Orono’s Jake Koffman and Brewer’s Austin Lufkin made their final throws count Saturday in winning events at the 71st annual New England Interscholastic Track and Field Championships held at Willow Brook Park in New Britain, Connecticut.
Koffman, a junior who set a Maine all-classes record in the boys discus with a throw of 189 feet, 9 inches at the Class C state championships a week earlier, won the same event at the New England with a best of 174-10 on his last attempt.
With that effort, Koffman became the first Orono High School track and field athlete to win an individual New England title.
Lufkin, a junior who set a new Penobscot Valley Conference record in the shot put two weeks ago with a best of 55-6½, won the New England title in that event with a best of 58-5¼ on his final throw. Brewer teammate Trey Wood finished eighth in the shot put at 51-4.
Lufkin also placed fourth in the discus (155-8).
Among other top Maine finishers, senior Drew Nealey of Belfast placed second in the pole vault with a best of 13 feet, 9 inches, while Evan Porter of Traip Academy of Kittery was second in the boys 300 hurdles with a 39.20 clocking.
Porter also placed sixth in the 100 dash in 11.15.
Biddeford’s Matt Brady had third-place finishes in both the shot put (56-4) and discus (156-6).
Keenan Welzel of Brunswick finished fifth in the boys 400 with a 49.86 effort, just ahead of Michaiah Robinson from Washington Academy in East Machias, sixth in 50.03.
The top six finishers in each event earned All-New England status.
Top Maine girls performers in the meet were Adelaide Cook of Falmouth, second in the discus (117-4), Emma Egan of Yarmouth, fourth in the high jump (5-3); Britanee Nouchanthavong of Edward Little of Auburn, fourth in the javelin (125-8); Allison Pickering of Orono, fifth in the pole vault (10-3); Emily Turner of Cheverus of Portland, fifth in the 400 (57.53); Adela Kalilwa of Lewiston, fifth in the triple jump (37-1½); and Samantha Curran of Thornton Academy in Saco, sixth in the shot put (37-1).
Orono standout Tia Tardy opted to compete at the New Balance Twilight Series Open Meet at Bentley University in Waltham, Mass., instead of the New England meet and she turned in a personal-record time of 2:12.19 in her 800 heat.