WATERVILLE — For the first 10 years of the Community Cup track and field meet, the Waterville Senior High teams only had to take the trophies out of the school’s case to dust them. The Purple Panthers dominated the Community Cup’s first decade, with both the girls and boys winning each meet.

That changed last season when the Messalonskee boys broke through and won. This year, for the first time in the Community Cup’s dozen-year history, both trophies will spend the year outside the Waterville city limits. The Messalonskee boys dominated to defend their title, while the Messalonskee girls held off a strong Lawrence team to take the Cup.

The Messalonskee girls scored 110 1/2 points, while Lawrence (92 points) took second. The Messalonskee boys had 150 points, well ahead of second place Waterville (108 1/2).

“It’s incredible. All the hard work we put in paid off,” Messalonskee’s Avery Brennan, who helped the Eagles girls with a win in the 800 meters, said. “About halfway through the meet, I saw we were ahead. Not by much, but we were ahead. I started telling all the girls, ‘Come on, we can win this.'”

The girls javelin was one of the final events of the day. Emily Steinmeyer’s throw of 107 feet, 5 inches just edged Kiana Letourneau, of Lawrence (106-04), and wrapped up the meet win for Messalonskee.

“That friendly competition, it was nice knowing it was coming down to me and Kiana Letourneau in the javelin,” Steinmeyer said.

Messalonskee earned other wins from Emma Dehetre in the 300 hurdles (53.09 seconds) and Liz Larson in the 1,600 race walk (9:13).

The Messalonskee boys won with depth, particularly in the distance events. In the 1,600, the Eagles took four of the top five spots. In the 3,200, Messalonskee placed three of the top four.

“Today, we’re doing enough to win,” Messalonskee’s Owen Concaugh, who won the 1,600 (4:31.50) and 3,200 (10:07.19), said. “It means a lot. Last year was kind of a big deal when we won. We celebrated a lot.”

Messalonskee’s Tanner Burton won the 110 hurdles with a time of 16.03 seconds after tinkering with his start in practice this week. Like many of the athletes competing on Saturday, Burton saw the Community Cup as a tune-up meet heading into the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference championships next Saturday and the state meet in two weeks.

“I changed my block start to get out faster, to get to the first hurdle and engage it faster,” Burton said. “I’m trying to nail my form.”

Zach Hoyle won the 400 (52.39) and 800 (2:02.01) for the Eagles. Winslow’s Jake Warn took first place in the 100 (11.61), 200 (23.62), long jump (20-7.5) and triple jump (41-9). Waterville’s Trever Gray took first in both the shot put (51-6.75) and discus (164-08).

Maddy Price, of Skowhegan, won the 100 (12.86), triple jump (35-07) and long jump (16-03). In the 200, Price and Letourneau finished in a tie at 27.32 seconds.

“I didn’t finish like I should have, with a good hard lean,” Price said of the 200.

Temperatures reached the mid-70s during the meet and athletes had to adjust to the heat.

“We’ve been running in cold, windy conditions,” Price said.

Added Concaugh: “This is the first nice meet we’ve had all year. I don’t think we’ve had a practice this nice.”

Waterville’s Sarah Cox won the shot put (37-3.5) and discus (99-06). Winslow’s Paige Smith took first in the 100 hurdles (17.24) and high jump (4-08).

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM

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