BRUNSWICK — As the Messalonskee High School boys 4×200 relay team completed its win, their indoor track and field teammates raised their arms in victory. No matter where they were in the Bowdoin College fieldhouse, the Eagles’ arms went up.

The 4×200 relay win put an exclamation point on the day for the Eagles, who won their first Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference title with 128 points to take the Class A boys meet, well ahead of second place Lewiston (91 points).

“It was a total team effort. From start to finish, our kids just performed outstanding. We kind of talked to them beforehand about don’t put pressure on yourself about hitting times. Just go out and compete,” Messalonskee coach Matt Holman said.

Despite entering the day as underdogs to Belfast, the Waterville boys and girls swept the Class B meet. The Waterville boys scored 117 points to edge Belfast’s 115. The Waterville girls had 109 points, with Belfast second with 96.

“We thought we had a chance going in. We were slight underdogs to Belfast on both sides, boys and girls,” Waterville coach Rob Stanton said. “We thought if we came in and did what we’re capable of that we would have a chance.”

Edward Little took the girls Class A crown.

While Messalonskee’s win came through its depth in a number of events, a big individual performer was sprinter Jesse Donisvitch, who won the 55 and 200, and ran a strong first leg of the 4×200. In the 55, Donisvitch’s lean at the finish gave him the win in 6.83 seconds, edging Hunter Garrett of Brunswick.

“I was just like, you know what? I’m going to get it. And I did. I just extended my legs. I just drove through and didn’t hold back,” Donisvitch said.

In the 200, Donisvitch used a good start to take a lead he’d never relinquish, winning in 23.87. Holman said both Donisvitch’s times in the 55 and 200 are school records.

Tanner Burton won the 55 hurdles for the Eagles with a time of 7.98 seconds, a personal record that had Burton jump with excitement when he saw his time. Burton said his start was good, but it was his ability between hurdles that carried him to the win.

“A lot of hurdlers are fast out of the blocks. When you hit the first one, you’re fine. It’s all about the speed in between, how fast you can get up and over. That’s generally where the turning point is, in between those last four hurdles,” Burton said.

Messalonskee won by grabbing points in a lot of events with depth. The best example was in the 800, where Eagles took spots two through five and seventh.

The Waterville boys also used their depth to take the title. The Purple Panthers had just one individual winner, Kyle McGadney in the long jump, with a leap of 18 feet, 4 1/2 inches. The Waterville girls picked up wins from Alison Linscott in the high jump (5 feet) and Lauren Brown, who won the mile (5:27.68) and two mile (11:41.97) while taking second in the 800.

“I was seeded first by quite a bit, so I was just trying to hold off the people behind me,” Brown said of her mile race. “I have to remember anyone could have a really good day. Anyone could PR by a lot. I just have to go in and do what I usually do.”

Winslow sprinter Ben Smith cruised to wins in the 55 and 200 to claim a pair of championships. Smith ran 6.85 in the 55. In the 200, Smith built a huge lead over the first 100 meters and coasted to the finish, in 24.23.

“It’s tough down that stretch, but I saw I was pretty comfortably in first. I just eased into the finish,” Smith said. “If you have a good start, that just sets you up for a good run.”

Maine Central Institute won both the girls and boys shot put in Class B. Allison Hughes took the girls with a throw of 29 feet, 1 inch. Curtis McLeod won the boys with a throw of 55-2 almost 5 feet better than Trever Gray of Waterville, the defending state champ.

Erin Martin of Nokomis won the Class B girls 55 hurdles in a close race, beating Lillian Bisset of Lincoln Academy with a run of 9.05 seconds.

“Today I had a really awesome block start. That helped me out, and knowing I wanted to win. I want to be a state champion, so I just pushed myself to get that time,” Martin said. “(Bisset’s) right there. I can see her out of the corner of my eye. I try not to look at her because I want to beat her. I can see her foot come up, so I want to make sure my foot comes up before hers. That pushes me even more.”

Ethan Dodge of Erskine won the Class B boys 400 with a time of 55.69 seconds, while Chris Weymouth of Erskine won the Class B boys high jump (5-4). Winslow’s Paige Smith won the Class B girls triple jump with a jump of 32-2 1/2.

Jon Longfellow of Gardiner/Hall-Dale won the Class A boys shot put (41-8 1/2), while teammate Jon Whitcomb won the Class A boys high jump (6-0). Mt. Blue’s Nate Pratt-Holt won the Class A boys long jump (20-1). Skowhegan’s Maddy Price won the Class A girls triple jump (36-3/4).

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

<URL destination=””>tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

</URL>Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM

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