AUBURN – The Auburn Running Club captured its 10th state title in the last 11 years at the Maine Junior Olympic Youth Track & Field Championships held earlier this month in Augusta.

Competing against 700 athletes from 32 teams, Auburn scored 449 points to edge out a strong Poland Panther Team (430). Windham was third with 240, followed by fourth place Scarborough, 237, and York, 190.

In the girls’ competition, Auburn bested the field with 301 points, followed by Poland with 250. Poland returned the favor by winning the boys’ crown with 178 to Auburn’s 148.

Auburn athletes won 14 individual events and scored 8 of their 9 relay teams. Setting state records were Dante Brooks, turbo javelin, 117′, breaking the previous mark of 111’7″; and Kelsie Hilton who tossed the turbo javelin 115’2″, breaking her older sister’s record of 110’10”. Kelsie’s twin sister Kristi also smashed the record with a second place throw of 111’10”.

There were 2 athletes who recorded multiple victories, as follows: Kerri St. Dennis, (Girls 9-10), 800m, 1500m and turbo javelin; and Jaclyn Masters (Girls 13-14), pole vault and racewalk.

Other individual champs were Letish Brooks (Girls 13-14), shot put; Morgan Knowlton (Girls 9-10), racewalk; Avery Chisholm (Girls 11-12), 80m hurdles; Mike St. Dennis (Boys 13-14), racewalk; Q. Brown (Boys 11-12), long jump; Brian Uwacchia (Boys 11-12) 200m; Spencer Dunn (Boys 9-10), racewalk.

Tom Menendez is the head coach for Auburn. Assistants are Carolyn Court, Carl Schwinn, Murial Schwinn, Angie Giorgetti, Laura Gardner, Amanda Burgess, Steve McCarthy, Emily Blackwood, Kelly Bernier, Christie Bernier, Bob Bernier, Josh Clark and Greg St. Denis.