The 2023 USM New Year's Invitational featured 973 Maine and New Hampshire athletes, producing thirteen new state-leading boys' performances and ten girls' performances.
RESULTS | VIDEOS | PHOTOS
Lewiston senior Makenna Drouin was a standout in the sprint and hurdles. Drouin clocked 7.19 in the preliminaries in the 55m dash to set a new personal best and state-leading effort, she lowered that to 7.18 in the finals. The time is the fourth fastest in state history. Drouin also won the 55m hurdles as she dominated the field clocking a state-leading 8.69 in the trials and 8.75 in the finals. Makenna finished her day with the tenth-fastest 200m in state history and a third state-leading effort on the day with a 26.04 effort.
The girl's mile was a showdown between defending Class A champion Samantha Moore of Portland and defending Class B champion Cary Drake of York. Drake set the fast early pace, but Moore took over on the last three laps and powered away for the victory. Moore just missed the 5-minute barrier but did set a new personal best and state-leading with her 5:01.32, her time now ranks her fifth fastest performer in state history. Drake finished second in a strong 5:07.66. Scarborough senior Kyleigh Record won the 800m in Class A leading 2:23.41, while Eli Cross of Exeter, NH won the 2 mile in a time of 11:46.70.
In the shot put Falmouth senior Ruby Prentiss improved on her state lead with a new personal best toss of 37-9, while in the triple jump, Brewer junior Lauren Vanidestine leaped out a new personal best and school record with her 36-9 3/4 effort. In the high jump Brunswick junior and defending Class A champion Lisi Palmer cleared 5-4 to win and equal her best jump of the season. State leader in the long jump Julia Pendleton won with a leap of 17-5 3/4.
The high jump showdown between defending Class A champion Griffin Gammon of Gorham and Lewiston junior Josia Katroli lived up to the expectations as the duo both cleared 6-6 to equal the state lead, but on jumps backs Gammon took the victory. In the long jump, it was a great match-up between defending Class A champion Billy Albertson and South Portland junior Arnaud Sioho. Sioho entered the 22-foot plus club with his winning leap of 22-0 1/4, the mark was a new school record for Sioho. Albertson posted his best jump of the season with his 21-9 3/4.
In the shot put defending Class A champion Nate Murray of Scarborough had a breakthrough day with four tosses over fifty feet, his winning mark was a 52-4 effort. Behind him, junior Ryker Paradis of Lewiston threw 50-2 1/2 while Sanford senior Tucker Walker tossed it 50-2. Mt. Ararat senior Ethan Palmer won the triple with another 45-foot plus effort (45-1 3/4) impressive considering he competed in the pentathlon before the event.
On the track, Marshwood junior Andre Clark showed he's ready to defend his Class A 55m title as he stormed to a personal best of 6.47 in the final. The time is equal to the third best in state history only behind the state record of 6.46. In the 200m Gorham senior Nolan Feyler running in section out of lane six took the victory with a Class A leading time of 23.12, Clark was second with a 23.22 from section one. Winslow senior Joseph Richards won the 400m dash in a speedy 50.96 as he held off a challenge from Mt. Ararat senior Aidan Greenleaf (51.27).
In the distance events, Noble senior Maddox Jordan recorded a new state lead with his 1:57.48 winning effort, his margin of victory was ten plus seconds. The mile was a great race between Portland senior Nathan Blades and Lake Region junior Sam Laverdiere. Blades controlled the pace taking the race out hard as they went through the 800m in 2:07-8 pace. Blades would start to pull away after the next 400m and finished with a 4:22.95, Laverdiere finished in a personal best 4:25.05 and took over the Class B lead. Laverdiere would return to the track later to win the 2 mile in a state-leading 9:45.65.