SACO — Kate Hall knew the New England high school track and field championships would be a bittersweet meet.
Bitter because it would be the Lake Region senior’s last time competing on Maine soil as a high school athlete.
Sweet because for one last time, she had the chance to collect a haul of medals – and set a few records along the way – on home territory.
Hall did just that Saturday, capping her time in Maine in the penultimate meet of her remarkable high school career by setting meet records and personal bests in the 100-meter dash (11.41) and long jump (20 feet, 11 inches) during a banner day for Maine competitors at Thornton Academy’s Hill Stadium.
South Portland’s Dan Guiliani set another meet record with a throw of 64-2 1/4 to win the boys’ shot put, York’s Jack Bouchard took the boys’ javelin with a throw of 196-1, and Lewiston’s Isaiah Harris successfully defended his boys’ 800 crown in 1:52.74.
Hall, who will finish her season next weekend at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina, didn’t compete at last year’s New England meet because of a scheduling clash with nationals. This year, she leaped 20-0 1/4 on her first long jump to demolish the meet record by nine inches.
She went even farther on her next jump, soaring to 20-11 – her best outdoor mark and only a quarter-inch behind her best indoor mark.
“That was my goal coming into the meet, to jump 21 (feet),” Hall said. “It seems like I’m always hitting that 11-inch mark. Last year it was 19-11, this year it’s 20-11. I have one more chance next week to get that 21 and I know I can.”
Hall then ran 11.50 in the prelims of the 100 to lower her own meet record of 11.69 set in 2013, then dropped her time to 11.41 in the finals. She ended her day by setting another personal best of 23.69 in the 200, just 0.05 behind top-seeded Quashira McIntosh of Hope High School (R.I.), who set a meet record.
“It’s nice coming into these meets knowing I’m going to have those people pushing me. I’m starting to peak a little bit, so it was perfect timing,” Hall said.
“I’m sad to say goodbye to competing in Maine, but it was an overall good day. I couldn’t be happier.”
While Hall wasted little time breaking records, Guiliani waited until his final attempt to unleash his best throw of the day.
As the last thrower in the finals, Guiliani stepped into the circle knowing his earlier toss of 61 feet had easily wrapped up the title. All that was left was the meet record of 64-1, which he broke by just over an inch.
“I was all tensed up this meet but it all really clicked that last throw,” said Guiliani, who also finished sixth in the discus. “Things that weren’t clicking, like my release and not staying low throughout the ring, came around.
“I wasn’t getting the pop I usually get, so to get the record on the last throw feels amazing.”
Harris, the only Maine winner at last year’s New England championships, not only won the 800 again but also ran an all-time Maine best of 21.82 to finish fourth in the 200.
As he has all season, Harris went to the front in the first 20 meters and never looked back in the 800, pulling away in the last 100 meters.
“It’s amazing to defend what I did last year,” Harris said. “It’s a weight off my shoulders. It’s a little bit of pressure to come out and perform as well as you did the year before because everybody’s making sure you’re still up there. ”
Maine had 12 other all-New England finishers (top six).
Nick White of Cheverus took second in the discus with a throw of 162-4, just ahead of third-place Trevor Gray of Waterville (160-4). Alexandra Hart (57.90) of Thornton and Jake Dixon (49.06) of Cheverus were both third in the 400, and Oak Hill’s Drew Gamage placed third in the triple jump (46-1 1/2).
Other top-six finishers were Thornton’s Victoria Lux in the shot put (fourth, 40-6 3/4), South Portland’s Michael Cuesta in the triple jump (fifth, 44-11 1/4), Mountain Valley’s Kyle Farrar in the long jump (fifth, 22-0 3/4), Mattanawcook Academy’s Tia Tardy in the 800 (fifth, 2:14.33), Lewiston’s Osman Doorow in the boys’ 3,200 (fifth, 9:29.85), Traip Academy’s Evan Porter in the 300 hurdles (sixth, 39.29) and Thornton’s Tori Daigle in the long jump (sixth, 17-1 1/2).
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