Kate Hall picked the right time of the season to peak, making her look more like a seasoned pro than a freshman at Lake Region High.
Last week in the Western Maine Conference championship meet, Hall improved in the 200-meter dash (26.71 seconds) and the long jump (17 feet, 51/4 inches) to put up the best 200 time in Class B and the best long jump in the state.
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Hall already leads Class B in the 55-meter dash with a time of 7.36.
Her jump at the league meet also set a conference record, breaking the old mark of 17-3 held by Hillary Cederna of Greely since 2008.
And Eric Hall, her coach and father, said she doesn’t practice as extensively as he would like.
“There is not a lot of opportunity to. We practice run-throughs and her technique,” Eric Hall said.
“But at these other meets, we were really focused on her running. She kept setting and breaking her own (school) records. So we said, ‘Let’s focus on the long jump.’ “
Kate Hall will compete in the 55, 200 and long jump at the Class B state meet Monday at Bates College in Lewiston. It will be her first high school state meet, but Eric Hall said his daughter has competed in statewide track meets in Maine since age 11, and outside of Maine at the national level in New York and Kansas.
“She’s been in big-time situations. I don’t think she’ll be intimidated,” Eric Hall said.
SARAH PERKINS of Gorham hasn’t set a season best since Jan. 21, yet her early season performances still lead the state in three events. Yet her consistency in the 200-meter dash, 400 meters and 55-meter hurdles gives her a good chance to come away a double winner at the Class A state meet Monday on the campus of the University of Southern Maine in Gorham.
Perkins leads the state in the 400 with a blistering 59.22, followed closely by Teal Jackson of Brewer, who posted a time of 59.31 on Saturday in the Eastern Maine Indoor Track League championship meet.
Perkins also is ranked second in Class A in the 200 (26.04) behind Jackson (25.87). Nicole Kirk of Scarborough has run 26.22.
Perkins is ranked first in the high jump (5-2) for a Dec. 9 jump, and second in the state in the 55 (7.40) from a performance on Dec. 30.
John Caterina, coach of the Gorham girls, said Perkins has been consistent in the sprints and hurdles. While she has competed in a variety of events this season, she should come up strong in all three events at the state meet.
“The 200 should be a great race. I expect Nicole Kirk to be right there. She’s a great competitor. Probably that will be the sprint race of the day,” Caterina said.
Meanwhile, Perkins’ times in the 55-meter hurdles at the league championship meet a week ago (8.68 and 8.64) are not her best this season (8.54) but they are still faster than the second-ranked hurdler in the state, Grace Maclean of Bangor (8.70).
THE CLASS A girls’ shot put saw personal records and state-leading throws at the SMAA meet Feb. 4.
Ashley Belanger of Biddeford threw 36-11.5 to lead the state. Katie Shapiro of Cheverus (35-101/2) ranks second and Kaeleigh Harrison of Thornton Academy (34-11/4) ranks third.
Staff Writer Deirdre Fleming can be contacted at 791-6452 or at:
dfleming@pressherald.com
Twitter: Flemingpph
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