a top spot. Bendetson the Class A champion enters as the ninth-best based on state meet performance. Earlier this year Bendetson ran 9:19.65 at USM, he'll be looking to move up the all-time lists in the event with a strong performance.
York senior Matt Charpentier is a returning All-New England selection in the shot put. The Class B champion broke his state meet record with a personal best 57-10 1/2 throw two weeks, that effort has him ranked second in the competition where he will face US #1 Jacob Cookinham.
Over in the hurdle Class B champion Nolan Garey of Poland will have his sights set on a podium finish. Garey clocked a new Class B state meet record of 7.62 in winning his second consecutive state title, he enters Saturday ranked third overall.
On the long jump runway look for Class A champion Billy Albertson of Skowhegan who is seeded sixth with his 21-11 3/4 effort. Class B champion Corbin Flewelling of Old Town is seeded eighth with his 21-8. Also watch out for Fryeburg Academy senior Jacob Adams who was third a year ago, he is the tenth seed. In the high jump Class A champion Griffin Gammon of Gorham is a threat for the podium with his 6-3 best which has him ranked fifth. Class B champion Corbin Flewelling and Conor Morin of Cony figure to be in the mix as well.
In the 4x200m Falmouth will be chasing the state record of 1:31.40, they clocked a speedy flat track time of 1:32.90 at the Class A state meet.
Girls Preview
In the straightaway events Maine should be well represented on the girls side. Look for state leader Makenna Drouin of Edward Little to have a shot for a podium finish in the 55m hurdles, her prelim time of 8.43 from states puts her inside the top six. Drouin was the 55m runner-up a year ago but unfortunately false started at states so won't contend that event. Senior Caroline Fallona of Scarborough is the sixth seed in the 55m after her personal best 7.21 to win the Class A meet, she is a returning All-New England in the event after placing sixth a year ago.
Last year's mile runner-up Cary Drake will look to recreate the magic of the 2022 run that left her less than blink of the eye off the top spot on the podium. Drake will have to wait to see if she makes it into the faster section as her time from winning the Class B title has her in just 17th but we know that she is capable of much more. Drake earlier this winter became the fourth high school from the pine tree state to crack the five minute mile barrier with her 4:59.11 effort. The one thing going for Drake is if she has to push the pace alone in a slower section she is used to going out hard and having to push herself to fast times.
Watch for Portland sophomore Samantha Moore in the 1000m along with Emma Young of Cape Elizabeth. Moore who won the mile and 800m at the Class A state meet ranks 13th coming into the meet but I would expect her to have the ability to crack the 3 minute barrier and make a run at the podium.
Class A 200m champion Anna Connors of Bangor will look to improve of her runner-up finish in the 300m from last year, she is the fifth seed at 40.59. We know Connors has the endurance to go along with speed so don't be surprised to see her shine again.
Class B high jump Avery Baker-Schlendering of Freeport is amongst a handful of jumpers who have cleared 5-4 or better this winter, if she can jump clean up through the heights she has a good shot for a podium finish.
In the 4x200m watch out for Scarborough who will add Emerson Flaker into the lineup as the Red Storm look to take a shot at the state record of 1:46.89 run by Cheverus back in 2017 at the New England Championship.