More than a dozen schools descended on University of Southern Maine’s Costello Sports Complex in Gorham on Saturday morning, Feb. 6, for this year’s South Maine Athletics Association Championship. Scarborough took top honors on the boys’ side, besting No. 2 Thornton by a score of 166-153. On the girls’ side, Westbrook claimed the crown at 111, with Cheverus in second (94).

Boys Team Scores

1. Scarborough, 166; 2. TA, 153; 3. Deering, 134; 4. Westbrook, 69; 5. Windham, 58; 6. Gorham, 50; 7. South Portland, 49; 8. Cheverus, 31; 9. Noble, 30; 10. Biddeford, 28; 11. Marshwood, 20; 12. Bonny Eagle, 15; 13. Massabesic, 3

The Windham boys had a great day overall.

“Windham was led by senior Ernie Ruby,” boys coach Paula Pock said. “[Ernie] had a huge day by winning the 55, followed by third place in the 200, and fifth in the Long Jump.”

“Alex Wilkins also had a great day,” Pock said, “finishing second in the Junior Triple Jump with a new personal record. Alex also got third place and fifth place in the High and Long Jumps.”

Other Eagles point-getters included Thomas Sappier, who took second in the Shot Put with a 3-foot PR, and Evan Coughlin, who took fourth in the same event. Rory Sullivan finished third in the Pole Vault, Jeremy Bennett fourth in the 600 and Wyatt Yost sixth in the Junior 800. The Junior Division 4×200 Relay outfit took sixth.

“The boys all stepped up for the championship meet and hope to carry on their momentum heading into States,” Pock said.

Among Bonny Eagle Junior-Division boys, Max Harris had a particularly strong afternoon, taking fourth in the 55 Hurdles.

Scots John Vedral and Michael O’Clair finished five-six in the Senior Division 55 Hurdles, bringing their squad a few more points. O’Clair also scored in the 600, where he took sixth. Teammate Caleb Pendleton looked sharp in the Two Mile, finishing third.

Finally, Pendleton also ran the fourth leg of the school’s 4×800 Relay outfit, which placed sixth.

Girls Team Scores

1. Westbrook, 111; 2. Cheverus, 94; 3. Scarborough, 85; 4. Bonny Eagle, 84; 5. South Portland, 79.5; 6. TA, 61; 7. Gorham, 49.5; 8. Marshwood, 47; 9. Noble, 43; 10. Deering, 37; 11. Portland, 34; 12. Massabesic, 32; 13. Biddeford, 23; 14. Windham, 18; 15. McAuley, 8

The Windham girls picked up points from a handful of reliable competitors, including Alexis Wintle, who took second in the Senior Division High Jump and third in the Senior Triple Jump. Amanda Turner finished sixth in both the Senior 55 and 400. Among Junior Division girls, Abigail Clinch earned fifth in the Triple Jump.

Those three will compete at States alongside Justice Gaston in the High Jump and Megan Knights in the 55 Hurdles. The Lady Eagles have also assembled 4×200 and 4×800 Relay squads.

“We have a small delegation this year at both Championship meets,” said Windham girls coach Scott Rush-Donohue, who added that his team is quite young. “But [we] hope our State representatives can make some noise with seasonal bests and personal records, which would place them in line with getting to the podium.”

For Bonny Eagle, Sabria Merrifield and Abigail Nelson finished second in the Junior 55 and Junior 800 respectively. Teammate Aasyhia Connell took fourth in the Junior 55 Hurdles, while Hannah Corbett and Jocelyn Beaulieu placed third and sixth in the Junior Shot Put. The 4×200 Relay squad earned fourth.

Elisabeth Redwood led the Senior-Division Lady Scots brilliantly, winning the 55, the 200 and the 400. On the distance end, teammate Amy Beaumier finished third in the Mile and second in the Two Mile. The 4×800 Relay squad finished third and the 1600 Sprint Medley Relay squad finished sixth. Last but certainly not least – not when scoring is as tight as it was on Saturday – Samantha Richard took sixth in the Senior 55 Hurdles.

States are scheduled for Feb. 15; they’ll take place, as usual, at USM.

Bonny Eagle’s Elisabeth Redwood won the 55 with relative ease on Saturday.Bonny Eagler Trevor Neal leads the Mile pack early. Ami Beaumier placed in both the Mile and Two Mile for Bonny Eagle on Saturday.Windhamite Reese Preston rounds a bend in Saturday’s Mile.