HAMPDEN, Maine — After they had already won the Class A state cross country and indoor track championships, the Scarborough High Schools boys outdoor track team wanted to cap a remarkable year with yet another state championship.
And thanks to a tremendous performance by junior Sam Rusak, they did just that at Hampden Academy on Saturday as the Red Storm piled up 84 ½ points to claim their first outdoor title since 2013.
Falmouth was second with 55 points followed by South Portland (54), Messalonskee of Oakland (51 ½), Brewer (48 ½), Deering High of Portland (46), defending state champ Lewiston (38), Edward Little High of Auburn (33), Marshwood of South Berwick (32) and Gorham (30) to round out the top 10 in the 24-team meet.
Rusak became the first schoolboy to win four individual events at a Class A state meet since 1979 as he triumphed in the 110-meter hurdles (15.01 seconds), the high jump (6-0 feet), the pole vault (15-6) and the 200 meter dash (22.82).
In the girls meet, Falmouth won its first state outdoor track championship since 1991 when it was in Class C behind junior Adelaide Cook. She won the shot put (39-11 1/2) and the discus (131-0), posted a second in the javelin (110-10) and a fourth in the 100 meter hurdles (16.03).
The shot put and discus were personal bests.
Lewiston was second with 62 points and completing the top 10 were Cheverus of Portland (60), Bonny Eagle of Buxton (53), Edward Little (50), Scarborough (37), defending two-time state champ Thornton Academy of Saco (34), Skowhegan (33), South Portland (27) and Hampden Academy (26).
The top performer in the girls meet was Emily Turner of Cheverus who won the 100 (12.70), the 400 (56.57) and the 200 (25.92) before running the anchor leg for the winning 4-by-400 relay team (4:09.51).
Scarborough coach Derek Veilleux said Rusak was phenomenal in the meet.
“And he (set personal records) in three out of the four events — all but the high jump,” he added.
“Our distance runners had won the state in cross country and indoor track and I wanted to push as hard as I could for them so they would be able to win all three (state titles),” said Rusak
Rusak was seeded first in three events but was seeded third in the 200.
“I thought I was better than third but I didn’t think I’d win it. That was the biggest surprise, hands-down. To come out with four wins was amazing,” said Rusak.
Senior Colin Tardiff complemented Rusak with seconds in the 1.600 and 3,200 behind Lewiston’s Osman Doorow. He also ran legs for the second-place 4-by-800 relay team and the sixth-place 4-by-400 relay.
Brewer’s fifth-place finish featured firsts by senior Erick Seekins in the long jump (21-5 1/4) and junior Austin Lufkin in the discus (168-4).
“I hadn’t been jumping well. I had been thinking too much,” said Seekins, who was also third in the 100 and ran a leg for the sixth-place 4 by 100 relay team. “So I figured ‘Go hard or go home.’ I was pretty happy with it.”
Lufkin was fifth in the state with a toss of 132 in the discus last season but set a personal record by five feet.
“I had a good week of practice and I felt good coming into the meet. I had four throws over 160 so I was pretty happy with the way I threw today,” said Lufkin.
Brunswick senior Keenan Welzel won the 400-meter dash despite getting home at 3:30 in the morning Saturday after attending a Beyonce concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.
“My sister, Farren, got tickets, so I got pillows and blankets and slept on the way down and the way back,” said Welzel. “I got in my car at 9 or 9:30 this morning and drove up. It was a very crazy turn of events.”
The other boys winners were Edward Little’s Spencer Dunn (1,600 race walk), Deering of Portland’s Paolo DeMarco (300 hurdles), Messalonskee’s Owen Concaugh (800), South Portland’s Ruay Bol (triple jump) and Dan Guiliani (shot put), EL’s Cole Butler (javelin) and Windham’s Ernie Ruby (100). Guiliani set a meet record (67-03 ¼).
In the girls meet, Cook said she was determined to regain the discus championship she failed to capture a year ago after winning it as a freshman. She was third last year.
“That was my main goal. It was a good day. I just came in with a positive attitude. I figured I’d do my best and that’s what I did,” said Cook who was elated with the team’s title.
“It was a good effort. We all came together and everyone had good performances. Depth won it for us,” said Cook.
“We did what we were supposed to do and Adelaide had a remarkable day,” said Falmouth coach Danny Paul. “At the beginning, the 4 by 800 relay won after being seeded sixth and we carried that momentum. With a few exceptions, everyone did what they were supposed to do or did slightly better.”
Freshman Malaika Pasch ran a leg for the winning relay team, was second in the 800 and ran a leg for the third-place 4 by 400 relay team.
Cheverus’ Turner said “not in a million years” did she expect to take home four first-place finishes, including three individual wins.
“I was amazing. I was surprised how well the meet went. I was just hoping to PR in the 400 and move up in the 200,” said Turner, who had never run the 100 until coach Steve Virgilio suggested she try it this season.
“I didn’t think (the 100) would work out like it did,” said Turner.
Turner edged out Bonny Eagle senior Elisabeth Redwood in the 100, 200 and 400 including a photo finish in the 200. They each broke the state Class A record in the 400 at 56.57 and 56.77, respectively.
“They were all really good races,” said Redwood.
“She is great competition. I’m going to miss racing her next year,” said Turner.
Bangor High junior Rihan Smallwood, who won the indoor state A title in the pole vault earlier this year, captured the pole vault with a personal best of 10-6.
“I was a little bit nervous but I was more excited than nervous,” said Smallwood who was pleased with her vault.
The other girls winners were Lewiston’s Adela Kalilwa, with a state meet record long jump of 18-3 ¾, Kayla Allen (1,600 meter walk) and Jennifer Martin (300 hurdles); South Portland’s Juliana Selser (800), Scarborough’s Bethany Sholl (3,200), Massabesic of Waterboro’s Moriah Biener (high jump), Noble of North Berwick’s Nina Tasker (100 hurdles), Skowhegan’s Maddy price (triple jump), EL’s Britanee Nouchanthav (javelin) and Bonny Eagle’s Kayla Raymond (1,600).
Inspirational Cony High of Augusta junior Matt MacGregor competed in all four wheelchair events by himself: the 100, the 400, the shot put and discus.
“This has been fantastic,” said MacGregor who was encouraged to join the team by coach Shawn Totman.