FAIRFIELD — A hard-fought meet between six Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference track and field teams within shouting distance of one another, the Community Cup never fails to disappoint. The 2026 edition was no different.

From a first-time boys champion to a repeat girls winner to a brand-new event, there was plenty to take in Friday at Lawrence Senior High School. Here are five takeaways from the event.

Winslow girls go back-to-back

The Winslow girls began their regular season by beating Messalonskee in a tight meet. How did they end it? By once again edging the Eagles, this time by a 6.5-point margin (146.5-140), to repeat as Community Cup champions.

Belen Farnham had two wins (1,600 meters, 5:31.43; 3,200, 12:35.64), and Maria Moumouris (200, 29.02) and Kelty Pooler (800, 2:33.03) added their own individual victories. The Black Raiders’ 1,600 (4:31.65) and 3,200 (11:15.48) relay teams also triumphed.

“The support that we all have for each other is really great, and I think that’s what made the difference,” said Winslow senior Shawna Martin. “It was neck-and-neck in a meet where you’re going up against your rivals and people you compete with year-round. It’s a great win, and I’m so happy.”

Wise fuels Lawrence boys to historic win

Before Friday, the Lawrence boys had never won the Community Cup. The Bulldogs (177.5 points) can thank sophomore Logan Wise for helping them claim their first.

Wise started by winning the 100 in 11.67 seconds, beating out top-seeded Hassan Hobbi of Winslow by 0.02 seconds. He then led Lawrence’s 400 relay team to victory in an impressive 45.54 seconds and he won the 200 in 23.41 over teammate Easton Blake (24.08).

“I’ve literally dreamed of this day since I was born, so it feels great to finally do it, and it makes me want to work even harder,” Wise said. “It was a great race (against Hobbi). He’s a great athlete, and it was good competition.”

The Skowhegan boys placed second with 129.5 points. Waterville was third with 107.

Cup passion fuels Waterville’s Flees

His original plan was to not exert too much energy in the first of his three distance races. Yet as the 1,600 unfolded, Waterville senior Charley Flees decided to adjust.

Flees led teammate Jack Lapierre by 2.69 seconds at the midway point of the 1,600 and by 4.43 seconds with one lap to go. A full-throttle finish wasn’t necessarily needed, but Flees delivered one anyway as he ran the final 400 in 1:10.33 to win the race in 5:00.84 — an 8.55-second victory over Lapierre.

“I was originally going to do it pretty conservatively — to save for the (800) where I really needed to kick — but I wanted to win,” Flees said. “It’s the Community Cup, and I’ve got to earn points for Waterville; it’s our six biggest rivals all in one place.”

The decision didn’t hinder Flees’ later performances. He won the 800 in 2:13.33 before closing out the evening with a victory in the 3,200 in 10:47.58.

Lawrence throwers’ challenge spawns new event

Track meets usually follow formulaic, carefully determined orders. But that doesn’t always have to be the case; and on Friday, it wasn’t.

Instead of ending with the usual 1,600 relays, this Community Cup instead concluded with a relay race featuring the throwers from all six teams. The 400-meter event was added to the schedule during the week after the Lawrence boys throwers bet their counterparts from the other schools that they could beat them on the track.

“It was something fun they all wanted to try at the end,” said Lawrence coach Pete Spears. “I emailed the other coaches about it, and they said, ‘OK, let’s do it.’”

The Lawrence boys put their money where their mouth was, winning thanks to a final burst from Jaiden Hebert in the final leg. Waterville won the girls race.

Other notable winners

• Gabrielle Finelli, Maine Central Institute girls — 100 (13.35), 300 hurdles (38.49)

• Carter Grenier, Lawrence boys — 110 hurdles (18.69), pole vault (11-6)

• Thomas Hebert, Skowhegan boys — shot put (52-10, meet record)

• Emma McDowell, Messalonskee girls — 400 (1:04.77)

• Kelsie Murray, Messalonskee girls — high jump (5-0)

• Anthony White, Skowhegan boys — triple jump (38-3), long jump (19-9)