Cougar girls take 12 events in track and field

RUMFORD -- Following a brief spring downpour, track and field student-athletes had an opportunity to shine as Mountain Valley and Dirigo competed in a season-opening five team meet at Chet Bulger Field last Thursday.

It was the Dirigo girls who proved to have the most depth by scoring 156 points to easily outdistance Mountain Valley (71), Carrabec (45), Telstar (23) and Mt. Abram (2). The Cougars won 12 events, including multiples by individuals Salena Sawtelle, Silvia Lutick,Jessica Conant, Angela Ronan and Miranda Shurtleff.

The Cougar boys were paced by Brian Blackman, who won the 100, 200 and 400, but the team was edged out by Telstar 97 to 87. The Rebels were strong in middle distances and relays.

Mountain Valley’s Will Cunningham and Andrew Child won the 3200 and triple jump. Child and teammate Shawn Bennett each cleared 5 feet, 2 inches in the high jump, but the team was fourth with 59.

The Dirigo girls dominated the running events, with Lutick winning the 200 and 400, Sawtelle the 100, Ronan the 800, Natalie Bolduc the 2200 and Megan Morrison the 300 hurdles. Two relay teams 400 (Sawtelle, Shurtleff, Kayla Gaudin and Lutick) and 3200 (Lindsy Crutchfield, Kelsey Wilson, Conant and Ronan) each won as well.

Conant also won the triple jump and the shot put, 29-3 over Gaudin at 28 feet even.

In the closest event, Sawtelle beat Sara Klein of MV by one tenth of a second in 100. Klein came back to win the long jump over teammate Kristin Virgin, while Falcon Jamica Ford edged Virgin in the high jump. Tamyra Steward and Krystal Blood (second in 800 and 1600) each placed, as did MV’s Becca Maifeld.

On the boys side, Dirigo’s Jason Baldinelli and Jay Bisell won 300 hurdles and 1600 race walk. Nick Davenport, Joey Pelote, Nick Young and Jay Schnorr each finished second in events.