EMITL Championship Preview
Time Schedule | Girls Heat Sheets | Boys Heat Sheets
The University of Maine fieldhourse will be busy with Saturday afternoon when the EMITL championship meet kicks off at 3:45. Several of the top athletes in the state will be competing with the hopes of running, jumping, throwing their way to a championship. The Bangor girls have been impressive all season, & afre the favorites to win their 3rd straight EMITL title. On the boys side it should be a good matchup between defending champion Hampden Academy & Bangor. Bangor will rely on their distance runners, while Hampden's stregnth is in the sprints/hurdles/jumps.
Girls
Athletes to Watch
Grace Maclean (Bangor) Maclean is one of the top athletes in the state, she enteres the meet with the #1 seed in the 55m hurdles, earlier this winter she broke the EMITL record with her 8.70 clocking. The time ranks her #2 in ME. Grace is also the top seed in the HJ with a clearance of 5-2, which ties her for the best jump in the state this winter. Additionally she is seeded #2 in the long jump 16-10 1/2, the mark is ME #2.
Tiffany Gray (Bangor) The top jumper in the state right Gray has had a great year. Gray enters as the top seed in the long jump (17-4 3/4) & triple jump (36-0) both jumps are state leaders. Earlier this year Gray broke the EMITL record in the long jump by 1/2 inch. Gray is currently 9" away from the triple jump record as well. She will also compete in the HJ.
Aleta Looker (Ellsworth) Looker the top distance runner in the EMITL this season is entered in the Mile, 800 & 2 Mile. Aleta is the top seed in the mile with a 5:20.06 which is 14 seconds faster than the the #2. Aleta also has the top seed in the 800m with her 2:18.52, which is ME #2 & US #47 & the 2 Mile 11:54.65
Teal Jackson (Brewer) the top sprinter in the EMITL is seeded #1 in the 55m, 200m & 400m. Jackson won all three events last year & will be trying to repeat the feat. Teal is ranked #4 in the state in the 200m & state #2 in the 400m
Tia Jackson (Old Town) the half sister of Teal will face off against her 3 times in the 55m, 200m, 400m. Jackson is the the #2 seed in all three events with times of 7.58, 27.01 & 1:02.08
Record Watch
55m Hurdles- Grace Maclean (Bangor) hold the record of 8.70 from earlier this year, can she run faster?
800m- Aleta Looker (Ellsworth) came ever so close last weekend missing out by .19, she is tripling so a record attempt may not be an option
LJ & TJ- Tiffany Gray (Bangor) has already rewritten the record books this winter in the long jump, can she add to it? Gray is just 9" off the triple jump record she'll be looking claim both records this season.
PV- Courtney Lizotte (Bangor) has jumped 10-0 this season the record stands at 10-2
Boys
Athletes to Watch
Miguel Caballero (Orono) Caballero has been on fire all season, he enters the meet with the top seed at 200m, 400m & long jump. Miguel has the state leader at 400m 50.98, & the long jump 21-5 1/2. He is alos the defedning 200m champ, and has the top seed time of 23.38. No one has beaten Caballero all year, he looks primed to continue that success.
Dan Curts (Ellsworth) One of the top distance runner in the state Curts is the top seed in the mile & 2 mile, he'll also run a leg on the 4x800. Dan won both the mile & 2 mile last year as a freshman, & is the favorite to do so again.
David Correale (Bangor) Correale has shown great range this winter, he has qualifying marks in the 200, 400, 800 & Mile. David will be attempting a tough 400/800 double this weekend. He is seeded #2 in the 400m & has the top seed & state leader in the 800 2:00.78
Jonathan Stanhope (Bangor) Stanhope is one of the top distance runners in the state, he is entered in the Mile, 800 & 2 Mile. Jonathan is the #2 seed in the Mile & 2 mile behind Curts, & has the 3rd fastest 800m time. He'll be counted on for big points
Andrew Toothaker (Hampden) Toothaker is the top seed in the 55m hurdles 8.16 which is ME #3, he is also the #2 seed in the long jump 19-6 1/4. Andrew will also compete in the triple jump where he is the #5 seed 38-8 1/4
Race to watch
The boys 800m should be one to keep an eye on with 4 guys entered with seeds under 2:06. With state leader David Correale in the race the pace is sure to fast, but will he decide to use his strong kick after doubling back from the 400m on just 30 minutes of rest. The athlete to watch out for is Trey Williams of Brewer who is having a great end of the season. Williams is the #2 seed 2:03.51, has great 400m speed 52.66. Williams will be running the 4x800 at the beginning of the meet so will have a good amoutn of rest. Jonathan Stanhope has shown good ability to double back well, he's the #3 seed & capable of running faster than his seasonal best 2:03.95. The final contender is Drew VanSteenberghe of Old Town who enters with a 2:05.49 seed time. With two guys with pr's in the 400m under 53 in the race, it'll be interesting to see if someone takes the race out hard to try to take the kick out of the sprinters.