Winslow’s Hassan Hobbi is the defending Class C state champion in the 110-meter hurdles. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Small schools could put up big results in central Maine track and field this spring.

There are athletes in the region who will contend for state title in all three classes, especially in Class C. Eight Class C schools feature athletes who either won a state title or are among the top returners in their events.

Winslow, the defending Class C boys champion, must replace Joey Richards, who won four events at the state meet — 100, 200, 400 and long jump — as well Justin Rogers and Braden Rioux, who were strong in the 800 and 1,600, respectively. 

Among those returning for Winslow is Hassan Hobbi, the reigning state champion in the 110 hurdles. Hobbi also finished fourth in the 300 hurdles.

“Hassan is an athlete; he just has tremendous speed,” said Winslow coach Ken Nadeau. “You look at his indoor season (this winter), he was doing back-to-backs at the state championships, and he still got second place in both. We’re hoping that can continue for him.”

Lucas Spencer also returns after finishing fourth in the javelin.

Kyri Meak is back for the Winslow girls and should also contend for state titles. As a junior, Meak finished fourth in the 100 and fifth in the 200. In the long jump, she hopes to hit 17 feet, which would put her in contention for the state championship.

“We’ve got a super strong team with a lot of kids who are doing really well, and it’s only the beginning of the season,” Meak said. “I’m really excited to jump. I got 16-ish (in the long jump) last year, and I really want the school record (17-1).”

MCI’s Gabby Finelli finished fourth in the 100 hurdles last spring. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Another Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Small School team, Maine Central Institute, has similar reasons for optimism. The Huskies enter the season with confidence after winning the KVAC Class B indoor title this winter, and are led by junior Gabby Finelli, who finished fourth in the 100 hurdles last spring and was the runner-up in the triple jump during the indoor season.

For the MCI boys, Sam Gerrie should contend in the long jump and 200 after finishing fourth and fifth, respectively, a year ago. The senior won the Class B indoor title in the 200 and the triple jump, and finished second in the long jump, earning Varsity Maine All-State honors.

“Sam didn’t play soccer this fall and spent all offseason lifting and preparing, knowing this was going to be his sport at the next level,” MCI coach Jess Libby said of Gerrie, who will join the Colby College track team. “You get out what you put in, and he’s put in the time.”

Winthrop has 65 athletes — nearly 30% of the school’s student body. The Winthrop boys finished fourth at the Class C meet last season and should contend this spring. The Ramblers have two quality throwers back in Jacob Feith (fifth in the javelin at the state meet) and Hunter Reynolds (fourth in the discus). 

On the track, Winthrop has another contender in Alfie Cognata. A sophomore, Cognata finished fifth in the 800 last spring and was second to Lake Region’s Sam Laverdiere at the indoor state meet while competing for St. Dominic Academy.

“Last year, he played soccer in the fall and went out for indoor track but said, ‘I don’t know if this is for me,’” Winthrop coach Ed Van Tassel said. “This year, he ran all summer, ran cross country, did indoor, and he said, ‘Yeah, this is for me.’ He’s fired up and ready to go, and he should have a pretty good season.”

Carrabec senior Desmond Robinson should contend for a state title in the 1,600 after finishing fourth last season. Fully recovered after breaking his right ankle in the second cross country meet of the season in the fall, the senior is chasing more success in the 1,600 and 3,200.

“He definitely has natural talent, but he also has such determination; he just goes out there and motors it,” Carrabec coach Debra Aitken. “He’s been 100%, even through the basketball season. … He looks like he hasn’t lost a step; you really see no effect (on his ankle) at all.”

Mt. Abram senior Reagan Lockaby is back to compete in the high jump after winning the state title in 2023 and finishing second via tiebreaker last year. Hall-Dale returns senior Miles Fleming, who finished seventh in the 400.

In MVC girls competition, Maranacook returns Evelyn Stevenson, who placed fourth in the high jump, and Kendra Bor, who was fifth in the pole vault. Madison returns junior Ava Landry, who finished fourth in the javelin.