Bangor sweeps in river rivalry Girls cruise; boys win by one point

BREWER – Clayton Blood tried to ignore the fact that Tuesday’s five-team track meet included two teams from opposite sides of the Penobscot River who share a storied athletic rivalry.

“It’s become another day at the office,” the first-year Brewer coach said, before trying to point out that other meets … bigger meets … remain on the Witches calendar.

Then he grinned, tossed all the other meets aside, and admitted the obvious.

“I guess that’s an overstatement to say ‘another day,'” he said. “Any time it’s Bangor-Brewer, you know that’s got something to it.”

Yes, the Witches and Rams engaged in their traditional spring fling on Tuesday at Cameron Stadium, along with three other schools.

Another day at the office?

Not quite.

Brewer outscored Bangor 18-2 in the boys two mile in the 17th of 19 events, Bangor’s 1,600 relay team was disqualified in the 18th, then the Rams rebounded to outscore the Witches 13-2 in the javelin to escape with a 151-150 win.

Nokomis of Newport took third with 52 points while Central of Corinth tallied 32 and Bangor Christian had 2.

In the girls meet, senior star Emily Capehart won four individual events for the Rams as they bounced back from a Saturday loss to Caribou with a convincing 161-129 victory over Brewer. Nokomis was third with 70 while Central had 15 and Bangor Christian scored 4.

Capehart, who won the long jump (16 feet, 9 inches), triple jump (34-5) 300 hurdles (51.08 seconds) and 200 (28.61), said when Bangor and Brewer meet, the intensity increases.

“Running against Brewer is always a big competition, and it always has been,” she said, pointing out that the loss to Caribou helped her and her teammates refocus.

“I think we’ve really straightened ourselves out, team-wise, and know that Brewer, Hampden and Caribou are going to be our big competition at [the Penobscot Valley Conference championship].”

Her father, Bangor coach Gary Capehart, said that rivalry provides the Rams the kind of challenge they don’t get each meet.

“Brewer’s the only really large-size Class A team that we compete against until Eastern Maine, and they’re one of the only teams that can cover a number of events with a number of competitive people,” he said. “So the kids took this very, very seriously.”

Brewer was led by sophomore Danielle Lainez, who won the pole vault, 100 hurdles and high jump.

The Witches’ distance ace Heather Clark, who will participate in an elite, out-of-state 1,600 on Saturday, ran only the 800 and 1,600 relay.

But for the first time all year, Clark was able to run a time she was pleased with: She turned in a speedy 2:25.47 in the 800 despite battling the strong breeze that she’s become accustomed to during a blustery spring.

“It’s been terrible distance-running weather,” she said. “I don’t usually call ’em ‘meets’ any more. It’s kind of like the obstacle course. You’re battling the wind and the rain.”

In the boys meet, Bangor received two wins from sprinter Mike Prentiss (100, 200) and rallied for the team victory with a 1-3-5 finish from Conor Stevens, Ben Bush and D.J. Johnson in the javelin.

Avery Horr of Nokomis was the only individual three-event winner in the boys meet, taking the triple jump (39-3), 110 hurdles (16.97) and 300 hurdles (42.93).

For Horr, the conditions were just fine: He just compared them to the ones he competed in at Bucksport on Saturday, as the wind howled steadily.

“To come out and actually perform in warm-weather conditions helps,” he said. “It really helps.”