NORTH BERWICK — Drew Gervais shot his arms above his head as he crossed the finish line. Did that spontaneous display of enthusiasm slow down the Bonny Eagle junior as he completed the 100-meter dash at the New England high school track and field championships?

Maybe, but not in any significant way. Gervais still crossed the finish line first, in 10.78 seconds. You can call him the fastest high schooler in New England. Not bad for a guy who entered the preliminary heats seeded 17th out of 35 sprinters.

“I was just like, they’ll never see me coming. It will make an even better story,” Gervais said moments after posting his win.

Gervais is the second Mainer to win the boys 100 at New Englands in three years. Andre Clark of Marshwood took the crown in 2024.

Gervais knew his seed was an illusion. Seeds are based solely on performances at state championship meets across New England. Last week at Cameron Stadium in Bangor, Gervais won the Class A title with a time of 11.07 into a strong headwind. In better conditions, he knew he’d run faster.

“My finals time wasn’t that fast, so I got seeded really bad,” he said.

Only somebody who runs with supreme confidence would call 11.07 seconds in the 100 slow. Gervais is a kid who dyed flames into his hair, so, yeah, maybe running the 100 in 11.07 is a leisurely stroll in his mind.

“Last year, I did cheetah print for my hair, and it worked. I set all the sophomore records for Maine,” Gervais said. “So I was like, I’m going to do it again. I’m going to style it hot rod a little, make me look fast.”

You know what makes you look fast? Being fast. In his preliminary heat, Gervais ran 10.94. That was the second-fastest prelim time behind the aptly named Sean Blaze of Clinton, Massachusetts, the top seed in the event. Gervais called his prelim start one of the best he’s had this season, fast out of the blocks, and at top speed in a hurry.

In the top row of the bleachers at Noble High School’s William R. Bourbon Stadium, Bonny Eagle coaches Jake Newcomb and Kevin Cooper watched it all unfold. Gervais looked good in his prelim heat, Newcomb said. In the final, he looked even better.

“We knew (the seed) wasn’t legitimate. We knew he was going to challenge for a title here today,” Newcomb said. “I thought he might be falling behind a little at the beginning of the race, but he overcame that.”

Gervais’ confidence comes from his dedication to the sport, Newcomb said. It’s one thing to know you’re fast because it comes naturally. It’s another to know you’re fast because you’ve honed that natural ability with practice and precision.

“I’ve been coaching track and field for 18 years. I’ve never come across a kid who works harder, is more technically careful about everything he does,” Newcomb said. “And my God, man, here we are. New England champ. Fastest kid in New England, a junior in high school from Standish, Maine. Unbelievable. I love it.”

By the 50-meter mark, Gervais had a step on Blaze, and that was all he needed. Before the meet, Gervais looked at the personal records of each of the other top runners. Their times were similar to his best, 10.63 to win the SMAA title a few weeks ago.

“All their state times were kind of consistent with their other PRs, so I was like, if I have a good day and they have a mediocre day, then I’ll win it all,” he said. “A win’s a win. You can’t set PRs every single race.”

Gervais ran the 100 at New Englands last year in New Britain, Connecticut. He placed seventh with a time of 10.88. He remembers it as a disappointing day. It was rainy, horrible weather, Gervais said. Saturday, it was sunny and in the mid-80s. He was on a track 45 minutes from home.

A blink under 11 seconds isn’t much time at all, but so much can happen in that short time. You can get down into the blocks, a ball of potential energy, and 10.78 seconds later, you’re a New England champ. The best part? You’re only a junior.

You get to go for this again next spring.

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