Edward Little High School’s close call at the KVAC girls’ track and field championships may have been the team’s last gasp at a title this season, while the boys, which won by the slimmest of margins, will also most likely be looking up at the winner in today’s Class A championship at Windham High School.
“There’s no pressure on us at all,” said EL girls’ coach Rebecca Hefty. “We are going in relaxed, excited and ready to go. Our expectations are our own now.”
Individually, EL has some title hopefuls, including Lindsey Visbaras, the top seed in the triple jump (by more than three feet) and the long jump. Visbaras is also seeded second in the 200 behind Thornton’s Jenny Pierpont. Both girls are slated to run the anchor leg of the 400 relay, and Pierpont is second behind Visbaras in the long jump, which should make for an interesting afternoon.
Overall, though, the onus will be on Thornton to upend KVAC champion Mt. Ararat. The Eagles may not be as deep as the Trojans, but for the first time in four years, everyone is healthy.
“They have to be looked at as the favorite,” said Hefty. “They put both (Beth and Jessie Wilcox) in the 800 specifically to counter Kat Rice (of Thornton).
“Thornton Academy is strong, but other teams like us and Scarborough are going to take points away from them
On the boys’ side, Portland is easily the favorite on paper. The Bulldogs have 117 points by seed, easily ahead of any challenger. By contrast, Edward Little, last week’s crowned KVAC champion, has 35 points by seed.
The Bulldogs are led by brothers Ayalew and Sintayehu Taye and Skip Edwards.
Edward Little’s 400 relay is seeded No. 1, as is Colby Brooks in the 200. Brooks holds the No. 3 seed in the 100.
Class C
The Dirigo girls’ win in the MVC meet was enough to make coach Donna Gilbert dye her hair, thanks to an agreement with the rest of the team, but it is unlikely those performances will carry over to a state meet against John Bapst.
The Crusaders seem to be a lock for the No. 1 spot at the Class C meet at Westbrook, but Cape Elizabeth is right there, with five top seeds.
“They’re just going to walk away with it, I think,” said Gilbert. “It’s hard to believe some of the times they have, and how deep they are. All we can hope for, and what we are shooting for, is to beat the rest of the MVC teams at the meet. I told the girls that if we can do that, we have a chance to finish in the top five overall.”
Rebecca Leclerc and Kelsey Biliouris of Livermore Falls are seeded high in the 100 and 200.
The Class C boys’ race could be a tight one, with Cape Elizabeth, NYA and defending champion Bucksport.
For Lisbon, which lost out to Class B Mountain Valley at the MVC meet, this state meet won’t be about winning the team competition.
“Now it becomes a series of individual events,” said Lisbon coach Dean Hall. “We want the kids to peak properly, and we feel that they’ll do just that. If they finish in the top five, we’ll be happy.”
Class B
Belfast gained a ton of momentum last weekend, but the toughest competition will come against York and Gorham.
The Belfast boys have a strong all-around team, with strength in the distances thanks to Levi Miller, and in the sprints and middle distances with Garren Horne and Ryan Trefethen. Miles Bartlett of Lake Region is expected to be Miller’s main competition in the longer distances.
On the girls’ side, York, Greely and Gorham look to be the favorites in a crowded race. Locally, Mountain Valley’s Dylan Cayer should earn some points in the sprints, while the Fryeburg girls’ team, led by Stephanie Jette, Rebecca Kurnik and Correen Hennessy, look to finish strong as well. The Raiders are seeded to score 62 points, which will place them solidly in the top five.
Leavitt has some strong individuals as well, along with Gray-New Gloucester and Poland.
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