With specific goals in mind, the top track athletes from Maine high schools traveled to Connecticut over the weekend to compete at the New England Interscholastic Track and Field Championship in New Britain, Conn.

Ben True of Greely High school, fresh off a state title in the 1,600-meter run, bested a large and talented field to win that same event at the New England Championships with a time of 4:12.28, a full eight seconds better than his winning time the week before. The time is, according to the Maine Principal’s Association website, the best ever for a Maine high school runner. True set the state record in the 3,200-meter run at the Class B state meet last week.

Locally, the Edward Little 3,200-meter relay team continued its strong tradition with a second-place showing Saturday. Nate Cleveland, Sam Fletcher, Liam Gallagher and Chris Pelliccia finished with a time of 7:53.12, which was 21 seconds better than their qualifying time. A team from Danbury, Conn. took first, finishing two seconds ahead of the Red Eddies.

The boys’ 400-meter relay team set another school record and finished in sixth place with a time of 43.71 seconds. Nate Cleveland finished a record-setting day with a time of 51.10 in the 400-meter run. Pelliccia, this year’s Class A 800 champion, finished 12th in that event Saturday.

Other Maine athletes who placed in the top 10 at the New England meet included Matt Capone of Edward Little in the 100, Brian Vail of Deering in the 400, Mike Burleson of Deering and Joey Dewitt of Ellsworth in the 800, Antonio Floridino of Falmouth in the 300 hurdles, Trey Gadbois of Portland in the high jump, Skip Edwards of Portland in the long jump, Kalle Eko of Old Town in the triple jump, and Rob Sampson of Deering in the shot put.

Jumping ahead

The distances may have been a bit shorter than they were last week, but the experience was worth that much more.

After sweeping the long and triple jump at last week’s state Class A meet, Lindsey Visbaras wanted to see what else was out there in New England. After a fifth place in the triple jump and a 12th in the long jump, she knows what she is reaching for.

Visbaras was the only EL girl to place in the top 10. Other Maine athletes to join Visbaras near the top of the podium were Clare Egan of Cape Elizabeth in the 1,600, Cassie Hintz of Old Town in the 3,200, Christa Hutchinson of Falmouth and Danica Best of South Portland in the 300 hurdles, Alana Van Loenen of Cheverus in the high jump, Mikki Weichman of Bonny Eagle in the shot put, and Jessica Boisse of Massabesic in the javelin.

Louise Duffus of Gray New Gloucester, like Visbaras, placed well in two different events, the shot put (12th) and the discus (fourth).

The school with the best showing overall at the New England meet was Mt. Ararat. The Eagles’ 3,200 relay team finished third with a time of 9:32.18, which according to the MPA website would be a new state record regardless of class. Members of that team, Beth Wilcox and Jessie Wilcox also fared well. Jessie finished at sixth in the 800, while twin sister Beth took third in the 1,600.

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