Boys’ outlook
If the indoor season is any indication of things to come, the Western Maine Conference will be beaming with maroon by the end of the outdoor season.

Greely wrapped up the Class B indoor title this season thanks to a few key runners, including distance champion Ben True and sprinter John Loren. The problem that may plague Greely in the outdoor season is depth, or a lack thereof. But the Rangers may have enough talent to overcome the low numbers, but maybe not.

Chasing after them will be a cluster of teams hungry to prove that they, too, belong in the mix. One of those is Scarborough, which makes its final appearance as a member of the WMC this season. The school will shift to the SMAA next season, but in one last hurrah, the young but deep team should provide some competition.

Gorham also has a talented corps of runners, particularly in the jumping events.

Fryeburg will be strong in the sprints and in the throwing events, and should be a factor in some of the larger meets. How well the younger athletes develop over the course of the season will determine its ultimate finish.

Gray-New Gloucester has the size to compete, and several of its athletes will do well individually, but molding the team for a run at a title will be tough with such a young group of athletes. Don’t put it past the Patriots’ coaching staff to get the most out of their athletes, though.

In Class C, Falmouth looks nearly unbeatable, with a very deep core of distance runners and a solid lineup of jumpers. Traip may make some noise this season, as well.
Local athletes to watch
Dan Sturdevant (sprints) Fryeburg

Tim Coombs (sprints) Fryeburg

Shannon Philpot (sprints) Fryeburg

Dave Hunt (sprints) Fryeburg

Riley Heath (hurdles) Fryeburg

Aaron Pavao (distance) Fryeburg

Benn Whitney (distance) Fryeburg

Tom Mango (throws) Fryeburg

Keith Smith (throws) Fryeburg

Ben True (distance) Greely

John Loren (mid-distance) Greely

Kevin Robinson (distance) Greely

Andrew Worth (sprints, LJ) G-NG

Rich Danieli (sprints, jumps) G-NG

Joe Drew (jumps) G-NG

Ian Hebert (pole vault) G-NG

Ryan Parkerson (pole vault) G-NG

Paul Vickerson (distance) G-NG
Girls’ outlook
It’s almost like a dare, really.

The Greely girls, for the better part of 17 years, have been daring teams to defeat their depth and talent. Only a handful have succeeded, and it looks as though this year might be a tough year to get in on the ground level.

Paced by distance specialist Gessy Lepage and several middle distance runners, the Greely girls look once again to be the beasts of the WMC. Add to that mix the return of Jamie Mason from an injury, and the team looks rather scary. The Rangers won last year’s WMC meet by more than 100 points, and the state meet by half that many. Light graduation has everyone thinking that the colors of the championship banner may again be maroon and white.

Chasing Greely will be Scarborough, which is on the rebound this season. Scarborough has five titles in the last 17 years, and would like nothing better than to leave the conference on a high note.

Gray-New Gloucester, paced by their throwing program and a depth unmatched in recent years, may provide some drama in some of the smaller meets, and will certainly be around to steal some critical points in the bigger ones as well.

Fryeburg’s distance runners will have no problem expanding on the team’s thrilling run to the cross-country state title last fall. The Raiders’ depth will determine how well they do in the rest of the events, but they should be in contention in WMC’s Division II.

In Class C, Cape Elizabeth always has a deep, strong team and should again challenge for the top spot.
Local athletes to watch
Joanna Kinsmann (distance) Fryeburg

Stephanie Jette (distance) Fryeburg

Mariah Whitney (distance) Fryeburg

Carissa Allain (jumps) Fryeburg

Dee Dee Redwank (throws) Fryeburg

Gessy Lepage (distance) Greely

Sarah Groom (mid-distance) Greely

Jamie Mason (jumps) Greely

Louise Duffus (throws) G-NG

Mallory Wilson (throws) G-NG

Laurie Young (mid-distance) G-NG

Josalee Danieli (sprints) G-NG

Chelsea Allen (hurdles) G-NG