On the first day of practice, Dean Hall issued the challenge.

He provided his Lisbon track teams the incentive and prodded them to find a way toward that goal.

On the eve of the Mountain Valley Conference track meet at Lewiston High School Friday, Hall likes the path his teams have traveled thus far.

“With the boys, we think we’re in the right spot to repeat for the fourth straight time and for the girls, we hope that also happens for the fourth straight time,” said Hall. “That doesn’t happen very often at the MVC level, when boys and girls teams win four years in a row.”

There have been some dominant teams in the MVC over the years but none of them were able to put together a lengthy streak in both boys and girls. On the first day of practice this spring, Hall made it clear that his Greyhounds had the potential to do something unique.

“We talked about it the first day, that this would be the first time it ever happened,” he said. “We said ‘This is a thing you can accomplish but now it’s how are you going to do it?'”

The Greyhounds team are poised to challenge for the top spots in the MVC meet this afternoon. Lisbon has a strong group of veterans that have led the squad this season.

Kyle Huston is the top seed in the 100, high jump and long jump while Erik Metzger is the top seed in the 200 and second in the 400. Fellow seniors Cam Bubar (javelin) and Tyler Campbell (racewalk) are also favored in their events while junior George Clement is seeded second in the hurdles and long jump while Joe Doughty is the top seed in the shot.

The girls are led by seniors Katy Fitzgerald, who is first in the high jump and second in the triple, and Rebekah Sullivan, favored in the discus. Sophomore Tara Metzger is the top seed in the 200, long jump and triple.

“The seniors have been there since freshman year,” said Hall. “They’re part of the process. They’ve seen it. They’ve done it. Now they’ve got to do it one more time.”

The Greyhounds have also gotten great contributions from underclassmen. Freshman Morgan Reeves is seeded second in the pole vault and third in the long jump while Lindsey Whitney and Brianna Moore are expected to challenge in the racewalk and shot put, respectively.

“We’ve had a reliance on freshmen and sophomore to earn some places,” said Hall. “You’re always concerned how they’re going to do in a big meet, but that’s why we went against some of the Class A and Class B teams, to get used to the big meets.”

Winthrop finished second last year in the boys and third in the girls. The Ramblers hope to be among the teams to challenge Lisbon.

“It should be an interesting meet,” said Winthrop coach Ed Van Tassel. “Lisbon has such a good program. They do so well during the regular season because of the sheer numbers. They have the advantage of having six kids in every event and not a lot of teams in the MVC have the ability to do that.”

Winthrop will be without sprinter Kevin Hart, who is nursing a hamstring injury. Patrick Romar, who was seeded second in the javelin and fifth in the 800, and Travis Hutchins, a threat in the throwing events, should be the Rambler’s top performers. The girls’ squad has Kenzie Hill, the defending champ in the 800. Anna Smithgall and Anna Doyle should contend in the throwing events and two-mile respectively. Freshmen Lauren Selwood and Allie Conley are the high seeds in the high jump.

“We have a lot of kids that will be in the hunt,” said Van Tassel. “This is what we’ve been training for. The guys have won a couple meets and the girls have won a couple meets. We don’t have a lot of depth, but we have some top performers and we’ll see what happens.”

The Telstar boys were third last year and have Frankie DelDuca among its contenders. The senior is seeded first in the 400 and third in the 200.

Dirigo’s chances are bolstered by Emily Chase. The junior sprinter is the top seed in the 100 and second in the hurdles.

The Hall-Dale girls and Wiscasset boys should also field teams that could challenge for the top team spots.