Orono, Bangor Christian win Class C track and field titles

Orono’s Easnadh Nobel-To’olo and Dirigo’s William Morris both claim three individual state titles at Winslow High School.

Orono’s Easnadh Nobel-To’olo flies through the air on her way to a second-place finish in the long jump during the Class C championship meet on Saturday in Winslow. Nobel-To’olo won the 100 hurles, the pole vault and the triple jump to lead Orono to the title. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)

WINSLOW — A week after winning the Penobscot Valley Conference Small School track and field championships, the Orono girls and Bangor Christian boys were on top of the standings again Saturday at the Class C state meet at Winslow High School.

Led by 38 points from Easnadh Nobel-To’olo, Orono scored 91 points to pull away from Maine Central Institute (62.17) and Winslow (53). It’s the 15th state title for the Red Riots.

Bangor Christian, meanwhile, earned its first boys state championship with 59 points, beating out Wells (46), Winthrop (45) and George Stevens Academy (43).

“It feels surreal,” said Bangor Christian coach Wayne Whitcomb. “Our kids are very self-motivated, they work great together, and they encourage each other and everybody around them. I can’t say a single bad thing about them; they’ve just been a great team throughout the whole season.”

Orono’s Nobel-To’olo placed first in the 100-meter hurdles (15.58 seconds), triple jump (36 feet, 3 inches) and pole vault (10 feet). She also jumped 17 feet in the long jump to take second behind Seacoast Christian’s Audrey O’Meara (17-7).

“I just kept telling myself from the beginning, ‘The outcome of today is already figured out; we just don’t know it yet, so I have to do my best,’” Nobel-To’olo said. “It feels so good, especially being my senior year and everything because it’s a good standard to set for the incoming (freshmen).”

Maya Boyington (3,200, 11:19.32) and Sam Reidy (800, 2:27.49) also added victories for the Red Riots. The 3,200 relay team of Boyington, Nina Mitchell, Clara White and Sophie Kulikouski won the day’s opening event in 10:23.43, starting the Red Riots on their way to their 10th state title in 14 years.

“I think a lot of (our success) goes back to the summer track program we have at Orono and the great kids we’ve had who are committed to each other,” said Orono coach Dereck Treadwell. “We’ve also had a great coaching staff. Even though we’ve had some turnover the last few years, the staples are there.”

The day’s lone meet record was set by George Stevens sophomore Ripley King-Ofsiany in the girls 400. King-Ofsiany won in 58.36, breaking the mark of 58.47 by Orono’s Olivia Alford in 2004 and Winthrop’s Jillian Schmelzer in 2019.

Her victory was far from easy. She was pushed to the finish line by Bucksport senior Haley Rose, one of her PVC rivals, who finished in 58.53. Rose won the conference title ahead of King-Ofsiany.

“I got to run against my good race friend, Haley, she pushed me a lot, and I’m super grateful for her,” King-Ofsiany said. “I did (realize how close it was down the stretch). I didn’t think I was going to be able to do it, but I just dug deep, and I got it.”

In the high jump, Maranacook’s Evelyn Stevenson cleared 5-3 to repeat as state champion. The junior was one of four athletes who were tied for the No. 1 seed at 5 feet, but her school-record jump gave her a 3-inch victory over teammate Ella Giles.

“I came prepared because I saw those seedings and knew I was going to have to be at the top of my game,” Stevenson said. “It was definitely not (an expectation to get 5-3). This whole season, I’ve been pushing to get 5-2, so to get 5-3 was incredible.”

Jacqueline Diallo of Traip Academy and Ava Goulette of Piscataquis joined Nobel-To’olo as girls with multiple individual titles. Diallo won the 100 (12.45) and 200 (25.53), while Goulette claimed victories (107-4) in the discus and shot put (36-4 1/2).

Jesse Booker notched the lone event win for Bangor Christian, taking the 300 hurdles in 40.39. He also placed second in the 110 hurdles (15.66) to Winslow’s Hassan Hobbi (15.11), who flirted with a meet record but missed it by 0.06 seconds.

Dirigo’s William Morris put on an impressive showing as he swept the distance events. In addition to defending his title in the 800 by running 1:57.11, the junior won the 1,600 in 4:29.76 and the 3,200 in 9:52.46 — a 36.85-second improvement from a year ago.

“I’ve just been increasing the amount of mileage each offseason,” Morris said. “I think I was putting in 70 miles a week for a couple weeks straight, and that’s up 40-50 from last year. I think I’ll have another big jump going into senior year, switching from working harder and putting in more mileage to working smarter.”

Wells sophomore Aaron Adams (100, 11.49; 200, 23.14) was the only other boy to win multiple events. Other notable boys winners were Winthrop’s Jacob Feith (javelin, 165-0), Dexter’s Brady Jerome (47-2 3/4) and Fort Fairfield’s Ethan Walsh (high jump, 6-6).