In recent years, the Waterville Senior High School indoor track and field teams have dominated the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference meet. The Purple Panthers will be the Class B favorites in both the girls and boys meets today at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, but they’ll face some strong competition, the girls from a deep Winslow team and the boys from Erskine and Belfast.
In Class A, Brunswick and Mt. Ararat are the favorites in both the girls and boys meets.
As usual, Waterville’s strength is its depth. In almost every event, the Panthers have a number of athletes who could place and pick up points.
“With our girls, we’re pretty happy with our balance all over the field,” Waterville coach Ian Wilson said. “We have high level competitors in almost every event.”
Waterville has a few injuries that could hurt its depth. On the girls side, distance runner Bethanie Brown (IT band) and sprinter/jumper Georgia Bolduc (hamstring) are questionable for today’s meet. On the boys side, Jordhan Levine, the top seed in the triple jump, is out with a fractured bone in his hand. Wilson said he hopes Levine will be able to compete in the Class B state meet on Feb. 20.
“We’re trying to be really cautious and be ready for states,” Wilson said. “Sometimes, when you’re a little injured, the rest of the kids rise up and pick up the slack.”
Waterville’s Olivia Thurston is the top seed in the 55-meter hurdles. Alexa Frame (400) and Kellie Bolduc (triple jump) are other favorites for Waterville.
A strong Winslow girls team is led by junior Alliyah Veilleux. An outdoor track veteran, Veilleux is the top seed in the 55 meters, 200 and the shot put. Christine Parrilli is back to defend her title in the long jump for the Black Raiders, and Katie Smith is the top seed in the high jump.
Erskine’s Courtney Elliot is the top seed in the Class B pole vault. On the Class A side, Cony’s Lindsey Folsom is the top pole vault contender.
“This week, she’s had a lot of good reps jumping, and I think she’s jumping as well as she ever has,” Cony coach Taylor Harmon said.
For the Waterville boys, Nick Margitza is the top seed in the shot put, and Devin Burgess is the top seed in the long jump. Darien Acero is the favorite in the high jump for the Panthers, and Devin Burgess is seeded first in the pole vault.
Erskine’s Zac Lee is the top seed in the Class B 55 hurdles. Cody Whitcomb of Gardiner is the top seed in the Class B mile and 800.
In Class A, Messalonskee senior Harlow Ladd is the favorite in the boys mile, 2 mile and 800 meters.
“He’s looking good,” Messalonskee coach Scott Wilson said. “He’s very relaxed and confident.”
Cony’s Luke Dang is a contender in the 55 and 200.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
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