FREEPORT — Heavy, steady rain most of the afternoon and temperatures in the 40s made the Class B track and field state championship meet at Freeport High feel more like the first meet of the season instead of the last.
“This is the worst weather I’ve ever had for any meet, let alone a state meet,” said Poland’s Nolan Garey, who earned wins in the 110-meter hurdles (14.64 seconds) and 300 hurdles (42.52 seconds). Garey’s seed time in the 110 hurdles, 14.50, was just under the state record, 14.53.
“I was hydroplaning like a car in that (110) final. It was a very fast final. I’m telling you what, if it was nice weather, I would have (broken the record). I was feeling so good. But you can’t control the weather,” Gerry said.
Despite the adverse conditions, a number of athletes set Class B records, including York’s Matt Charpentier, who smashed a shot put record that stood for more than four decades.
On his third throw of the day, Charpentier threw 60 feet, 11 1/4 inches, breaking the mark of 59-1 3/4 set by Lawrence’s Jim Dawson in 1979. Charpentier, who was three quarters of an inch shy of the record at last year’s state meet, actually broke the mark twice, having thrown 60-0 on his second attempt.
Maine state records can only be set at the state championships.
“Ever since I threw 60 feet, 7 1/2 inches three weeks ago, I just go into training now trying to hit 60 feet every throw so I can go to every single meet and throw that number. I’ve been very consistent in practice, and it showed today,” said Charpentier, who also won the discus with a throw of 158-8. “All the stress on me was relieved. I could just attack it harder. My last throw in the prelims, I could just let it go, just try harder than ever.”
With a few events postponed because of the weather, no team state champions were crowned. The girls’ and boys’ pole vault and boys’ high jump will be contested at a place, day and time to be determined by the Maine Principals’ Association. Unofficially, the York girls have enough points to win their second straight title, with a 98-62 lead over Mt. Desert Island. Greely is third with 60 points, and Freeport fourth at 58.
On the boys’side, Leavitt leads with 79 points, followed by York (73), Greely (61) and Freeport (50).
Two athletes, Cary Drake of York and Henry Horne of Freeport, won the difficult distance triple crown, taking home titles in the 1,600, 800 and 3,200. Drake defended her 2022 titles in the 1,600 (5:05.54) and 3,200 (11:12.55). Her winning 800 time was 2:17.71.
“I think I was the most nervous for the 800, because I’ve raced it the least, and I knew I had some solid competition in that one. When I got to the line, it wasn’t raining anymore, so I kind of just let my legs go,” Drake said.
Horne’s big day began with a 4:24.01 in the 1,600 as he edged Gray-New Gloucester’s Carter Libby.
“It was definitely a mind game. I didn’t want to have to go that fast. I didn’t want to slip up on the track. It’s just nasty weather. I was just trying to go as slow as possible and still win,” Horne said. “The rain also made it pretty fun. It was a memorable race, for sure.”
Horne won both the 800 (2:01.83) and 3,200 (9:52.57) with strong kicks over the final lap.
Gardiner’s Ashlyn Poulin won the girls’ 1,600 race walk in 7:12.15, crushing the old Class B record of 7:26.07. Poulin’s time would have won the boys’ race walk by 28 seconds.
“It’s really cold, and I definitely had to work extra hard to get there, but I got there,” Poulin said. “I don’t really think about (the record) until the end. I knew I had a really good chance. I push it until I know I have it.”
Mt. Desert Island’s Miles Burr set a record in the 200 with his time of 22.18. Burr also won the 100 in 11 seconds flat, just off the record (10.95) he set last year.
“It was a really good 200. My blocks slid a little bit, so I picked it up. It was a good time. It was a great time,” Burr said.
Freeport’s Avery Baker-Schlendering won the girls’ high jump at 5-4, missing on her tries at 5-6, which would have broken the Class B record. Again, the weather was a factor.
“At first it was OK, but as the rain got a little heavier, there was a puddle in front of the mat. I was a little more hesitant with my approach, which caused a couple more attempts, and I couldn’t make 5-6,” she said.
Yarmouth’s Abby Noble took home a pair of titles, winning the 100 (13.08 seconds) and 200 (27.27).
MDI’s Olivia Pratt won the shot put (34-3) and discus (105-7). Old Town’s Corbin Flewelling successfully defended his titles in the boys’ long jump (21-9 1/2) and triple jump (44-1).
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