Team chemistry aids Bapst girls Ford, Peterson, Hawkes, Birkel help Brewer boys capture victory

BREWER – Some people assume that track and field is an individual sport.

Don’t tell that to the John Bapst of Bangor girls, especially their 4 by 400 relay squad. They proved that track can be a team sport, by all wearing the same spikes.

“I wanted to get those shoes, and I thought we should all get them,” said Elaine Colwell.

Does it work?

“Our team has the state record,” she added.

“We wanted matching spikes,” they all said at once. The other team members were Evelyn Sharkey, Lily Krichels, and Katie Andrle.It worked on this day as well, as the Crusaders topped Hampden Academy 153-141 in a five-team meet at Pendleton Street Track Friday.

Brewer was third with 69, Mattanawcook of Lincoln fourth with 25, and Bangor Christian had no team score.

The boys meet was won by the host Witches, 162-131 over the Broncos. John Bapst ended up third with 71, the Lynx fourth with 27, and the Patriots had no score.

Coach Bruce Pratt’s Crusaders had some great all-around performances, especially in the distance races, in the girls meet. Evelyn Sharkey took the 800 in 2 minutes, 35 seconds, Nicole Lavertu the mile in 5:32.49 and Maddy Glover the 3,200 in 11:53.21.

Competing against the likes of Brewer and Hampden really helps the Class C Crusaders, according to Pratt.

“Every time we go against Bangor, Brewer, Hampden, or Old Town, we’re much better off because we go to meets with lots of ‘C’ schools,” he said. “In a meet like this, if you don’t show up with you’re ‘A’ game, you’ll end up going home in second place.”

Bapst definitely had its “A” game Friday. The Crusaders captured all three relay events, while Colwell took the 100 hurdles and Andrle won the 300 hurdles. Colwell was second in that race.

“I’m pleased with everything,” Pratt added. “We improved where we wanted to improve.”

Brewer junior standout Stephanie Dickey continued her rise to the top of the Penobscot Valley Conference in the throwing events, breezing to a 33-foot, 81/2-inch victory in the shot put, winning the discus as well with a heave of 98-3 and was fourth in the javelin in 86-0.

Dickey has competed in USA Track and Field events in the past, and is in her first season of high school track.

“Stephanie’s always been an incredible thrower,” Witches coach Matt Collins said. “She’ll get a lot better. She’s phenomenal in all three [throwing] events.”

In the boys meet, Brewer’s depth carried it to victory once again, as it did the first two meets of the season as well as through indoor track.

“Our team’s looking real strong. Everyone’s just getting better,” said senior sprinter Mike Ford, who won the 400 dash, took second in the 100 and 200, and was on the Witches’ winning 4 by 100 team.

Collins agreed.

“This was our first full meet with good conditions,” he said, referring to snowy conditions last week and kids missing during April vacation. “Everybody was well spread out, and it was an all-around good meet.”

Brewer’s hurdle crew dominated, as Dan Peterson and Josh Hawkes went 1-2 in both the 100 and 300 hurdle races.

“Our sprinters and jumpers are our biggest strengths, and we have three or four guys placing, so that helps,” said Ford.

Ryan Birkel was second in the shot put and discus for the Witches, while Chip Haskell, Mike Parker, and Matt Quimby placed 2-3-4 in the pole vault.

Hampden Academy senior Brad Simms continued to soar to new heights in the pole vault, clearing 13 feet for the second week in a row. His vault of 13-0 tied a Brewer track record. Hampden mid-distance specialist Scott Dorrity cruised to a win in the 800 with a blazing 2:03.89, while Trainor Kapler took the 100, 200, and long jump for the Broncos.