BAR HARBOR, Maine — They had to overcome injury and adversity along the way, much of it occurring Saturday at the Class B state championship track and field meet, but the Waterville girls walked away from Mount Desert Island’s complex as state champions again.
The Purple Panthers wrapped up their third straight state crown even before the final event and outpointed runner-up York 119 points to 109. Greely of Cumberland Center was third with 62 and Mount Desert Island fourth with 56.
In the boys meet, Falmouth foiled Waterville’s attempt for a fourth straight state crown, scoring 112 points to the Purple Panthers’ 94.5. Hampden Academy was third with 62.
Senior Hannah Saunders of Caribou highlighted a solid meet for the East girls as she broke the state record in the 1,600-meter racewalk by seven seconds with a time of 7 minutes, 36.32 seconds.
Danielle Fossa won both the discus and the shot put despite a debilitating shoulder injury and fellow senior Shelby Tuttle had three seconds to go with a first in triple jump for the Panthers.
In the boys meet, Waterville’s J.D. Guiski and Brad Loomis won the 110 hurdles and pole vault, respectively; Hampden’s Jadrien Cousens took the high jump; Caribou’s Nate Swan won the javelin, and Wilbur Fogg of Belfast won the 100-meter dash.