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05/31/2009
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Staff photo by Joe Phelanfrom the Kennebec Journal
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BATH -- The Edward Little and Waterville high school track and field teams wore out the awards podium and the competition Saturday at the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A and B championship meets.
The Waterville girls overcame a rare disqualification from standout Shelby Tuttle and the absence of injured senior thrower Danielle Fossa to bury the Class B field for their third consecutive conference title. The Purple Panthers finished with 165 points to easily turn back Winslow (100).
The Waterville boys, meanwhile, used strong performances from Alex Rowe, Isaiah Spofford and JD Gurski to finish with 198 points, which was more than enough to defeat Belfast (111), Erskine (66) and 11 other schools for their fourth straight title.
"We've been trying hard all year," said Rowe, a sophomore who won the triple jump and 300-meter hurdles. "We expected to do well."
So did the Red Eddies in Class A. The Edward Little boys won their sixth consecutive KVAC A title, finishing with 183.75 points. Dylan Therien won two events -- shot put, discus -- to lead the way.
Mt. Blue was fourth with 38.75 while Cony was one point behind in fifth.
The EL girls scored 64 points in three throwing events and a whopping 282 overall to successfully defend their league title. Kristin Slotnick won three events -- 100, 200 and 400 -- to pace the Red Eddies.
Cony was fourth with 71.
Skowhegan junior Garrett Nelson won the long jump and triple jump -- the former in dramatic fashion -- and Lawrence senior Brooks Spaulding won the high jump in his only event Saturday.
"I fouled on four of my six jumps in the long jump," Nelson said. "But I got the 20-4 on my last jump. I finally got one and launched it. It was awesome."
Added Spaulding, who cleared six feet for the victory: "I came right in at 5-8 because I didn't want to waste jumps. I cleared that on my first attempt and cleared six on my first attempt. I was going for 6-4, but didn't quite make it."
Messalonskee senior Erik Anderson also won a pair of events, the 100-meters and 200. Mt. Blue senior Kelton Cullenberg used a strong leg kick in the final 200 meters to win the 3,200.
Shelby Tuttle won the 100 hurdles (14.93) and triple jump (36-1.25), but was disqualified in the 300 hurdles when she jumped the gun.
"I guess I got a little over excited," Tuttle said. "I thought I had it timed right. That was disappointing."
Added Waterville coach Ian Wilson: "In her four years I have never seen her false start. She got caught, but better it happen (Saturday) than at states."
Waterville's Katie Massey won the 100 after entering the event seeded third, and Taylor Frame won the 800.
"We were all trying to make up one seed," said Massey, who won the 100 in 13.19. "I knew I would have to get one of my best times."
On the boys side, Gurski won the javelin (161-3) and the 110 hurdles (16.03). Spofford won the 100 (11.48) and Nolan MacDonnell won the 400 (51.80). Also, Nate Theriault cleared 6-2 to win the high jump and Brad Loomis soared 13 feet to win the pole vault.
"It was a pretty good day," Gurski said. "It was a lot more fun than regular-season meets. The competition was better and there were some good teams here."
Christina Massey led a strong Winslow girls team with victories in the high jump (5-2) and long jump (16-6.5). Riley Jones won the racewalk in 8:41.27 and Kathryn Fedus easily won the pole vault (8-0) for the Black Raiders
"I wanted to get 5-4 in the high, but had difficulty," Massey said. "But I felt good. Waterville is just too deep. But individually, we had some amazing players."
Nokomis junior Laura Lyford won the shot put (29-10.25).
"I was nervous," she said. "This is my first year of track."
Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515
bstewart@centralmaine.com
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