Blue Hill—The George Stevens Academy girls and boys track teams raced to a third-place finish in the season opener at Old Town on Saturday in a field where the top three left the rest far behind.
The girls collected 76 points behind Old Town (190) and Orono (155), while fourth place Greater Houlton Christian Academy scored only 36 in a 10-school field.
The boys scored 101 points, also behind Old Town (154) and Orono (144), with fourth place Bangor Christian netting 49 points in a 12-school field.
Despite the absence of a few top Eagle performers, several top-two finishes powered the teams into the top three, with freshman and sophomore runners giving Coach Erich Reed an indication of their potential.
“It was exciting. We have a really large and talented freshman class and we saw some really strong performances,” Reed said.
George Stevens Academy track team. Courtesy of GSA
Front row, from left: Gabriyah Gadsby, ian renwick, Elana Bakemen, Eliza Broughton, Mary richardson, Zeya lorio, Grace Broughton, Asha Kirkland, Schyler Dorr, Elia O’Hara, Anna Gagne, Syra Gutow, Jenna Eldridge and lucy Morrison. Second row: Danny Gillen, Oliver Wilson, Jiachen Chen, Syrus Ordway, Josie Czuj, Ellis Murnik, Naaki lehto and Jon robbins. Third row: Asst. Coach Eckenfelder, Erik Grenier, ian Howell, Henry Scheff, Grayson Eaton, Gage Astbury, Eric Mote, Hunter Dorr, lee Ann Varnum, laura liu and Ava Sealander. Fourth row: Franklin Sealander, Jeremiah Scheff, Nick laszlo, isaac Wardwell, Meredith Bradshaw Thomas, Max Mattson, Michael Moon, Taylor Schildroth, Joe Norton, Natalia roy and Daniel liu. Not pictured: parker Allen, payson Allen, Chris Bennett, Cole Dewey, Jack Gandy, russell lamarre, ian ramsay, Sean Schweizer, Max Servnak, leigh Brooks, Mary Brenna Catus, Julliette Claybaugh, Ange ineza, riley lamarre, Kara Morrison, and Mazie Smallidge
Senior Mary Richardson took first in the 1600 meter run (5:51.20), senior Mazie Smallidge 2nd in the 100 meter hurdle (19.02), junior Gabriyah Gadsby 2nd in the 800 meter run (2:48.41), sophomore Syra Gutow 2nd in the triple jump (29-01) and freshman Grace Broughton 2nd in the 300 meter hurdles (53.99). The 800 meter relay team of senior Zeya Lorio, Gadsby and freshmen Schyler Dorr and Jenna Eldridge was edged out of a first-place finish by a bare 1.1 second. A handful of third through sixth place finishes rounded out the girls’ final team score.
Freshmen Oliver Wilson, Henry Scheff, Ian Renwick and Michael Moon contributed strong performances to an established boys team, with senior Joseph Norwood placing first in the javelin throw (124-10), junior Jeremiah Scheff first in the 300 meter hurdles (47.09) and junior Isaac Wardwell taking first in the 400 meter dash by a half-second (57.51). Sophomore Ian Howell also placed first, in a field of one, in the 1600 meter race walk. Junior Meredith Bradshaw Thomas took second in the 800 meter run (2:12.12) , edged out of first by a mere half-second, and the 400 a nd 800 meter relays teams placed second, with freshmen Renwick, Wilson and Moon all taking legs. Henry Scheff placed 3rd in the high jump (4-10), and Renwick 3rd in the long jump (18-01).
“In the relays, the boys looked remarkably good at the beginning but went out so fast they paid the price,” Reed said.
Point finishes by senior Hunter Dorr and junior Daniel Li completed the Eagles’ boys team score.
“It was an excellent first meet,” Reed said. “It’s been challenging because of the weather, so basically we’re starting to work harder and look to specialize [in events].”
The team competes in Bangor on Saturday, April 28, and in a relay event in Brewer May 5.