BRUNSWICK -- Usually, Waterville Senior High School track and field coach Ian Wilson has between 50 and 60 athletes come out for the indoor season. When around 35 came out for the team this winter, Wilson worried about the Purple Panthers' depth.

At the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference championships Saturday, Wilson found even with fewer numbers the Panthers had plenty of talent and depth. Both the Waterville boys and girls won the Class B meet with plenty of points to spare.

"We had some kids really dedicate themselves to training," Wilson said. "I pushed them as hard as any team I've had. I'm really pleased with the team effort in general."

The Waterville boys scored 173 points, well ahead of second place Rockland (46 points) and Winslow and Erskine, who tied for third with 40 points.

The Waterville girls scored 196 points. Erskine was second (123), while Winslow took third (74).

In Class A, both the Brunswick boys and girls won team titles.

Waterville picked up individual first-place finishes from five girls: Ashley Perry (7.85 seconds in the 55 meters), Shelby Tuttle (8.81 in the 55 hurdles), Jessie Lefebvre (8 feet, 6 inches in the pole vault), Ci'ara Williams (15-09.25 in the long jump) and Bethany Karter-O'Brien (a KVAC record 42-6 in the shot put). The Panthers had at least three athletes place in the top six in three events.

"Our talent makes up for our little numbers," said Williams, who was named co-athlete of the Class B meet after taking second in the 55 hurdles, third in the 200 and running on Waterville's first place 4x200 relay team. Williams shared the award with Rockland's Elsie Mason, who finished first in the 200 (27.68 seconds), 400 (1:03.08) and high jump (4-4).

Dominik Alexis took three first-place finishes for the Waterville boys, winning the 55 hurdles (8.28 seconds), high jump (6-feet) and triple jump (41-2.75). Isiah Spofford won the junior 55 hurdles (9.20) for the Panthers, while Brad Loomis won the pole vault (12-feet), Josh Sirois won the long jump (18-9) and Kenny Gervais the junior shot put (36-0.5).

Messalonskee's Jesse Labreck was dominant in winning three events. Labreck set a conference record in the 55 hurdles with a time of 8.40 seconds, while also winning the high jump (5-4) and triple jump (35-11.25). Labreck was named Class A co-athlete of the meet, along with Brunswick's Kristin Slotnick, who took firsts in the 55, 200, and long jump.

"My goal (in the 55 hurdles) was 8.3, and I got close," Labreck said.

Messalonskee's Eric Anderson finished first in the Class A 55 (6.79) and 200 (23.35), and shared MVP honors with Brunswick's David Slovenski, who captivated the entire meet with a New England record 16-2 in the pole vault.

Erskine's Steve Morissette was co-athlete of the Class B boys meet after winning both the 200 (23.99) and 400 (53.15). Morissette's Erskine teammate Jake Rollins won the 800, while Erskine's Jackson Fortin won the junior 400 (59.03). Robbie Morang of Erskine took the junior high jump (5-6).

"I started out slow, but I knew I could outkick those guys," Rollins said.

Eric Marceau of Mt. Blue took first place in the Class A mile, edging out Lewiston's Mohamed Noor. When Noor made a move on lap five of the eight lap race, Marceau stuck to his plan and saved his kick to the end.

"I knew it was going to be a close race," Marceau said. "I threw in a kick and got by (Noor)."

Bethany Dumas of Cony didn't have her best day in the pole vault. Recovering from a sprained ankle suffered four weeks ago, Dumas vaulted an even 10-feet, more than a foot lower than her best. Still, it was enough to win the event by a foot.

"It just wasn't a good day," Dumas said, "but it wasn't a bad day to not have a good day."

Maine Central Institute's Amanda Asaro ran in the Class B mile and 2-mile despite a sinus infection and strep throat. Asaro was able to win the mile (5:38.32), and finished in second in the 2-mile.

"About three-quarters of the way through (the mile), when I was still third, I wasn't sure if I'd have my kick," Asaro said. "I knew I'd finish. I just wanted it bad."

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com