AUBURN – For the seventh time in eight years, the Auburn Running Club has captured the Maine/USA Track and Field Championship. Competing against 34 teams and over 400 athletes in a highly competitive meet, Auburn amassed 339.5 points to claim the crown. Windham was second with 285, followed by York with 260 and Scarborough with 207.5.

Auburn had 12 individual and 2 relay state champions. The 11-12 girls team, the 13-14 girls team, the 13-14 boys squad and the combined girls team also won state titles.

Auburn qualified 70 athletes ages 6-14 for the meet held in Augusta on Aug. 14.

Outstanding performances were turned in by Kerri St. Denis, Girls 8-Under, 1st in 800; 2nd in 400; and 4th in 200. In the Girls 11-12 Division, Letisha Belanger won the shot putt and javelin, and was 4th in the 100; Jackie Masters won the 3000, was 2nd in the 800 race walk, and 6th in the 800; Hailee Mulherin won the long jump and triple jump, and was 4th in the 200; Hanna Mogensen was 2nd in triple jump and third in 80 hurdles; Emily Blackwood, Emily Ranucci, Hanna Mogensen and Kelsie Labbie won the 4×100 relay.

The Girls 13-14 group was paced by Allyson Fereshetian, 1st in the 100 hurdles, 3rd in 400 and 5th in 200; Alyssa Levesque, 1st in 1500 race walk; Theresa Ranucci, 2nd in 1500 race walk and 6th in shot put; and Abby Downs, 1st in pole vault, 3rd in triple jump and 5th in high jump.

On the boys side, Nick Kazar (13-14) broke a 22-year-old state record in the 3000 with a time of 9:54.81. He also won the 1500 and was 2nd in triple jump. In the same group, Justin Fereshetian won the 800, was 2nd in 3000 and 5th in discus; Ryan Fitzsimmons was 3rd in 1500 race walk, 6th in 100 hurdles and long jump; and Josh Clark was 2nd in pole vault and 5th in javelin. The relay team of Kazar, Fereshetian, Fitzsimmons and Gammon won the 4×400 relay.

In the Boys 11-12 group, Steve Giorgetti was 3rd in high jump and shot put, and 4th in javelin.

In all, 9 team records were broken with many members of the team setting personal bests.

Head coach Tom Menendez has directed the Auburn Running Club for the past 12 years, assisted by many volunteer coaches.

The club is sponsored by the Auburn Parks and Recreation Department.