OLD TOWN, Maine — The success of the Houlton-Greater Houlton Christian Academy girls track and field team continued Saturday, May 29 at the Penobscot Valley Conference championship.
Held at Old Town High School, the Shires logged another landmark performance for the program, coming in fourth place with 72 team points. The finish marks the highest the Shires have finished in the modern era under coach Chris Rines.
“This meet was certainly the toughest competition we have faced all season, being a league championship,” Rines said. “As a qualifiers-only meet, it meant that every kid that was there was meant to be there. I’m happy we were able to bring down almost our entire squad and they did what they have done all season, compete and put points on the board.”
The PVC Championship has been a bit of a “white whale” for the program, according to the coach.
“Up until last Saturday we had never had a single athlete take top honors and win an event at the meet,” he said. “There’s always been some odd circumstances that lead to a lot of close second places or one of our stronger athletes not being able to attend.”
That trend ended Saturday as the Shires celebrated their first individual PVC champion when Kaitlyn Kenney captured the javelin title. Kenney’s toss of 88-feet, 5-inches was more than four-feet longer than her closest competitor.
Houlton’s Kaitlyn Kenney placed first in the javelin at the Penobscot Valley Conference Championships in Old Town May 29. (Photo courtesy of Chris Rines)
Not to be outdone, Shire Emma Ardell cruised to the 100 meter hurdle crown, completing the race in 17.65 seconds.
The Shire 4×400 relay squad of Samantha Johnson, Isabella Ardell, Elena Ardell and Emmalyne Drake also took home top honors with a season-best time of 4 minutes, 29.13 seconds to win the event.
Emma Ardell won the girls 100 meter hurdle event at the Penobscot Valley Conference championship May 29 at Old Town. (Photo courtesy of Chris Rines)
Others scoring points for the Shires were:
100 meter — Samantha Johnson, 13.85 (5th).
200 — Isabella Ardell, 29.20 (4th); and Emma Ardell, 29.38 (6th).
400 — Johnson, 1:04.95 (2nd); Elena Ardell, 1:05.56 (3rd); and Isabella Ardell, 1:06.76 (6th).
800 — Emmalyne Drake, 2:39.13 (3rd).
1600 — Emmalyne Drake, 5:59.26 (5th); and Leanne Ross, 6:04.71 (6th).
3200 — Leanne Ross, 13:40.74 (5th)
300 Hurdle — Emma Ardell, 51.21 (2nd).
Triple Jump — Ariana Ardell, 27-3 (6th).
For the boys, 6th Daniel Ross finished sixth in the 1600 meter race with a time of 4:53.26 and was fifth in the 3200 at 11:19:41.
Full girls results can be found online at: http://www.sub5.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/pvcsmallschoolgirls2021.htm
Full boys results can be found online at: http://www.sub5.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/pvcsmallschoolboys2021.htm
