AUGUSTA — The Hall-Dale boys track and field team vowed to make a run at Lisbon at the Mountain Valley Conference championships Thursday afternoon.
The Bulldogs made good on that promise, pushing the favored Greyhounds to the final event at overcast Alumni Field.
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But in the end, the Greyhounds did what they’ve done the previous seven years: Find a way to come out on top.
Lisbon secured its eighth consecutive MVC title when it edged Hall-Dale in the 4×400-meter relay. The Bulldogs trailed the Greyhounds by 1.5 points heading into the event.
“We gave them everything we had,” Hall-Dale coach Jarod Richmond said. “In a meet like this it’s the little things here and there. A couple breaks our way, maybe we get it. Hats off to Lisbon, they had a little too extra for us today. We fought hard.”
The Lisbon boys finished with 133 points. Hall-Dale, which finished third in the 4×400 relay behind runnerup Lisbon and Monmouth, finished with 129.5 points. Madison was third with 76.
The Lisbon girls easily won their eighth consecutive MVC title, finishing with a whopping 166 points. Boothbay was second with 96.5
“That is a wonderful group of kids over there (at Hall-Dale),” Lisbon coach Dean Hall said. “They gave us everything. They killed us in the high jump, they killed us in the long jump and they killed us in the triple jump. I can’t say enough about them.”
Tyler Fitzgerald and Sam Shepherd turned in strong performances to lead Hall-Dale, which was runnerup to Lisbon for a second stright year. Lisbon won the MVC title last season by 30 points.
Fitzgerald won the 100-meter dash (11.62 seconds), the 200 (23.82) and was second in the 400 (53.20). He was also second in the long jump (20 feet, 4 inches).
“I think we made a statement,” he said. “We weren’t messing around. Lisbon is a great team. They have a bunch of kids who just swarm the events, but we gave it our all.”
Shepherd won the 300 hurdles (42.49) and high jump (6 feet). Shepherd beat out three Lisbon runners in the 300 hurdles, including runner-up Charles Adams.
“He kept gaining on me,” Shepherd said. “I knew I had to just keep going.”
While the Bulldogs picked up points in the jumps, the Greyhounds did their damage in the hurdles, race walk and relays. They also used their depth in an abundance of events.
Lisbon had just one individual winner — Tyler Bard in the 1,600-meter race walk. The Greyhounds also took second in the 4×100 and 4×400 relays. Austin Bedford, Charles Adams, Jordon Torres and Ben Kates comprised the 4×400 relay team, which edged Hall-Dale by three seconds.
“It definitely is frustrating,” Richmond said. “But when you give it everything you got, you can’t be too disappointed.”
Kayla Angelico won a pair of events — 300 hurdles (50.19) and javelin (111-9) — to lead the Lisbon girls. She also anchored the victorious 4×400 and 4×800 relay teams.
Also at the meet, Winthrop junior Rachel Ingram won the long jump (15-6) and triple jump (34-2) to earn the top female field event performer.
Hall-Dale’s Emma Wilson won the 3,200 (12:27.40).
On the boys side, Madison junior Ron Helderman enjoyed a strong meet, winning the pole vault (12 feet) and 110 hurdles (16.77).
“I was a little worried in the 110 hurdles because I wasn’t feeling as good as I usually do,” he said. “I just got out as fast as I could and tried to hold it. Last year, I was seeded first hit a hurdle, fell and sprained my ankle. Winning it this year was all I wanted to do.”
Madison teammate Kaleb Staples finished second to Helderman in the 110 hurdles.
Monmouth junior Marques Houston won the 400 (51.98) and anchored the 4×400 relay team that finished in a meet-record time of 3:37.78.
Winthrop senior Zach Nadeau won the shot put with a throw of 42-8.
“Today was an off day for me,” he said. “I started the season throwing 43 ,44, so 42-8 is a little disappointing.”
Telstar’s Josef Holt-Andrews was named boys top track performer after he won three events — the 800 (2:05.14), 1,600 (4:33.63) and 3,200 (10:02.16).
Bill Stewart — 621-5640
bstewart@centralmaine.com
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