Track and Field 4/6/2024 8:34:00 PM

Beavers Have a Big Day Springfield Classic

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The University of Maine at Farmington men's and women's track and field teams had a great day at the Springfield Classic. Between the two teams, the Beavers finished the day 17 finishes that place inside the program's top-10.

Men's Highlights

Senior Luke Bliss (Underhill, Vermont) and junior Ben Vachon (Portland, Maine) each clinched their tickets to the New England Regional Championships. Bliss finished the 10K with a time of 33:23.34 to place 1st overall in the event and qualify himself for the Regional Championships after just the 2nd meet of the season. Vachon qualified for the New England Regional Championships in the long jump with a jump marked at 6.65 meters. Vachon placed 2nd overall in the event, just a quarter of an inch behind Aidan Law of Keene State.

Senior Justin Castaldo (Scarborough, Maine) had a strong day on the track, placing inside the top-five in a pair of events. Castaldo placed 3rd overall in the 1,500 meters, setting the school record with a time of 4:04.28. Castaldo also placed 5th overall in the 800 meter run with a time of 1:59.37.

Connor Freeman (Bath, Maine) placed 5th overall in the 5,000 meters, finishing with a time of 16:35.92.

James Riley (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and Andrew LaFlamme (Nashua, N.H.) made their debuts in the 10,000 meters. Riley and LaFlamme each placed inside the top-4 in the event. Riley finished with a time of 33:45.72, just .72 seconds from qualifying for the Regional Championships and grabbing 2nd place. LaFlamme placed 4th in the event with a time of 34:03.08.

Thomas Gingras (Gardiner, Maine) added a 6th place finish in the 400 meter hurdles, posting a 1:05.67 time.

First-year Charlie Thompson (Coventry, Vermont) placed 5th overall in the pole vault, clearing the 3.65 meter plateau.

On top of his 2nd place finish in the long jump, Vachon added a 4th place finish in the triple jump. Vachon's second attempt was measured at 12.62 meters.

Senior Alixx Canwell (Chelsea, Maine) continued his torrid season, finishing with a pair of 1st place finishes as well as adding a 4th place finish. Canwell placed first in each the shot put and the hammer throw. Canwell's 1st place shot put throw was measured at 14.10 meters. His 1st place hammer throw came in at 44.96 meters. Canwell grabbed 4th in discus with a throw of 36.85 meters.

Alex Crews (Winslow, Maine) moved up to 2nd overall in program history in the shot put, placing 7th overall in the event with a throw measured at 12.26 meters. Crews added a 7th place finish in the discus with a throw of 36.45 meters and a 6th place finish in the hammer with a 36.54 meter throw.

Alex Sheran (Nashua, N.H.) placed inside the top-ten in a pair of events as well. Sheran placed 3rd in the hammer throw with a throw of 40.45 meters and 9th in the shot put with a throw marked at 11.13 meters.

Women's Highlights

Senior Carrie Burr (Pittsfield, Maine) broke the program record in the 100 meters, posting a time of 13.25 seconds, finishing 8th overall in the event. Sophomore Erica Johnson (Nobleboro, Maine) was not far behind, finishing with a time of 13.28 seconds to place 10th. Cara Perry (Stoughton, Mass.) placed 11th with a time of 13.40 seconds and Kennedy Todd (Scarborough, Maine) was just behind in 12th place with a 13.86 second time.

Burr also ran a personal record in the 400 meter hurdles, moving up to 2nd overall in program history with a time of 1:13.76. She is now just one second behind the program's top time.

Todd added a personal record in the 200 meters, posting a time of 28.37 seconds. Todd also moved into the top-four in program history.

Johnson finished 5th overall in the 100 meter hurdles, posting a time of 16.96 seconds.

Junior Anna MacDonald (Bangor, Maine) posted an 8th place finish in the 5,000 meters with a time of 21:09.41.

Joy Evans (Farmington, Maine) and Eve Poteet (Fairhill, Maryland) raced in the 10,000 meter race for the first time in their collegiate careers. Evans finished in 42:53.39 to finish 3rd overall. Poteet placed 6th in 45:57.98.

Ilana Lybarger (Brussels, Belgium) and Kaitlyn Harmon-Bolding (Biddeford, Maine) each placed inside the top-ten, placing 9th and 10th respectively in the hammer throw. Lybarger's best attempt was measured at 32.96 meters while Harmon-Bolding's finished at 31.46 meters.

UP NEXT

The Beavers will compete at the Silfen Elite Distance Meet at Connecticut College next Friday and then the Monks Invitational in Standish on Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

Carrie Burr: 5' 9"; Junior

Kennedy Todd: 5' 6"; Freshman

Ilana Lybarger: 5' 9"; Junior

Erica Johnson: 5' 6"; Freshman

Kaitlyn Harmon-Bolding: Sophomore

Anna MacDonald: 5' 8"; Sophomore

Cara Perry: 5' 5"; Junior

Eve Poteet: 5' 3"; Freshman

Luke Bliss: Junior

Alixx Canwell: Senior

Justin Castaldo: Junior

Connor Freeman: Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Carrie Burr
: 5' 9"; Junior

Kennedy Todd
: 5' 6"; Freshman

Ilana Lybarger
: 5' 9"; Junior

Erica Johnson
: 5' 6"; Freshman

Kaitlyn Harmon-Bolding
: Sophomore

Anna MacDonald
: 5' 8"; Sophomore

Cara Perry
: 5' 5"; Junior

Eve Poteet
: 5' 3"; Freshman

Luke Bliss
: Junior

Alixx Canwell
: Senior

Justin Castaldo
: Junior

Connor Freeman
: Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned

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