The Hershey Track and Field state meet was held July 2 in Brewer, and Aroostook County had a very good showing in the event with several athletes taking home first-place ribbons.
In the girls’ 9-10 age division, Molly Anthony of Bridgewater won the 50-meter dash in 8.31 seconds and the 100-meter dash in 16.16 seconds. Molly Adams of Caribou took the top spot in the 200-meter dash with a time of 34.66 seconds and the Houlton 4 x 100 relay team, consisting of Lily Hanning, Alix Hanson, Emily Mooers and Evelyn Pratt, was the champion in 1:12.06. Winning the long jump was Hannah Ferris of Easton with a mark of 6 feet, 1 inch, while Sierra Campbell took top honors in the softball throw with a distance of 91 feet, 4 inches.
In the boys’ 9-10 category, Kyle Bouchard of Houlton won the softball throw with a distance of 133 feet, 9 inches and joined Cameron Clark, Isaiah Littleton and Cameron E. Clark on the winning 4 x 100 relay team, who had a time of 1:07.9. Cameron Clark of Houlton claimed the title in the 100 in 15.18 seconds and Randy Morneault of Madawaska took the 200 in 33.85 seconds.
For girls’ 11-12, Olivia Sleeper walked away with a pair of titles, taking the 100 in 14.51 seconds and the long jump with a mark of 7 feet, 6 inches. The Presque Isle 4 x 100 relay team of Amanda Palmer, Jenna Hallett, Jacqueline Lambert and Kaleigh Kinney was victorious in 1:11.01.
The Presque Isle boys’ 11-12 year-old 4 x 100 relay team won its event in 1:05.87. Team members were Jacob Williams, Mitchell Ayotte, Michael Donovan and Ryder Soucy. Also in that age division, Houlton’s Isaac Cone won the long jump (7 feet, 1 inch) and the 200 (30.94), while Phoenix Crockett, also of Houlton, won the 100 in 15.23.
In the girls’ 13-14 age group, Alecia Palmer of Presque Isle prevailed in the 1,600 in 6:06.48, while Kayla Richards of Presque Isle captured three wins, in the softball throw (159 feet, 4 inches), the long jump (7 feet, 4-1/2 inches) and as a member of the 4 x 100 relay team which also included Palmer, Rilee Currie and Hilary Albert. Their time was 1:03.91.
Mitchell Thompson of Caribou took the 100 in 13.07 in the boys’ 13-14 division, and also won two other individual competitions – the softball throw with a heave of 183 feet, 5 inches and the 200 in 27.81. Christian Sleeper of Caribou also had a big day, taking the 1,600 in 5:35.55 and the 800 in 2:33.34.
The winners’ times and distances will be compared with other times and distances throughout the New England region, before a decision is made as to who will advance to the national meet in Hershey, Pa. in August.
