On Saturday, Maine athletes had the home-state advantage at Bangor's Cameron Stadium for the New England Championship. As a result, they achieved a remarkable number of All-New England performances, setting a new record.
PHOTOS | INTERVIEWS
One of the standout performers at the event was Sarah Moore, a junior from North Yarmouth Academy. She achieved a personal best of 19-0 1/4 in the long jump, securing her victory. Despite this success, her day was far from over as she then moved on to compete in the high jump and triple jump simultaneously. Moore accomplished an impressive height of 5-5, coming in second place in the high jump, while also achieving a massive personal best of 37-8 1/4 in the triple jump, earning her a second victory of the day.
Moore's achievements were truly remarkable - her long jump distance places her as the second-best performer in outdoor history, and her triple jump mark ranks her as the eighth-best in the state's history.
Miles Burr, a talented sprinter from Mount Desert Island, had a packed schedule on the track. He competed in three individual events - the 100m, 200m, and 400m. Despite facing tough competition, Burr managed to secure a second-place finish in the 100m with an impressive time of 10.84. In the 400m, he overcame the disadvantage of being in lane one and finished strong in the last 150m, clocking in at a new personal best of 48.98. This time held up for second place once all the other sections were completed. Finally, Burr excelled in his best event, the 200m, setting a new state record of 21.67. Although he missed out on the win by a mere 0.01 seconds, his performance was exceptional.
Marshwood senior Rowan Carter added a third-place finish in the 200m as he stormed to a personal best 22.01, the time is the sixth best in state history. Colby Cooper of Bonny Eagle set a new Maine sophomore class record as he lowered his mark down to 49.16 as he won section three, his effort was good for fifth overall.
During the 400m race in her home stadium, all attention was on Anna Connors from Bangor. With her exceptional performance in the first 200m, there was no doubt that she was going to win. Anna finished strong and achieved a personal best of 55.25, making her the champion. But that wasn't all for Connors, as she also secured a runner-up position in the 200m event, setting another personal best of 24.28, which was the second-fastest time in state history.
A remarkable high jump competition took place, featuring the talented Gorham High School sophomore, Griffin Gammon, who won the event with a 6-9 clearance, surpassing his previous best by three inches. Despite his loss in the Class A state meet, Gammon made a comeback on Saturday and emerged victorious, clearing his final two heights on third attempt clearances. Remarkably, his achievement also set a new Maine sophomore class record in the event. Additionally, Falmouth senior Judd Armstrong earned All-New England honors by securing a fifth place with his 6-3 clearance.
The triple jump ended up being a Maine showdown between Class B jumpers Conor Morin of Cony, and Corbin Flewelling of Old Town. Flewelling took the lead after the first round with a 45-1 1/2 effort, Morin would snatch it back in round two with a 46-2 leap and would extend his lead in the third round with a 46-5 1/2. In the first jump of the finals, Flewelling surged back into the lead with a 46-8 1/4 mark and extended that in the fifth round with a massive personal best of 47-3 1/2. Down to his final jump, Morin saved his best for last as he hopped out to 47-6 to win the New England title. The final distances rank Morin and Flewelling second and third best in state history.
During the race, Orono junior Ruth White kept the home state crowd on their feet by leading the 3200m from start to finish, achieving a personal best time of 10:30.49. Ruth maintained an impressive level of consistency throughout the race, running laps between 78-79 seconds, until she secured a significant 18-second lead at the end of eight laps. Her final lap was her fastest, clocking in at 77.7 seconds. Earlier in the meet, Ruth accomplished breaking five minutes in the 1600m for the first time, completing section one in 4:58.65 and finishing fifth overall.
Marshwood senior Shelby Anderson seems to shine brightest during the New England Championship. Last year, she achieved a personal best and finished as the runner-up. This year, she outdid herself again and secured the top spot on the podium with a remarkable throw of 130-3, her best of the season.
During the 110m hurdles event, senior Nolan Garey the Class B champion from Poland had an outstanding race. As he reached the finish line, he glanced at the scoreboard and saw his time of 14.27. Overwhelmed with joy, Garey raised his hands in the air and exclaimed "Yes!" He had broken the state record for the event, and his hard work had paid off. Garey finished second in the event to earn All-New England Honors.
