The biggest track stars from Maine’s smallest schools assembled at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish on Saturday for the Class C state championships.
Featuring high-profile athletes like Ruth White of Orono, Teanne Ewings of Houlton and Soren Stark-Chessa of Maine Coast Waldorf/North Yarmouth, the girls’ competition did not disappoint, as Orono gritted its way to its second consecutive state championship.
While less conspicuous, the boys’ competition was equally entertaining, as senior Joseph Richards and the Winslow Black Raiders (89 points) barely outlasted defending state champion Orono (85 points) and Lisbon/Oak Hill Academy (82).
“I’m proud of our team. We had some kids fight really hard today, and all season,” White said. “There were some impressive performances from our underclassmen, and we are fortunate to have great coaches who truly care about us. The dynamic between the boys and girls teams is really positive, which helps create mutual support and unifies us as one big team.”
In her final high school track meet in Maine, the 4-foot-8 phenom won silver in both the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter races — finishing behind Ewings and ahead of Stark-Chessa — and teamed up with senior Chelsie Smith, freshman Nina Mitchell, and younger sister Clara White to win gold in the 4×800-meter relay.
Mitchell also placed third in the 800-meter race behind Stark-Chessa and Houlton junior Natalie Johnson, and sophomore Easnadh Nobel To’olo helped Orono’s cause with a gold medal performance in the pole vault, and second-place finishes in the 100-meter hurdles and long jump.
In total, the Red Riots’ girls team racked up 122 points, North Yarmouth/Maine Coast Waldorf scored 116 and PVC small school champion Bucksport won third with 88 points.
Joining Stark-Chessa on the podium was senior Graca Bila, who won gold in the 200-meter dash, gold in the 300-meter hurdles and silver in the triple jump for North Yarmouth. Bila joined forces with fellow standout senior Sarah Moore — Moore won the high jump, long jump and triple jump outright — to edge past Orono and Bucksport in the 4×100-meter relay as well.
Meanwhile, Bucksport sophomore Haley Rose led the Golden Bucks to gold in the 4×400-meter relay, and individually won the 100-meter and 400-meter dashes.
On the boys’ side, Winslow senior Joseph Richards stole the show by winning the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash and long jump outright. Sophomore Hassan Hobbi also stepped up for Winslow, winning the 110-meter hurdles individually and guiding his team to bronze in the 4×400-meter relay.
Orono’s boys team excelled in the field, as senior Cooper Sawyer took home gold in the discus, senior Ben Francis won silver in the shot put, and junior Camden Brown won silver in the pole vault.
Meanwhile, Orono senior Zane Roggenbuck was runner-up in the 1,600-meter race walk, and junior Ben Arsenault edged out Lisbon sophomore Ryan Hanlon by seven hundredths of a second to finish third.
Also contributing to Lisbon/Oak Hill Academy’s cause were seniors Emmett Mooney and Owen Booker. Mooney won the 300-meter hurdles, finished second in the 110-meter hurdles, and won silver in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. Booker won the javelin throw and triple jump outright, in addition to taking home bronze in the long jump.
In the distance events, Bucksport senior William Hileman won gold in the 1,600-meter race and silver in the 3,200-meter race. Sumner seniors Kaleb Colson and Ren Salibsury combined for three medal finishes.
