On Saturday, Scarborough High School will host the Southwestern Maine Activities Association track and field championships beginning at 9 a.m.
The host school is the defending girls league champion and they’ll be looking to defend their crown. This year’s Red Storm team has been led by pole vaulters Devon Leighton and Sarah Gordon, Kaitlynn Saldanha in the racewalk and the 1600, Annie Mills in the hurdles, Allie Chamberlain in the 200 and 400, and Christy Manning in the shot put, discus and javelin events.
The defending league champs are also the defending Class A state champs and they’re expecting plenty of competition at that event on Saturday, June 2. Coach Ron Kelly sees Edward Little as a strong contender along with Thornton Academy, Brunswick and Gorham.
The Scarborough boys have had some strong performances this spring as well: Taylor Burns is undefeated in the racewalk and has broken school record twice. Brad Nakanishi is the top-ranked pole vaulter in the league at 12-6. Ben Talbot is one of the top runners in the mile and 2-mile races. Sam Chick has been a consistent scorer in the hurdles and jumps all spring. And the 4 x 400 relay team (Eddie Jones, Sam Chick, Scott Delano, Brecht Moulin) has the top time in the SMAA.
“The team has steadily improved throughout the season,” said Scarborough coach Derek Veilleux. “With a young group, the
development of the freshman and sophomores has been enjoyable to watch. There have been many pleasant surprises this spring. We are in a position to have a competitive southwestern and state meet.”
South Portland ready to run, jump and throw
The South Portland girl’s track team already has qualified the following individuals for the state meet and Coach Bob Zinchuk thinks they should do very well at this weekend’s championships.
Lindsay Soule looks strong in the hurdles. She’s the defending league champion at the 300 meter distance. She’ll also run the 800 and she’ll anchor a relay race for the Riots. Olivia Hendry will be competitive in the 1600 and the 3200. She also runs the 400 and 800-meter events. Kirsten Bakke has looked good in the 800, 1600, and 3200. Cassie Terry qualified for the pole vault at 7-6 and Julie Swett qualified for states in the javelin at 89-9.
Kathryn Card, Tanya Wilkes, Kristen Jerome, Bobielynn Fisher, Emily Conroy, Melissa Bodwell, Ali Kill, Abby Cook, and Ali Roberts are all close to qualifying for the state meet and all should score at the southwesterns.
The South Portland boys look for good things from Will Cabana and Ian Golder (100 and 200). Golder is also looking to score in the 400. David Knowland and Jonathan Clement are hoping to do well in the distance events (1600 and 3200). Nick Huston has had a good spring in the hurdles and the javelin. And senior Jonathan Cotton is expected to do well in the jumps.
Cape Elizabeth ready for WMC meet
The Cape Elizabeth boys and girls track and field teams will compete at Saturday’s Western Maine Conference meet in Yarmouth.
The boys team has h ad strong efforts this spring from Stanis Moody-Roberts (4:31 in the 1600, and 2:04 in the 800), Calvin Klopp (41-5 in the shot put) and Joel Bickford (20-09 in the long jump and 5-10 in the high jump)
The Cape girls have been led by Ashley Robinson (13.1 in the 100, and 27.5 in the 200) and Emily Attwood (5:34 in the 1600, and 12:07 in the 3200).
“Both teams will be competitive,” said Cape track coach David Weatherbie. “We are hoping for a top five finish at the state meet for both the boys and girls teams.”
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