Ram boys, Witch girls favored at Black Bear Relays

With two weeks of meets already in the books, Eastern Maine Indoor Track League teams are gearing up for this weekend’s Black Bear Relays.

The Bangor boys and Brewer girls look to be the favorites for Saturday’s competition, slated to start at 3:45 p.m. at the University of Maine field house.

The Rams are the defending boys and girls meet champions.

The meet will feature three open running events in the 55-meter dash, 55 hurdles and mile along with different running relays such as the long spring medley (440 yards, 220, 220, 880), short sprint medley (440, 220, 220, 440) and distance medley (880, 440, 1320, mile).

The 1320-yard race in the distance medley is equivalent to three-quarters of a mile (1200 meters).

Events also include a 4×1-lap relay for shot putters and the 4×220, 4×440 and 4×880.

While the Bangor boys have been showcasing the dominating form that has produced three consecutive EMITL championships and last winter’s Class A state title, the Brewer girls have looked impressive in their first two meets as well.

Coach Jamerson Crowley’s club has been getting strong performances all across the board, with Mackenzie DeGraff holding the league’s top marks in the 55, long jump and triple jump.

DeGraff heads up a talented crew of sprinting threats that includes Sarah Risser, Kira Giroux, Erika Cote, Colleen Carr and Kaitlin Noyes, who will be factors in the sprint medleys, hurdles, 4×220 and 4×440.

Noyes has also blossomed in the 400 meters and pole vault while Sierra Reed is off to a productive start in the shot put, and Carolynn Tuck in the high jump and hurdles.

Brewer also has perhaps the deepest distance corps in Eastern Maine, led by Katie Snow, Bekah Clark, Michelle Haluska and Ashley Geiser.

Kendra Lenz has enjoyed a strong start in the sprints for Bangor. The junior has a 55 mark of 7.98, and along with 200 and 400 threat Brittney Chapman, could be a key catalyst on the Rams’ sprint medleys and 4×220, along with Catherine LeClair.

LeClair, along with Lenz and Becca Bogan will head up Bangor’s long and triple jump corps. LeClair is the league’s second-ranked triple jumper, behind Brewer’s DeGraff.

Old Town senior Hilary Maxim is enjoying a strong start as well.

Maxim owns league-best times of 5:17.31 in the mile and 11:56.97 in the two-mile.

On the boys side, Bangor has been bolstered by sprinters Lonnie Hackett and Kyle Vanidestine, high jump/pole vault specialist Sean Seekins and distance runners Riley Masters, Shea Patterson and Stephen Salinas.

The Rams and Brewer will figure to have a close battle with the Witches’ top guns being sprinter Ben Sinclair, technique specialist Chris Corey, along with Chris Brady, Travis Blackmer and shot putter Dan Hanscom.

Both teams have solid depth in the distance events, and should be able to put together formidable 4×800 and distance medley teams, while possibly using a mid-distance threat in the 800 of the long sprint medley.

Hampden Academy should be strong in the field events, sparked by top jumper Matthew Toothaker, who owns a mark of 40-43/4 in the triple jump, best in Eastern Maine.

An Epic Finale

One-hundred and six runners competed in Maine’s final road race of 2007, the Epic Finale 5K in Bangor, last Sunday.

Former Bangor High and University of Maine standout Adam Goode of Orono took home first-place honors in 16:04, 17 seconds ahead of runner-up and Bar Harbor native Judson Cake.

Another former Bangor running standout, Binghamton University freshman runner Casey Quaglia, finished fourth in 16:53.

Mindy Thomas of Virginia took the women’s race in 18:24, while Maxim was third among female finishers and 19th overall at 20:36.

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