BATH – The Greely Rangers girls’ track team came into Saturday’s State Class B meet battered and bruised.
Thanks to a gutty effort by Kate Mason and some key contributions by the Rangers’ freshmen, they left the meet as state champs.
The Rangers built an early lead and held on to defeat runner-up York, 119.5-104. Gorham placed third with 85.5 points.
In the boys’ meet, Gorham picked up its first-ever outdoor title by knocking off defending state champion Belfast, 104.5-83.5. Lake Region came in third with 46 points. Leavitt placed ninth (15.5 points) with strong performances by Ryan Staples and Jeff Ramos, while Mountain Valley took the 12th spot.
“When we looked at the meet we knew we were going to run out of points,” said Ranger coach John Folan.
The Rangers were strong throughout the first half of the meet with senior Kate Mason picking up victories in the 100-and 200-meter sprints. She also anchored the 400 relay. As she received the baton for the final leg, she exploded from the pack to win going away despite being unable to practice.
“She’s had a bad back,” said Folan. “She’s never been injured in her four years, but has been in the pool the whole week.”
Mason was slotted to run in the 1,600 relay at the end of the day. With York, easily the favorite for the relay, closing quickly on the Greely lead, Mason asked out of the race.
“She came to me and said, If there’s any way I can get out of the race, my back hurts,'” said Folan.
No problem. Enter two freshmen, including Mason’s replacement, and the Rangers finished second. Not only did the Rangers beat their fourth-seeded time, but they also exceeded their best time.
The Rangers also picked up first-place finishes by freshman Becky O’Brien in the discus (119′-0″) and the shot put (40-5).
“We’ve got some precocious freshmen,” said Folan, “and the upper classmen were just great today.”
Fryeburg was the top scoring local girls’ team. The Raiders finished fifth with 44 points. Their lone state champion was 800 runner Stephanie Jette. Jette broke away from the pack in the final 200 meters to easily win the race.
“Here,” she said pointing to the third turn on the track, “we were all blocked in. I’ve been nipped before in the final 200 meters. Today, I said, I’m going for it.'”
Gorham won the boys’ meet despite only having one individual state champion in 400 winner Jimmy Sawyer (49.79 seconds). The Rams also received lifts from Tyson Nason with second-place finishes in the 100 and 200. He also anchored the winning 400 relay and came out of the blocks for the runner-up 1,600 relay unit.
“This year they wanted to go out with one and they did it,” said Gorham coach John Wilkinson of his senior boys.
Staples was never threatened in winning the boys’ javelin. His throw of 179-1 was his personal best and was over 18 feet further than the second-place thrower, Joel Leconte of Gorham.
“I wish I could tell you what it was,” said Staples of the throw that bested his top previous effort by over nine feet. “I felt like I threw it well. Sometimes I get my tip up high. If I get my tip straight I throw better.”
Mountain Valley’s Ed Booker won the high jump after clearing 6-2 on his first try. Leavitt’s Ramos matched Booker’s mark on his second attempt to finish second.
“I’ve been to (the state meet) all three years,” said Booker, a junior. “I’ve had the stats to pull it off before, but I just couldn’t do it. I was in the long and triple jumps earlier. I think it helped because I was all loosened up.”
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