Boys Class B Distance Preview

Bruce Bickford's two mile record could potentially be in jeopardy tomorrow as Dan Curts of Ellsworth looks to run a fast time.

800

Record: Kevin Floster Lake Region 1:56.12 2005

Will Shafer of Gray New Gloucester is the overwhelming favorite to take the 800 title tomorrow. The switch from basketball to indoor track has paid massive dividens as he comes in with the fastest time of all classes (1:57.76). Shafer should have an outside shot at chasing down Kevin Floster’s record. The only way for him not to is if he decides to hold his energy to run a very fast mile. The race for second should be exciting to watch as well. Ben Trapani of Camden Hills has run 2:02.49 this winter, and should be one of the favorites for the runner up. Don’t count out Robert Looker of Ellsworth. Looker has had a brilliant year of running, and he’s a big time racer. Expect him to be in the mix. Other runners to watch for will be Jared Schrader of Fryeburg, Ralph Magnani of MDI and Will Britton of Cape Elizabeth.

Mile

Record: Louie Luchini Ellsworth 4:19.76 1998

Louie Luchini’s mile record will be in serious jeopardy tomorrow as Will Shafer comes into the meet with the second fastest time in the state running 4:18.22. Shafer has been one of the top milers in New England this winter, and will hope to run a very fast time in order to get into a fast heat at the New England Championships. Last week, Shafer dominated the WMC Championships as he won both the mile and the 2 mile running 4:18 and 9:41 respectively. There should be a duel between Ben Trapani of Camden Hills and Chris Cote of Waterville for the runner up tomorrow. Trapani edged Cote at the KVAC Championships last weekend as he ran 4:32.05 to Cote’s 4:33.65. Cote will be out for revenge, so expect this duel to get heated. Other runners to watch for will be Chandler Vincent of Freeport, Ben Garcia of Gray New Gloucester and TJ Rose of Fryeburg.

2 Mile

Record: Bruce Bickford Lawrence 9:15.5 1975

The two mile will be the deepest event of all the distance races as there are six runners who have run 10:00 or faster. Dan Curts of Ellsworth is the odds on favorite to win tomorrow. He comes in with the fastest time in the state in 9:27.41 which he ran at the EMITL Championship’s last weekend. With the two mile being the focus tomorrow, look for Curts to potentially break Bickford’s long standing record. Curts has a lifetime personal record of 9:19 in the two mile, and with his recent performances Curts looks poised to go after the record. The race for second will be intriguing to watch as a pair of Cape Elizabeth teammates—Liam Simpson and Mitch Morris—will likely run shoulder to shoulder against Ben Decker of Yarmouth. The Cape teammates got the better of Decker last week at the WMC Championships as Simpson and Morris placed second and third respectively. Other runners to watch tomorrow will be Matt Malcom of NYA, Chris Cote of Waterville and Kyle Kennedy of Cape Elizabeth.