BOYS
1. Scarborough: The Red Storm have Jarett Flaker returning. Enough said. The sophomore sensation set three all-time Maine records indoors and won three events at the Class A state meet. The question is, will he score 40 points and set more records at the outdoor state meet? After winning the title with 103 points last year, there’s little doubt Scarborough is the team to beat again.
2. York: The Wildcats finished third in Class B with 68 points last year, and their two biggest point producers – Jake Martin and Zach Westman – are back to lead the team’s championship quest. Coach Ted Hutch called Martin and Westman “healthy and hopeful.”
3. Yarmouth: Any team that has an athlete capable of scoring 30 points on his own in one to watch. Senior distance standout Luke Laverdiere returns as the defending Class B champion in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. The Clippers, who finished fourth last year, also have the defending 400 state champ – Tahj Garvey.
4. Thornton Academy: The Trojans finished 50 points behind Scarborough in the Class A meet last year and graduated double-winner Johnny Rosario, but they still have state champion long jumper Longhao Chen, indoor state champion shot putter Jason Montano and indoor pole vault champion Travis Snyder, who also could score in the 110 hurdles.
5. Mt. Ararat: The Eagles were 17th at last year’s Class A meet but were fourth this winter, thanks to Lisandro Berry-Gaviria, who swept the mile and 2-mile.
GIRLS
1. Cheverus: The Stags won their first outdoor track title last spring and earned a share of their first Class A indoor title (tying with Scarborough) this winter. And all of their big point scorers are underclassmen: Emma Gallant, Emma White and Victoria Bossong.
2. Thornton Academy: The Trojans return their state championship 400-meter relay team – led by junior Sabria Merrifield and sophomore Mia Taranko – as well as two of the state’s top returning throwers in senior Paige Boudreau and junior Johnna Scott. Last year’s Class A runner-up, Thornton will be in the title hunt.
3. Greely: The Rangers have won two indoor Class B state titles in a row as well as the Class B outdoor title last spring. With junior Carolyn Todd dominating the distance events and Morgan Selby strong in the hurdles, Greely will be in the mix once again.
4. Scarborough: The Red Storm tied for the Class A indoor title with Cheverus and bring back a lot of talent from last year’s outdoor team, including sprinter Gaby Panagakos (second in the 400, fourth in the 100), distance runner Bethany Sholl and pole vaulter Anna Gardner (second last year).
5. York: The Wildcats were second at the Class B state meet last year. They return sophomore hurdler Hayley Smith, junior sprinter Erin O’Donnell, senior middle distance runner Laura Kenealy and several underclassmen who finished just outside the big points last year.
– Deirdre Fleming
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