TOPSHAM — It seemed only fitting that Isaiah Harris’ final trip across the finish line in a Lewiston uniform was the one that brought a state title back to the track and field program.
Leading by a point over Scarborough and two points clear of Cheverus heading into the 4×400 relay — the final event — Harris and the Blue Devils knew a state title was a mere 1,600 meters away.
The team of Harris, Aden Mohamed, Mohamud Abukar and Ahmed Musse delivered, winning the race in 3 minutes, 28:24 seconds and capturing the program’s first state title since 2006. Harris caught Thornton Academy’s Dan Marsh and Noble’s Tyler Joy in the final leg to assure Lewiston’s spot atop Class A.
“From the beginning we were all focused on states,” Harris said. “Last year, I feel like people didn’t feel like we had that great of a chance. This year that was our main goal. Coach put it in our mind that we had a chance and every practice everyone would work their hardest thinking ahead.”
Scarborough finished the event in seventh and Cheverus was disqualified after failing to exchange the baton in the allotted space following the first leg.
Harris spent just as much time on the track as he did on the podium. The Lewiston senior had a banner day, winning three individual awards, playing a part in the 4×400 relay victory and breaking school records in the 200-meter dash and the mile. Harris won the 200 in 22.25 and the mile in 4:18.92. He also won the 800 for the third consecutive year, finishing in 1:55.42.
“That was the goal for the day and it turned out perfect,” Harris said. “Thank God nothing bad happened to me. It just ended up like I wanted to.”
Harris played a part in 40 of Lewiston’s 71 points. He outscored 21 of the 27 teams in the field by himself.
“What he did today I can’t imagine anyone else even thinking of duplicating what he did today,” Lewiston coach Paul Soracco said. “No way. It was amazing what everyone witnessed today.”
Scarborough finished in second with 61 points, followed by Cheverus (59), Falmouth (52) and Thornton Academy (44) to round out the top five. Edward Little placed 10th with 26 points.
While Harris was a large part of Lewiston’s state title, he did have help. Hassan Speedy Mohamed defended his state title in the 100 in a time of 11.35. Mohamed was happy just to be able to race after cramping up during the 400 at the KVAC Championships and being unable to continue.
“That’s very special,” Mohamed said. “I’ve been waiting for this time to step up for everybody and all my fans and my family. They helped me a lot and I’m really proud of everyone that’s supported me.”
The lingering issues with his leg resurfaced in the 200 when he finished sixth and was held out the remainder of the meet.
Osman Doorow had a pair of second-place finishes in the 1,600 and 3,200. Doorow gave the Blue Devils a one-point lead after the 3,200, holding off Deering’s Iid Sheikh-Yusaf for eight crucial points. The Blue Devils had trailed Scarborough by 17.5 points through 13 events before taking the lead with one event to go.
Mt. Blue’s Aaron Willingham won the event in 9:39.80, distancing himself from Doorow on the final lap.
While the girls didn’t hoist the hardware alongside the boys, they too enjoyed their best finish in program history, placing third with 59 points. They held a one-point lead through 12 events before ultimately being caught by Thornton Academy and South Portland. Thornton Academy won the girls Class A title with 80 points. South Portland finished second with 62 points.
Heather Kendall, Kayla Allen and Adela Kalilwa all won individual state titles for the Blue Devils. Kendall claimed the 100 and Allen defended her title in the race walk. Kalilwa accomplished her goal of jumping 17 feet in the long jump, leaping 17-5 to win the title. She finished 12th at state last year.
Soracco said the future looks bright for the girls’ program.
“It was a great day for the program, girls and boys,” Soracco said. “The girls had a great day, great season. We’re losing a few seniors and next year my girls are going to be strong, real strong. Can’t wait to get going again.”
Edward Little’s Brittanee Nouchanthavong set a personal record in the girls’ javelin at 113-5 to win her first state title. It was the Red Eddies’ lone title of the day.
Nouchanthavong saved her best throw of the meet for last as she set a new personal record on her final attempt. It didn’t come without some nerves.
“I was hoping that I could make it,” Nouchanthavong said. “I was honestly really nervous. I talked to my coach before. He gave me some tips and that actually pushed me to throw really far.”
She wasn’t the lone competitor winning a state title on a final attempt. Mt. Blue’s Nate Pratt-Holt did the same thing in the boys’ triple jump. Pratt-Holt defended his his title with a final jump of 44-2.75.
“I was fourth coming into my last jump,” Pratt-Holt said. “The last four jumps there was a new leader in each jump. I jumped last and I had the furthest jump by a couple inches.”
Pratt-Holt entered the event seeded fourth. He was seeded sixth in the long jump and placed second with a distance of 20-3.
The Mt. Blue boys finished seventh with 36 points.
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