Leavitt track sweeps KVAC small school titles

Lawrence's Zoe Hutchins competes in the discus as the KVAC small school championship. Hutchins won with a throw of 128-4. Purchase this image

BATH — The Leavitt boys outdoor track and field team won its fourth straight KVAC small school championship Friday at Morse High, thanks in no small part to four event wins from senior Stephen Pierre.

Pierre won his fourth straight conference title in the 110-meter hurdles (15.25 seconds), added victories in the long jump (22 feet, 4 inches) and high jump (6-0), then capped an already impressive day by outkicking top-seeded Winslow junior Hassan Hobbi in the final stretch of the 300 hurdles (41.11).

“I couldn’t ask for anything better,” Pierre said after rewarding himself with a post-meet grilled cheese sandwich. “I mean, I performed well — actually I could. I wish I did a little bit better in my high jump, but I still did good and I took the win, so stay happy.”

Although they didn’t win the 1,600 relay, the Leavitt boys ran fast enough to secure the team title over Belfast. Leavitt ended the evening with 132 points, while Belfast finished with 127.5. Lincoln Academy took third with 112.5 points.

“They knew what the mission was, and they went out and executed,” Leavitt coach Jamie Juntura said. “Points aside, wins aside, it’s hard to get better than that. When you go, ‘Hey kids, I need you to rise to the occasion,’ and they do, that’s an amazing feeling.”

The Hornets won six individual events. Junior Seroghza Bezhenar and sophomore Angelo Toscano took first and second in the pole vault, both clearing 10-6. Junior Phineas Scherrer comfortably won the 1600 race walk with a time of 7:57.48.

Pierre won four events at the KVAC meet for the second time; he placed first in the same events as a sophomore. Last year, he was second in the 300 hurdles and long jump and didn’t compete in the high jump. For his 40-point effort, Pierre was named the most outstanding boys athlete of the meet.

Leavitt’s Stephen Pierre, right, runs to the victory in the 110-meter hurdles at the KVAC small school championship meet on Friday in Bath. Pierre finished in 15.25. *Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal*

“I was very proud of my long jump because it was close to my PR, but I think the (300) hurdles is the most impressive because it was only my second time running it this season,” Pierre said. “I wasn’t seeded first, but I really just pushed for it, which in turn hurt my legs and my butt cheeks a lot. I can’t lie.”

Pierre’s points were vital for Leavitt, because top-seeded sprinter Mason Henderson had to withdraw from two events after pulling his right hamstring during the 100-meter prelims. The two-time defending champion still competed in the 100 final and placed third.

“Every kid on our team wanted to rally behind him,” Juntura said. “He sacrificed himself big time in that. He put himself out there for the team in that final. And the other boys reciprocated. It was awesome.”

LEAVITT GIRLS GO BACK-TO-BACK

Despite winning only one event, the Leavitt girls won their second straight conference championship.

Leavitt scored 130 points. MCI placed second with 108, and Morse finished in third with 77.

“We have a really strong group of girls,” Juntura said. “They’re really dedicated. They’re really hard working. Every single one of them today came in knowing that they had to do their job, but their job was like, get eighth, get seventh, get sixth. And they were there to pick (points) up.”

Leavitt had multiple point scorers in five events and at least one person on the podium in every event but two. Izzy Gates, a senior, won the pole vault with a height of 8-6.

NARROW MARGINS

Both 100-meter dash finals featured exciting finishes.

Belfast freshman Alex Benjamin, participating in just his second meet of the season, won the boys race with a time of 11.44. Benjamin, who also placed second in the 200 and the high jump, said he “was fully expecting to lose” and was shocked at his final time, a personal best.

The first four finishers were separated by 0.07 seconds. Belfast senior Lucas Newsom, who placed eighth after winning the javelin throw (150-9), had to tell a disbelieving Benjamin he had won. Benjamin changed his block setup after running the fifth-best time in prelims.

The girls 100 was even closer, as Medomak Valley junior Scarlett Flint (13.11, school record) outleaned Erskine Academy sophomore Sovie Rau (13.12).

Flint did not feel good about her preliminary performance, in which Rau held a 0.02-second advantage, so in between rounds she found a spot on the grass and closed her eyes.

“I had a soccer tournament last weekend,” Flint said. “I played like a lot, and I just was like, ‘Can’t do it, I’m sore, I’m tired.’ I went back and took a nap, and I was good.”

Rau won the 400 (1:01.11) and placed third in the 200.

HOME-TRACK ADVANTAGE

No school won more first-place ribbons than the home team. Morse placed first in nine events, five on the girls side and four on the boys.

Morse senior Shealyn Brochu was named the most outstanding girls athlete after winning the 800 (2:19.07), 1,600 (4:54.97, with a bloody nose), and 3,200 (11:26.85), and running the anchor leg on the 3,200 relay (10:04.11, school record). Levi Riggs, a junior, won the 800 (2:05.55) and 1,600 (4:37.56) and helping the 3,200 relay team place second.

Morse senior Jackson Murray won the 200 (23.15) and placed second in the 100. Charlie Thelen, a junior, won the triple jump (40-1 1/2) and finished in the top five in three other events.

The Morse girls also won the 1,600 relay (4:25.67).