The Wildcats of the University of New Hampshire (1-0) won the season opener for indoor track against both the women and men’s track teams from the University of Maine (0-1). Maine’s women’s team lost 73-105 and the men lost 74-102.
Graduate student Jacob Johns finished in first place for the mile run for the Black Bears. The North Andover native recorded an impressive 4:21:23 mile.
Maine second-year Andrew Clement narrowly lost each of his decisions. He placed second in the 200-meter, 400-meter and the 4-x-400 relay and lost each by a margin of just one second. UMaine redshirt second-year Andrew Willingham secured one of the few victories for the Black Bears in the match. The Mt. Blue, Maine native won the 3,000 meter race in just 8:45:18, four minutes better than the second place finish from UNH, Joseph Verro. A bright spot for UMaine indoor was second-year Cassidy Hill securing a first place finish in the women’s 55-meter race. She posted a 7.40 time and UNH third-year Stephanie DiTraglia closely followed with a 7.44 time.
Maine first-year Colton Santoro placed second in the hurdles. With UNH fourth-year Joel Nkounkou finishing in 7.87 seconds, Santoro closely followed with a time of 8.02. UMaine fourth-year Synclaire Tasker came in third place for the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 9.52 in the women’s category.
Lauren Magnuson, a third-year at UMaine, won the 400-meter trial. The South Portland native won the race in just 59 seconds, edging out UNH second-year Elise Renahan by .85 seconds.
The Black Bears saw several victories in the field events. Third-year Ariel Clachar won the long jump with an impressive 5.46 meter finish. First-year Anna Schumann recorded a 10.60 meter finish and won the triple jump for the Black Bears. Maine’s second-year Lucia Guarnieri was the runner up to her teammate and posted a 10.47 meter total jump. First-year Sarah Vanacore secured a first place finish in the shot put, throwing a women’s best 10.96 meters. First-year Alice Barnsdale won the weight throw for the Black Bears. Barnsdale’s teammate fourth-year Rachel Bergeron recorded a runner-up finish.
Maine’s second-year Troy Davis won the high jump in Saturday’s event. He posted a 2.00 meter average, topping Nkounkou’s 1.80 meter average. Nkounkou would go on to win the long jump for the Wildcats.
The Black Bears and Wildcats return to action Friday, Dec. 8 in Hanover, NH where they face off against the Ivy League Dartmouth College Big Green.
