The Waterville track and field teams have made it clear from Day 1 this spring that they were on a mission to successfully defend their Class B state championships.

Both Purple Panther squads enter the meet today at Mount Desert Island High School in position to reach their goals.

State champions will be crowned in all three classes today, weather permitting, and the Purple Panthers will look to make it a sweep in Bar Harbor.

“Our girls look to be in strong position,” Waterville coach Ian Wilson said. “We’ll try to score as many points as we can. The boys have put themselves in a position to make something happen.”

In Class A, Lawrence junior Erzsie Nagy will try to build on her success at the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A meet today at Windham High School.

In Class C, Hall-Dale senior Bri Crisci will try to win three state titles, in the 100-meter dash, 200 and 400.

The Waterville girls are heavily favored to win their sixth consecutive Class B state title.

The Panthers are loaded in just about every event.

They feature eight No. 1 seeds in the 19 events.

Alex Jenson is seeded first in the 100 hurdles (14.87) and triple jump (35 feet, 11.75 inches). Teammate Georgia Bolduc is first in the 100 (12.50) and second in the 200.

Junior Bethanie Brown is first in the 1,600 (4:51.81) and 3,200 (10:32).

“We have a lot of girls seeded well,” Wilson said.

While the girls will score well and often in plenty of events, the boys will need big performances in the throws to win their fifth state title in seven seasons.

Waterville doesn’t feature a top seed in any track events, but it’s loaded in the field.

Senior Nick Margitza is first in the shot put (53-5.75) and second in the discus. Nick Danner is first in the javelin (190-3) and fourth in the discus.

Devin Burgess and Sam Zarfos should pick up key points in the pole vault as well.

Like it has for the last six years, Waterville will battle Falmouth for the title.

“Most of our points will have to come in the field events,” Wilson said. “We’ll be in the hunt. There are places we can move up.”

Also today, Madison senior Matt McClintock will try to break the Class C state records in the 1,600 and 3,200.

Alumni Field in Augusta will host the meet.

“I want to get them,” he said. “I’m excited. I’m in a fairly good position to do what I want to do.”

McClintock ran the 1,600 in 4:21.42 last week at the Mountain Valley Conference meet, putting him about three seconds off the Class C state mark of 4:18.51 that Brandon Bonsey of Falmouth set in 2003.

McClintock won the 3,200 last weekend in 9:18.58. The Class C record is 9:30, which Scott Roberts of Maranacook set in 1986.

“I’m pretty calm,” McClintock said. “I’m calmer than I thought I would be.”

Crisci could also make an impact.

She’s seeded first in the 100 (12.83), 200 (26.91) and 400 (1:00.97).

In Class A, Nagy is seeded first in the 1,600 (4:58.23) and 800 (2:16.27).

The Lawrence girls finished third in the KVAC A meet and will look for another impressive showing today.

“We’re looking forward to seeing what we can do,” Lawrence coach Tim Alberts said.

Messalonskee senior Harlow Ladd is seeded first in the 1,600 (4:25.71) and 3,200 (9:38.13).

However, Ladd says he is running with a sore quad he hurt during a pickup softball game last week.

“Hopefully, I can push through it,” he said.

Cony junior Lindsey Folsom is seeded first in the pole vault (11-2). She will once again go head-to-head with Edward Little senior Jaclyn Masters, who is seeded second.

Bill Stewart — 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com

Copy the Story Link