Waterville senior Bethanie Brown added to her growing legacy as one of the top high school distance runners in Maine history, when she competed at a five-team meet at Edward Little.

Brown finished the 3,200-meter run in 10 minutes, 13.9 seconds, the fastest in Maine girls track and field history.

Brown, who will attend the University of Connecticut in the fall, shattered the previous mark of 10:19.09, which former Kennebunk standout runner Abbey Leonardi set in 2011 at the New England championships.

“It’s an all-time best,” Waterville coach Ian Wilson said. “I knew she was running well in practice but to go out and run that, it’s pretty impressive. She just hasn’t backed off her training. She’s still going pretty hard. There is still the possibility she can go faster.”

Brown helped the Purple Panthers score an impressive and comfortable victory against traditional Class A power EL, which rarely loses on its home track.

Waterville scored 189.5 points to finish well ahead of Messalonskee (86) and EL (78.5).

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Brown also won the 800 in 2:19.10 and anchored the victorious 4×400 relay team. Georgia Bolduc won the 100 (12.5), 200 (26.2) and pole vault (9 feet, 6 inches) for Waterville, which recorded 13 first-place finishes at the meet.

“The (EL) girls aren’t as strong as they’ve always been but it was a good victory,” Wilson said.

Waterville swept the meet with the boys topping a strong EL team. The Panthers scored 146 points while EL checked in second with 112.

Troy Gurski won the 110 hurdles (15.6), led the 4×400 relay to victory and finished second in the 400 (52.6). Jordhan Levine won the 300 hurdles (42.9) and was second in the 110 hurdles  and triple jump. He also helped the 4×400 relay team to victory.

Distance runner Chris Cote finished second in the 3,200 in 10:04.4, a personal best of about 28 seconds.

Nick Danner won the shot put (44-6), discus (112) and was fourth in the javelin.

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“Danner continues to dominate the throwing events,” Wilson said. “Our boys had a good showing. It was a good meet for us.”

• • •

The Skowhegan girls have just two seniors but that hasn’t held them back this spring.

The Indians finished second to Winslow at a five-team meet in Lewiston last week.

“And we only lost by (five) points,” Skowhegan coach Dave Evans said. “We’re holding our numbers well. We’re wicked young but we’re holding our own. We have five girls scoring 20 or more points the last three meets.”

Noah Stevens won the triple jump (32-4), pole vault (8-0) and high jump (4-8) to lead the Indians.

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Sophomore Jaycee Cushman finished second in the 100 (13.14) and triple jump (31-3.5). She also teamed with junior Holly Lupo, junior Allison Lancaster and freshman Maddy Price to win the 4×100 relay in 53.73. Lupo also won the 300 hurdles in 55.73.

Price, meanwhile, won the 200 in 28.13 and was third in the 100 (13.48). She also finished fourth in the long jump (14-1).

“I think we’re going to surprise some people before this year is over,” Evans said. “We’ll surprise some people at the (Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A) meet and the Community Cup. Next year, we have a strong class coming in, too. We’ll be in the mix of things next year.”

• • •

Taylor Lenentine set the Messalonskee school record in the pole vault when she cleared 9-6 at Edward Little last week.

“She just missed 10 feet, too,” Messalonskee coach Scott Wilson said.

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The Messalonskee sophomore hit the mark on her second jump.

“We knew it was going to happen,” Wilson said. “It was exciting. We’ve been working hard on this. When she finally did it, it was like, ‘Wow.’ It was her time.”

Lenentine will next compete Thursday at Maranacook in a meet that will feature Cony and top pole vaulter Lindsey Folsom.

The Messalonskee boys set a school record in the 4×800 relay at the meet as well. Emmitt Heath, Logan Moses, Travis Stacey and Kyle Holmsen finished in 8:39 to win the race.

• • •

Mt. Blue participated in the annual Hospice House 5-kilometer and Remembrance Walk in Farmington on Sunday.

The event raises money for Hospice patients who do not have adequate health insurance.
Of the 42 athletes on its roster, Mt. Blue sent 36 to the race, raising more than $500.

“At the beginning of the season we all decided this would be a great way for the kids to give back to the community,” Mt. Blue coach Kelley Cullenberg said. “We had T-shirts made up and we had pretty good attendance. It was great.”

Bill Stewart — 621-5640
bstewart@centralmaine.com


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