The Thornton Academy girls outdoor track team did something it hadn’t done in a long time on Monday: Beat the Scarborough Red Storm head-to-head. Now, Thornton coach Lisa Huntress said she hopes her team can do it again this weekend when the SMAA squads compete in the southwestern championships.

“I’ve been coaching here for seven years and never have we beaten Scarborough in outdoor track during that time,” she said. “Each meet is different and flows from week to week, but I hope we can do it again.”

At last weekend’s York County championships, it wasn’t Scarborough that gave Thornton its biggest challenge, it was Bonny Eagle, which Thornton edged by a point for the title.

That “healthy” competition, as Huntress put it, is something that should motivate her squad this weekend, she said.

Talent will also separate the teams, and Thornton has plenty of it. And the team is comprised of mostly underclassmen.

Sophomore Amanda Arnold won two titles in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles in the county championships. Huntress said she has a great shot this weekend to repeat.

“She’s amazing,” Huntress said. “She’s just been spectacular all season.”

Thornton junior Charlotte Pierce, along with Kennebunk senior Abbey Leonardi should dominate the distance events.

Both won titles last weekend with Leonardi winning the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs, and Pierce winning a title in the 800-meter run.

“They are both strong competitors, but everyone knows of Leonardi. She has been so dominant for so long,” Huntress said. “Charlotte has just grown so much, especially this year. It’s nice to see her come to each meet prepared the way she is.”

Perhaps two of the biggest surprises for Thornton are freshmen Tori Daigle and Alexandra Pettaway. Daigle won a title last weekend in the long jump and Pettaway won titles in the triple jump and 100-meter dash. Both, Huntress said, have a strong shot at scoring points this weekend or winning conference championships.

“This is first and foremost one of my favorite teams,” Huntress said. “They are a strong group of athletes, and this freshmen class is a wealth of talent. I truly believe Allie is going to be one of the top sprinters in this league for the next several years.”

While Thornton Academy has a shot at winning the team title, Biddeford’s Ashley Belanger has emerged as the favorite to win the shot put and discus titles.

Belanger, a junior, started throwing the shot last season and began the discus this year. She is ranked No. 1 in the state in the shot, won the indoor track title in the event this winter, and won county titles last weekend in both events.

The 800 and 100-meter relay teams at Massabesic have been almost unbeatable this season, and Huntress said they have a strong chance at winning a conference crown. In addition, Sanford’s Nikki Farmer is one of the top javelin throwers, throwing more than 113 feet to win the county title last weekend.

On the boys’ side, Bonny Eagle will challenge Scarborough for the crown after winning the York County title last weekend.

Several area athletes, however, will be in contention for conference titles.

Sanford’s Bryant Perkins, who won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter crowns last weekend, will battle against Kennebunk’s Christopher Dunn and Massabesic’s Cody Vachon. Only six seconds separated the three in the 1,600 last weekend. They will, however, need to knock off Scarborough’s Nick Morris, who is the reigning indoor champ in the event.

Jimmy Chaisson of Sanford has been a top competitor in the 800-meter run this season and won a county title last weekend, while Kennebunk’s Trevor Luck will be in contention to place well in the high jump.

Thornton Academy’s Andrew Smith should score high in the long jump.

“He’s a great competitor,” Thornton Academy coach George Mendros said of Smith, who is a freshman. “We have a talented group of underclassmen, and I think people can see that this weekend.”

— Contact Al Edwards at 282-1535, Ext. 323.