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Leavitt’s Carina Castagna, right, competes in the 55-meter hurdles during last year’s Class B indoor track state championships at Bates College. Castagna is a state and KVAC contender in the 55 hurdles, long jump and high jump this winter. (Daryn Slover/Staff Photographer)

Reese Bilodeau, Leavitt sophomore, sprints: Bilodeau is the top-returning KVAC Class B competitor in the 55-meter dash (7.63 seconds), as well as the conference’s No. 2 returner in the 200 (28.01). She’s also a podium threat in the long jump (13 feet, 9 inches).

Carina Castagna, Leavitt senior, hurdles/jumps: Castagna finished fourth at Class B states in the 55 hurdles (9.15 seconds) and long jump (16-4 1/4). She also cleared 4-8 in the high jump at the KVAC B championships to place third.

Lyedin Chase-Lessard, Gray-New Gloucester senior, middle distance/jumps: Chase-Lessard finished sixth in the triple jump (29-6) and 400 (1:06.08) at last winter’s Western Maine Conference championships. Co-coach Jamie LePage also expects her to excel in the 800.

Asha Hassan, Lewiston sophomore, sprints/relays: Hassan is the fourth-fastest returning KVAC runner in the 200 (29.14) and the No. 5 returner in the 400 (1:06.92). She also ran the first leg for the Blue Devils’ conference title-winning 800 relay team.

Aaliyah Iffih, Edward Little junior, sprints/relays: Iffih is the No. 4-returning runner in the KVAC 55-meter dash (7.98), as well as a podium threat in the 200 (29.49). She was also on the KVAC A runner-up 800 relay team.

Kaisley Marquis, Edward Little senior, sprints: Marquis is KVAC A North’s fastest returner in the 200 (28.08). The senior is also the conference’s No. 2 returner in both the 55 (7.82) and 400 (1:03.03).

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Alyssa Mason, Poland sophomore, throws: One of the state’s best young throwers, Mason won the Class B indoor shot put title as a freshman with a distance of 37-0 1/2. She then added a Class B outdoor title in the spring with a throw of 36-9 1/2.

Natalie Moody, Leavitt junior, jumps: Another talented athlete for the Hornets, Moody is the third-ranked returner in KVAC B in the long jump (14-6). The junior will also compete for a podium spot in the triple jump (30-3 3/4).

Kaiya Poulin, Lewiston junior, sprints: Poulin is the No. 3 KVAC A returner in the 55 hurdles (7.96). The senior will also compete for a podium spot in the KVAC A 200 (29.73) and anchor the Blue Devils’ 800 relay team.

Regan Wakem, Poland junior, jumps/sprints/relays: Wakem was the WMC outdoor runner-up in the high jump (4-8) competed at Class B indoor states in the 55. She also leads the Knights’ 800 relay team.

Also keep an eye on: Graceyn Camire, Poland junior, middle distance/relays; Imani Downing, Edward Little senior, sprints/jumps; Virginia Foss, Lewiston senior, hurdles/jumps; Ashley Kitoko, Gray-New Gloucester sophomore, sprints/jumps.

Mike Mandell came to the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel in April 2022 after spending five and a half years with The Ellsworth American in Hancock County, Maine. He came to Maine out of college after...

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