By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

GORHAM — Mark Snow has seen many talented track athletes pass through Lake Region during his 18 years of coaching.

Friday, however, was the first time one of his Laker squads cracked the top four at the Western Maine Conference Indoor Track Championships.

Freshman Kate Hall won three events and senior Jacqui Black scored points in the mile and two mile as the Lake Region girls’ indoor track team posted its best WMC final at the Costello Field House at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham.

“This (finish) is mainly due to the top end talent we have in Kate Hall and Jacqui Black,” Coach Snow said. “We had 21 PRs (personal records), which is a great showing considering we had to limit the number of events we entered (WMC championship rules).”

Hall set league records in winning three events. She dominated the junior division all year, and continued in the championships. In the 55-meter dash, Hall posted a finals time of 7.40, easily ahead of Hannah Newhall of Cape Elizabeth (7.76). Hall added another victory, winning the 200 meters (26.71), again well ahead of runner-up and former Poland Track Club teammate, Hannah Keisman of Greely, who posted a 28.16. Hall won the long jump open division with a leap of 17-feet 5.25-inches to top Ashleigh Roberts of Traip Academy, who turned in a 15-11.

The LR freshman shared Most Valuable Athlete honors with Traip Academy’s Jocelyn Lorrey.

Now, Hall moves on to compete against the top athletes at the State Meet on Monday at Bates College in Lewiston.

“The State Meet does not have divisions, so Kate will be against the top athletes from all grade levels. It would be incredible if she could win her three events, but there are many quality athletes in each of her events,” Coach Snow said.

Black turned in “one of the gutsiest runs” Snow has seen by a Laker in a long time, placing second in the mile in 5:45.83, behind Greely’s Kirstin Sandreuter, 5:09.19. She also finished fourth in the two mile and ran as a member of the 4x800 relay team that placed third.

“Amazingly, I did not initially put her in the mile. She had to talk me into it on Tuesday morning. I thought her best shot at placing was in the two mile. I was very wrong,” Coach Snow said. “While Kristin Sandreuter was on her way to setting a new league record in the mile, Jacqui was battling with three other runners. Jacqui passed the three girls at the halfway point and continued to push the pace. The others started to drop one by one. Jacqui never let up and beat Hannah Twombly of North Yarmouth Academy by five seconds to get second. Jacqui ran a seasonal best by nine seconds.”

Maggie Knudsen turned in a strong leg (PR) on the 4x800 relay team and a PR in the 400 meters. “Maggie has PR’d in the relay each week. We’re hoping she drops another few seconds at the State Meet,” Coach Snow said.

In other events:

Dani LaPointe produced two PRs — shot put and 200 meters.
Mark MacDougall recorded three PRs on the day. Mason Kluge-Edwards finished seventh in two events while setting PRs.

“Seventh is one spot away from scoring! Finishing seventh can be frustrating (just missing a scoring place), but Mason was very happy. It was the first time he three-stepped an entire hurdle race and only the second time he ever triple jumped,” Coach Snow said. “To be in the finals of both events at the conference championships was a great conclusion to Mason’s season.”

Senior Dakota Bush (55 meters) and Kylie Marshall (shot put) each placed sixth, scoring a point for the Lakers.

“The girls beat Cape by one point (in the team standings),” Coach Snow said. “Thanks Kylie!”

“Dakota has had a great senior season. His times are much faster than last year. It is wonderful to see him rewarded with placing at the league meet (and scoring 100% of our points!),” Coach Snow added.

Coach Snow has decided to enter the Lakers’ 4x800 relay team to the Class B State Meet line-up. The foursome includes Maggie Knudsen, Maude Meeker, Kristina Morton and Julia Carlson. Jacqui Black and Hannah Perkins will concentrate on their open events, instead of running on this relay.

“Our best chance for points will come from Kate Hall, Hannah (800 and 200 meters), and Jacqui (mile and two mile) and not the relay, but I thought the girls deserved a chance to run at the State Meet after the season we have had,” the coach reported.