CLASS A

10 a.m. today

University of Southern Maine

Field House, Gorham

BOYS

FAVORITES: Brunswick is the defending state champion, and at last year’s Class A meet outdistanced second-place Cheverus by more than 50 points. This year, the Dragons will need to count on their versatility to be in the hunt for the title with Scarborough and Bangor.

WATCH OUT FOR: Mt. Ararat. Notably, Mt. Ararat sprinter McKenzie Gary, who enters with the top time in the 55 (6.59) and the 200 (22.91) and the top mark in the long jump (21 feet, 8 inches).

ATHLETES TO WATCH: Jack Terwilliger, senior, Cheverus (mile run, two-mile run); Orin James, senior, Scarborough (high jump, 55 hurdles); Connor Harris, sophomore, Edward Little (long jump, high jump, triple jump).

DID YOU KNOW: Brunswick’s Mike Slovenski is the third Slovenski since 2002 to compete for a state title in the pole vault, joining older brothers David and Steve.

GIRLS

FAVORITES: Scarborough is the defending state champion and fields one of the deepest teams in the state, but Bonny Eagle boasts versatility while Brunswick, Thornton Academy and Bangor are boosted by their team depth.

WATCH OUT FOR: Mt. Ararat. Like their counterparts in the boys’ meet, the Eagles have several athletes who will score points — including Randi London in the shot put and Chloe Emerson in the middle distance events — and look to improve on last year’s fifth-place finish.

ATHLETES TO WATCH: Maria Curit, senior, Biddeford (200, 400, long jump); Teal Jackson, Brewer (200, 400, 55 dash), Emily Tolman, Scarborough (800, long jump, 3,200 relay).

DID YOU KNOW: Scarborough won last year’s Class A championship with 63 points, but with only one first-place finish — the 3,200 relay.

CLASS B

10 a.m.

Bates College, Lewiston

BOYS

FAVORITES: Waterville, Falmouth and York. Each year, the Class B trophy always seems to come down to one, two or a combination of the three schools, and sometimes it comes down to a matter of points and events.

WATCH OUT FOR: Greely. The Rangers are typically among the cream of Class B and boast two of the state’s best shot putters in seniors Michael Burgess and Jack Fellows, seeded 1-2 in the event.

ATHLETES TO WATCH: Isaiah Spofford, senior, Waterville (55, 200, triple jump); Will Wegener, senior, Falmouth (55, 200, 400); Evan Piccirillo, Hampden Academy (800, two-mile).

DID YOU KNOW: Monday is the six-year anniversary of Justin Vigeant’s record-setting time in the 55-meter dash. Vigeant, of Wells, holds the state record of 6.59 seconds.

GIRLS

FAVORITES: Waterville, Greely and York. Like the boys’ competition, the competition for the team trophy typically centers around a small handful of schools. Case in point: York won last year’s state title by one point over Waterville, with the competition coming down to the last event.

WATCH OUT FOR: Old Town and Cape Elizabeth. Old Town boasts the numbers — 16 entries in 10 events — while the Capers have quality in the distance events.

ATHLETES TO WATCH: Amanda Peterson, junior, Gray-New Gloucester (55 dash, 200, 800 relay); Kate Sparks, senior, Falmouth (shot put); Kendra Lobley, senior, Poland (mile, two-mile).

DID YOU KNOW: York’s 2010 Class B team title ended a nine-year championship run dominated by two programs — Waterville and Greely.

– Rachel Lenzi