Bonny Eagle senior Jamie Ruginski ended his high school track career with three podium finishes at the 46th New England Championships in Burlington, VT. Ruginski took top honors in the long jump, with his leap of 22-2 3/4", this was Jamie's 3rd New England title to go along with the 300m Hurdles from last spring and the indoor long jump title from this winter. Despite having graduated on Friday evening, and then attending project graduation before leaving at 5:30am to come to the meet, Ruginski would also finish 3rd in the 300m hurdles, with a personal best and then on his final jump in the triple jump moved up to 2nd overall and a lifetime best 46-2 jump.
On the girls side, sophomore Keila Grigware (Biddeford) stole the show in the javelin. Grigware a surprise champion at last week Class A state championship meet, once again had a huge pr throw of 137-10 to win the New England title. In her first season on track, she reached the top right away. Her story is quite amazing though, her pr before last week was 112', she improved that at the state meet to 122'1. She added another 15 ft to her personal best on Saturday. Grigware knew she was going to have a good meet, when she threw over 130' during a warmup. "I was kind of freaking out after the warmup throw, I had never thrown that far."- Grigware would say after the meet. To add 25ft in just two weeks isiguring the event out. When asked what the key was to throwing so far, Keila would say "my coaches shortened my run up and that has helped a ton." Her throw also was an all-time state record.
In addition to the two New England champion, other mainers had a fine day at the track. Maine shot put record holder Dan Smith was gunning for his first new england title to go along with all his state titles. Smith had a fine day with two throws out over 60', including a new all-time state best on his final throw 60-6.25", which was god for 2nd place. This was consecutive weeks that Smith has broken the all-time state best. He ends his high school career with three throws over 60 ft and the distinction of being the only Maine high school boy to throw over 60 ft outdoors.
Last spring it appeared Chris Fogler (John Bapst) had won the New England 300m hurdle title, but a DQ ended that bid. "I have been looking forward to this race ever since last year." Fogler said after his race. "It was my main motivation for the season." "I wanted to win but I am satisfied with finishing 2nd, and my time was a personal best." In fact Fogler time of 38.26 makes him the 3rd fastest performer in the state. Fogler will be taking his hurdling talents to Williams College in the fall.
Just a freshman, Abbey Leonardi has had quite a year, winning the new england xc title this fall, taking the indoor season off, and then returning to the track faster than ever. Leonardi finished an undefeated season in Maine last week winning two state titles, 1600m & 800m. In the process, she lowered the all-time state best for 1600m down to 4:56.64. Leonardi set her sights on the new england 1600m title and earning a spot in the Nike Outdoor National meet. She ran a smart race tucked in behind the leader Rachel Schneider, through the 800m in 2:32, the pace quicken over the next 200m and Abbey covered the move. She would remain with the leaders until the final 250m , where they slowly pulled away, but she fought to the line, clocking a new all-time state best ,national qualifying time of 4:54.12, and 3rd place finish to nab all-new england honors.
(3rd place Cheverus 4x800 Jack Terwilliger, Josh Reali, Taylor Dundas, & Andrew Snyder)
The Cheverus 4x800 team of Taylor Dundas, Jack Terwilliger, Josh Reali, & Andrew Snyder have been the top team in Class A all season long, culminating with a state title last week, and nearly a new state record, they would finish just .27 off the record. The much anticipated matchup against Class B Greely, who had the fastest time in the state coming into the new england meet 7:58.60, was on tap. Cheverus ran its best race of the season, Dundas led off with a 1:59 split, followed by sophomore Terwilliger 1:58 leg which had the Stags out in front. Josh Reali followed with his 2:00 carry, a personal best for the only senior on the team, he handed off to Andrew Snyder with a chance for the win, Snyder would run a 1:55 leg to bring the Stags home to a third place finish and a new state leader 7:54.03, which is the 2nd fastest time in state history. Greely was running a strong race until misfortune happened in the last 100 of the 3rd leg, when the baton slipped out Logan Price's hand.
(Stephanie Lomasney, Danielle Clements, Emily Mitchell & Chelsey Tewell, York's 3rd place 4x100 team)
The state's top 4x100 team York, showed that the girls from Maine know how to pass the baton around the track. Coming out of the third section of 5, York blasted to a 49.49 clocking, to win their section. The time was a new state leader and the 2nd fastest time in state history behind their 49.40 clocking at the 2008 Class B state meet. The team consisted of lead off leg Stephanie Lomasney, passing to Danielle Clements, off to 3rd leg Emily Mitchell and anchoring with sprint/hurdle star Chelsey Tewell. York would watch the 4th section and see there time still at the top, they would end up 3rd overall after the 5th section ended. What could have they done against some faster competition?
(5th place finisher Brad Nakanish(Scarborough) 14-3 & 3rd place finish Mike Slovenski (Brunswick) 14-9)
In one of the most surprising results of the meet, sophomore Mike Slovenski (Brunswick) who finished 4th in the Maine state meet last week, had a breakthrough performance clearing a new personal best of 14-9 good for 3rd place in New England. Not many can say they finished better at New England's than they did at there own state meet. The Slovenski name and pole vaulting go hand and hand, for the last two years brother David won the new england champion, setting the meet record with a 16-9 clearance in 2008. Mike has his sights set on his mark and with two years left, a Slovenski may well be the top vaulter in new england again.
Her outdoor track season was in doubt as the result of a torn acl during a basketball game this winter, but that set back didn't stop Georgia Boisse (Massabesic) from an intensive rehab to get back to the throwing circle this spring. Boisse sporting a knee brace of her left knee, came back as strong as ever. Boisse won the Class A shot put & discus titles last week. In the discus she has been limited to a standing throw, but that hasn't stopped her either. Boisse made the final in the discus at new englands, was having a sub par day by her standards, but saved her best throw for the last one of her high school career moving from 5th to 3rd.
Other New England Scorers
(Tommy Winger (Falmouth) leaps to a 6th place in the long jump (21-7)
(Scarborough's Christy Manning finished 5th in the discus 117-1)
(Leavitt's Alli-Sue Fereshitian ran a personal best 14.81 for 4th in the 100m hurdles)
(Scarborough's Nate Hathaway, pictured left used a strong last lap to win section 1 of the 1600m in 4:16.95, his time would hold up for a 6th place finish, also pictured NYA's Henry Sterling who finished 7th overall)