Bates revenges a 4 point loss to Bowdoin Indoors to claim the Outdoor State team title for the 10th time in 11 years.
Bates outlasted Bowdoin by just 13 points to claim the championship and remain undefeated outdoors. Bates’ defeat of Bowdoin adds another worthy scalp to their collection that already includes the likes of MIT, UMO, UNH, USM, Colby, Worchester State, Fitchburg State, etc.
Bates’ eight individual state titles demonstrated the top end talent of the Bobcats. Bates won both the vertical jumps. Sam Goldstein, industrial bowling management major, won the pole vault at 15’5” and freshman Eric Wainman won his second high jump state title of the year, clearing 6’3.25”. Bates 4x400 relay of Ace Spencer, David Hardison, Mac Stansel, and James Lepage also took gold in dramatic fashion thanks to Lepage’s monster anchor leg of 49.2, besting the Colby and Bowdoin teams by less than a second. Hardison also claimed the state title in the Jack McGee 110 meter high hurdles, despite running into a brutal headwind. Bates also proved its supremacy in the throws, claiming all four individual titles. Zak Kofos won his first state title by out throwing his competition in the javelin. David Pless won the other three throwing events, to remain undefeated and take home the Tootel award, rewarded to the State’s best field athlete.
Just as impressive as Bates’ individual state champions were their teammates that backed them up and demonstrating the depth necessary for a championship team. Backing up David Hardison in the 110 hurdles were former state hurdle champions Tony Hauser and Jarrett McKallaget in 2nd and 3rd, as well as freshman Charley Kenyon who placed 6th. Backing up Pless in the throws was freshman Sean Enos who placed 2nd in the shotput and discus (161’!!) and 4th in the hammer throw. Duncan Briggs in his season debut in the Javelin placed 3rd, backing up teammate and champion Zak Kofos.
Other highlights of the meet certainly included Isaiah Spofford’s performances. Isaiah competed in four events and placed in everyone. Isaiah took 5th in the triple jump, 3rd in the long jump (20’ 9.25”!!), and 2nd in the 100 and 200, losing just barely in both events to indoor National Champion Dom Kone of Colby. Isaiah was backed up in the sprints by Ace and Ben Levy, who competed in the 200 and 400. The duo placed 4th, 5th in both events respectively. Lepage’s 2nd place in the 800 was also a highlight.
Bates also showed depth in the distance events, going 3,4,6 in the 1500. Noah overcame a near fall in the opening meters of the race to claim 3rd and was backed up by Nick Barron in 4th and Mac in 6th. The 10k was the opening event of the meet and Jag Colligan represented Bates well, placing 2nd. Eric Kimball, despite the knees of a 90-year-old man, made his return to the track running 35:19 in the 10k, a time not to be ashamed of, considering it was his long run for the week. Bates also showed depth in the steeplechase going 2,3,5. Big Red and Ben Chebot’s times were all-time top-ten performances, and Graham Pearsall’s 9:46 was also a PR. Andrew Wortham, Tully Hannan, and Elmo Whitney went 2,3,5 in the 5k, also demonstrated depth in the distance events. Devin Dilts also ran the 5k, making his return to the team after a semester hiatus of training at Illinoisan altitude. Despite the aerobic capacity of an East Tibetan Gazelle, Devin was hampered by a knee injury that slowed him to a hobble. He completed the 3.1 miles regardless.
Winning the Outdoor State Championship is an awesome achievement, and the team can check it off the list of things to accomplish this season, but bigger and more important objectives wait in the future. Next is the NESCAC championships and another chance to add casualties to the growing list of teams that have fallen victim to the Bates Men’s Outdoor Track Team.
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