The Maranacook Community High School track and field teams face a unique situation each spring, when they tune up for the Class C state championship meet by competing in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B championship.

“It’s different. It’s kind of a little strange,” Maranacook coach Ronn Gifford said. “But at the same time the kids get to compete against some top Class B competition.”

The Maranacook boys finished fifth at the KVAC B championship, the girls sixth.

“It’s motivational for the kids,” Gifford said. “But it is a different situation.”

The Black Bears will compete in the Class C state championship meet at Alumni Field in Augusta on Saturday.

The Maranacook boys, led by senior hurdler Taylor Watson, are the defending Class C state champs. Gifford said it’s hard to predict where the Black Bears will end up Saturday.

“We’re improving,” he said. “We’ve made a lot of progress. But it’s tough to tell where well go. There are a lot of good teams out there.”

Watson swept the hurdles at the KVAC B meet. He finished in 15.35 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles in 15.35 seconds and 40.70 in the 300 hurdles.

“His times are getting better at each meet,” Gifford said. “Taylor is peaking at the right time. Hopefully, he’ll have a good day (Saturday).”

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Hall-Dale coach Jarod Richmond acknowledged his boys team was a “little bummed out” after it finished behind Lisbon at the Mountain Valley Conference championship meet last Friday in Augusta.

The Greyhounds, who won their seventh consecutive MVC title, beat Hall-Dale by 30 points.

The Bulldogs had hoped to wrestle the championship away behind strong performances from junior Tyler Fitzgerald and Sam Shepherd. Fitzgerald won the 100 (11.37) and 400 (52.87), while Shepherd won the high jump (6-0) and finished second in the 300 hurdles (44.76).

The focus will change this weekend.

“Looking back, we were very close,” Richmond said. “But it showed our lack of depth. We can’t be disappointed. We were a little bummed out after it but now we move on. We don’t think we can win states but we’ll see what happens. We just don’t have the depth. There’s no real pressure now but to go out and perform.”

Richmond added Fitzgerald and Bri Crisci — who won the three sprinting events at the MVC girls championship meet — will take it easy this week.

“They have had great seasons,” Richmond said. “The focus for them right now is no strenuous workouts and to get a lot of rest. I think they will have big days Saturday.”

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Winthrop senior Kameron Souza is trying to crack the two-minutes in the 800.

He’s come close a few times this season, including last Friday at the MVC championship meet.

Souza won the 800 with a time of 2:02.84. He previously ran a 2:00.34.

“He’s actually run the event in sub-two minutes for a relay,” Winthrop coach Ed Van Tassel said. “He really hasn’t been in position to have someone else take the lead on him. We’re hoping someone does that at states.”

Kevin Desmond, then a Monmouth senior, ran the 800 in 1:58.11 to win the Class C state title last season.

The Class C state record is 1:56.98, set by Parker Pruett of Sumner in 1996.

“Kameron can get under two,” Van Tassel said. “He can do it. He’s done it before.”

Souza won’t run in the 4×800 relay Saturday at the Class C meet. Instead, he’ll compete in the 800, javelin and 4×400 relay.

Bill Stewart — 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com

 

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