Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel

HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD

Erskine Academy hopes to make a run at Waterville boys

By Bill Stewart bstewart@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

Erskine senior Sam Seekins has never raced the four distance events in one meet.

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A long day: Erskine Academy’s Sam Seekins will compete in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs and on the 4x800 relay team at the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B championship meet Saturday in Bath.

Joe Phelan

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Mountain Valley Conference
When: Today, 1 p.m.
Where: Alumni Field, Augusta
Defending champs: Lisbon (girls, boys)

KVAC A, B
When: Saturday, 9 a.m.
Where: McMann Field, Bath
Defending champs: KVAC A — Edward Little (girls, boys); KVAC B — Waterville (girls, boys)

That will change Saturday, when the Eagles hope to run down favored Waterville in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B championships. Seekins will race in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs as well as the 4x800 relay.

"It's a move for more points," Seekins said. "I've never done that much before, but we want to try to get as many points as possible."

Championship track and field meets get under way this weekend, beginning at 1 p.m. today at Alumni Field in Augusta with the Mountain Valley Conference championship.

The KVAC A and B meet is Saturday at McMann Field in Bath, beginning at 9 a.m.

The Waterville boys and girls are chasing their fifth consecutive KVAC B titles.

"I think in the girls, I'd say we're favored," Waterville coach Ian Wilson said. "I always tell the kids, the favorite is the most dangerous place to be. It's easy to get a sense of complacent. You want to get better to compete in state meet.

In KVAC A, Edward Little enters as the favorite to sweep the meet, although Cony should be in the mix.

The Hall-Dale boys hope to challenge Lisbon for the MVC title. The Lisbon boys and girls, like Waterville in the KVAC B, are the four-time defending conference champions.

The Hall-Dale boys bring a strong contingent of athletes led by Alex Colon (400) and Kyle Bell-Colfer (javelin). The duo is seeded first in their events.

However, Madison hopes to make a little noise.

"We're looking for the boys to finish third or fourth at least, with four or five (individual) first places," Madison coach Bob Hagopian said.

Senior Jake Hartigan (hurdles) and sophomore Matt McClintock (distance) are in position for big days.

Hartigan is seeded first in the 300 hurdles and second in the 110 hurdles.

"My 110 is a little faster this year," Hartigan said, "and I have a little more endurance in the 300, and a little more experience."

Hartigan is the reigning MVC champ in the 110 hurdles.

McClintock finished second in the 1,600 and 3,200 at the meet last year.

"I'm developing speed and endurance," he said. "I can run faster than I did last year. I am probably a little less nervous, but I'm always a little nervous because I have high expectations for myself."

Madison sophomore Hannah Emery is seeded second in the shot put.

"I'm pretty nervous, actually," she said. "I want to win, so we'll see how it goes."

Sikwani Dana of Carrabec is seeded first in the javelin.

The Waterville girls enter as the prohibitive favorites at the KVAC B meet. The Purple Panthers are covered in every event and are loaded with top seeds, including Lynn Fleming (100 hurdles, long jump, triple jump), Katy Massey (100), Courtney Williams (racewalk), Bethanie Brown (800), Hannah Jabar (high jump) and Natasha Griffith (shot put). All three Waterville relay teams should contend for titles as well.

"Numerically, we're pretty strong favorites," Wilson said. "But we don't look at points until after the meet is over."

Isaiah Spofford (100, 200), Alex Rowe (triple jump) and Nick Danner (javelin) pace the Waterville boys.

"We may have a slight edge on paper," Wilson said. "With Seekins, Erskine is making a push to be there at the end of the day. It must be important for them."

Indeed, it is.

The Eagles, led by Jake Roberts (hurdles), Seekins and Eben Hodgkins (distance) enter with a talented squad. However, whether or not they have the depth to challenge the Panthers remains to be seen.

"We'd certainly like to try," Erskine coach Scott Rollins said. "We're not sure if we have the numbers, but we should hopefully be in the top two or three."

Added Seekins: "It may be hard to cover their depth. We don't have the volume they do. We'll have to place well in all our events. If we can't take them, hopefully we'll get second."

In KVAC A action, Skowhegan senior Garrett Nelson is seeded first in the long jump while teammate Cam Dionne is the top seed in the discus. Messalonskee senior Kaitlyn Deering is first in the javelin. Chris Low (400) and freshman Sasha Letourneau (200) lead Lawrence.

The Cony boys will look for big days from Rick Orio (300 hurdles), Luke Fontaine (1,600, 3,200) and Cory Clarke (100, 200). The Cony 4x100 relay team is also seeded first.

Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com.