The 4x100 team of Bailey Stoddard-Baughman, Emerson Flaker, Julia Black, and Caroline Fallona from Scarborough achieved a remarkable feat by breaking the state record in their event. With a timing of 49.0 seconds, they outperformed the previous record set by Gorham a year ago. The team narrowly missed the podium by just .02 seconds.
Speaking of relays, the Falmouth 4x400m team of Max Shapiro, Finn Caxton-Smith, Miles Woodbury, & Miles Gay broke their own state record in the event with their 3:23.87 effort, they would place third overall.
Class B shot put and discus champion Matt Charpentier of York performed at his usual high level. Charpentier finished as the runner-up in both events as he threw the shot 60-1 1/4 and 173-4 in the discus.
During the 1600m races, the boys and girls achieved some incredible personal bests, excellent times, and all-time marks. In the boy's race, Maddox Jordan of Noble, who is the Class A state champion, clocked in at 4:10.35, finishing third after making a hard push in the last 100m. Jordan has impressively shaved off over twelve seconds from his time in the last three weeks. Coming in right behind him was Charlie Collins, a senior from Hampden Academy, who improved his best by almost three seconds with his 4:11.60 effort, earning him fourth place. Jordan's time is the fifth-best in state history, while Collins' time is the seventh-best.
During the girl's race, Ruth White established the pace for the top section to follow. Cary Drake, the Class B state champion from York, took a different approach and followed the leader through the first 400m in 72.93. Class C state champion Teanne Ewings from Houlton was right behind her. Drake moved up to second place at the 800m mark, with Ewings following closely. Cary kicked it up a notch over the final 400m, recording her fastest lap time of 72.10, and achieved a personal best of 4:55.35, breaking the elusive five-minute barrier. Ewings finished right behind her with a time of 4:56.35, which is a six-second improvement from her previous best. Drake's impressive time now ranks her as the third-best in history, while Ewings ranks fourth, and White's effort is ninth-best.
Scarborough senior Adam Bendetson followed up his New England indoor title with a strong third-place effort. Bendetson clocked a personal best of 9:15.29. On the girl's side for the Red Storm sophomore Emerson Flaker placed fourth in the 400m with a personal best of 57.52.
The boy's 300m hurdles were a strong event for Maine as three athletes made the podium. Class A state champion Luke Patterson of Brunswick who placed fourth in a personal best 39.54 led the way, he was followed in fifth place by Gorham's Nolan Feyler 39.56, while Nolan Garey of Poland rounded out the top six with his 39.63 from section one.
Lewiston's Makenna Drouin had a strong day as well as the junior finished as the runner-up in the 300m hurdles with her 43.89, the time was just off her own state record. Makenna also placed sixth in the 100m in 12.27 and made the 100m hurdle final.
In the pole vault Reece Perry of Freeport the Class B state champion cleared 13-9 to finish as the runner-up. Over in the javelin, Thornton Academy junior Caden True tossed it 179-3 for a new personal best and third-place finish.
Other All-New England scorers were the Brunswick boys 4x800 of Max Stadnicki, Ben Klingle, Eli Palmer, and Miles Logan who clocked 8:01.84 to finish after winning section one. In the boy's long jump Class A champion Billy Albertson of Skowhegan leaped out to 21-10 3/4 on his first attempt which would be good enough to finish as the runner-up while Class B champion Corbin Flewelling was fourth with a 21-10 effort. The girl's triple jump saw Windham's Tayla Pelletier set a new sophomore class record with her personal best of 37-4 1/2 jump, her distance placed her third overall. Brewer sophomore Lauren Vanidestine also notched a podium finish in the triple jump with a fifth-place effort of 36-6. In the high jump, Campbell Johnson of Lake Region, and Avery Baker-Schlendering of Freeport both cleared 5-3 to finish in a tie for third place. In the girl's pole vault, Maya Judice of Thornton Academy cleared a personal best 10-9 to finish fifth.