4 Mainers win NE high school track, field titles

HAMPTON, N.H. – Four Maine high school athletes established themselves as the region’s best in their events on Saturday at the 56th New England Track and Field Championship at Winnacunnet High School.

Luke Caron of Brunswick, Katie Souviney of Winslow, Danielle Zimmerman of Brunswick, and Ashley Cass of Edward Little High School in Auburn each posted victories at the meet, sponsored by the Council of New England Secondary School Principals’ Association.

Caron, the Class A shot put champ, won the event by an inch and a half with a best throw of 58 feet, 11/2 inches.

Souviney won the 100 hurdles in 15.14 seconds and finished third in the 300 hurdles in a speedy 45.41.

Cass cracked the 38-foot barrier in the triple jump en route to victory. Her best effort was 38-31/2 and won by more than 11/2 feet. She also finished fourth in the long jump.

Zimmerman cleared 5-6 in the high jump, as did Taryn Nye of St. Johnsbury, Vt. Zimmerman won the event on the basis of fewer misses.

Among the other highlights for Maine athletes in the meet: Jamie Finneran of Traip and Andrew Hall of Leavitt each surpassed the 200-foot barrier while taking second and third in the javelin. Finneran reached 203-7 and Hall threw 201-7.

In the girls meet, Maine distance runners turned in some speedy times.

Bridget Gagne of North Yarmouth Academy led three Mainers with fast clockings in the 800 with her 2:15.92 third-place effort. Sophomore Oriana Farley of Class B Hampden was fourth in 2:16.95 and Presque Isle’s Melissa Blackstone, the Class B state record holder, ran 2:17.86 for seventh.

Samantha Pelletier of Seacoast Christian in South Berwick finished third in the 3,200 in a blazing 10:51.90, and was one of four Maine girls who broke 5:08 in the 1,600. She ran 5:01.25 to take fourth.

Blackstone (5:01.17 for third), Gagne (5:04.69 for sixth), and Jenny Goransson of Marshwood (5:07.75 for ninth) were the others.