WINDHAM — Not even a steady rain could dampen Harlow Ladd’s spirits at the Class A track and field state championship meet Saturday.
Shortly after winning the 3,200-meter run, his second victory of the day, Ladd sprinted toward the stands and did a few pull-ups on the railing while talking to friends and family. Twenty minutes later, the Messalonskee High School senior was back on the track running an all-out anchor leg in the 4×400 relay.
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“The 3,200 was the most enjoyable high school race I’ve had in my life,” Ladd said. “I ran to win and I ran to have fun and I really did that.”
Ladd, who will run track and cross country at Purdue University next year, finished the 3,200 in 9 minutes, 40.51 seconds, six seconds ahead of runner-up Lucas Bourget of Edward Little. The time was far slower than his personal best, but given the deteriorating conditions Ladd was satisfied. He also won the 1,600, holding off a late challenge from Mt. Blue’s Justin Tracy.
Final results for both the boys and girls meet won’t be available until the pole vault is completed at a site to be determined on Wednesday. With all but that event completed, Sanford held a narrow 69-65 lead over Cheverus in the boys meet while Bonny Eagle was third at 55.5 The girls results included neither the discus nor the pole vault. Edward Little holds a 69-65 lead over Scarborough at this point while Bangor is third with 50 points.
Lawrence junior Erzsebet Nagy won the 800 and nearly upset four-time champion Abbey Leonardi of Kennebunk in the 1,600, finishing second by less than a second.
“I felt really strong,” Nagy said of her 800 victory. “I was really excited. I didn’t PR but I still ran a 2:16.”
Nagy led Leonardi for much of the 1,600 until Leonardi pulled ahead with less than 200 meters left. Nagy made a run at the lead but couldn’t catch Leonardi down the stretch. She did finish in 4:57.66, a personal record. Leonardi, who holds the state record in the event, was a few seconds off that pace due to an injury.
“I missed more than a month of training,” Leonardi said, “so it was just more about being mentally tough.”
The two appeared headed for a showdown in the 3,200 but Nagy withdrew before the event because of tightness in her legs.
Ladd and Tracy had a similar duel in the boys 1,600 with Tracy overtaking Ladd only to the give the lead back. Tracy made his move with 500 meters left, not sure if he had enough in reserve to hold off Ladd.
“I had to take a risk,” said Tracy, who eventually finished third. “I really wanted to win but Harlow has a really nasty kick.”
The Cony boys picked up points from Julian Hubbard in three events and Luke Dang in two. Hubbard finished fifth in the high jump and seventh the triple jump and long jump. Dang finished fifth in both the 100 and 200.
“I ended up doing pretty well,” Dang said of his 11.55 second 100. “I beat my KVAC time.”
Cony’s Chris Murphy also earned points with a sixth-place finish in the javelin.
Lawrence’s Tim Dudley finished fourth in the 400 and was a member of the 4×400 meter relay team that took seventh. Teammate Mason Travers placed sixth in the high jump. Zach Veayo took fourth in the race walk for Mt. Blue while teammate Shane O’Neill was seventh in the high jump. Skowhegan’s Jacob Weese placed seventh in the discus throw.
In addition to Ladd, Sanford’s Dan Webb was a double winner, finishing first in the 200 and 400 and a member of the first-place 4×100 team.
Scarborough’s Nicole Kirk won the 100 and 200, setting a state record of 12.25 seconds in the 100. She also was a member of the winning 4×400 relay team.
Local finishers on the girls side included Messalonskee’s Megan Pelletier (3rd, high jump), Andrea Eschenbrenner (4th, shot put) and Samantha Alanis (7th, triple jump). Lawrence’s Katie Dudley finished sixth in the 300 hurdles while the 4×800 team also took sixth. Teammate Jill McAllister was sixth in the 800 for the Bulldogs while Sasha Letourneau placed sixth in the 200. Cony’s Leyna Tobey finished fifth in the javelin throw.
Gary Hawkins — 621-5638
ghawkins@centralmaine.com
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