WATERVILLE — The mark of a great athlete is that even when they have an all-time personal best performance they are left still wanting more.
That was the case for Waterville junior Trever Gray at this year’s New England outdoor track and field championships held at Thornton Academy on June 13. Gray uncorked a throw of 160 feet, 4 inches in the discus that was not only good enough for third place, but also broke a 39-year-old school record.
2015 BOYS OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD ALL-AREA TEAM
100 — Trevor Saucier, Mount View
200 — Treavon Horton, Gardiner
400 — Eli Holland, Skowhegan
800 — Zach Hoyley, Messalonskee
1,600 — Aaron Willingham, Mt. Blue
3,200 — Aaron Willingham, Mt. Blue
110 hurdles — Tanner Burton, Messalonskee
300 hurdles — Tanner Burton, Messalonskee
4×100 relay — Madison (Jordan Curtis, Matt Curtis, Ben Toribio, Ben Henry)
4×400 relay — Messalonskee (Carson Bessey, Jesse Donisvitch, Daeghan Elkin, Zach Hoyle)
4×800 relay — Messalonskee (Anthony Amalfitano, Zach Hoyle, Carson Bessey, Owen Concaugh)
Long jump — Nate Pratt-Holt, Mt. Blue
Triple jump — Drew Gamage, Oak Hill
High jump — Drew Gamage, Oak Hill
Shot put — Trever Gray, Waterville
Discus — Trever Gray, Waterville
Javelin — Justin Martin, Winslow
Race walk — Billy Chambers, Waterville
“It was definitely a successful season,” Gray said. “I’m glad with the numbers I put up, but I also know I can put up some better numbers next season.”
In addition to his performance at New Englands, Gray also took home Class B championships in both the shot put and discus. For his efforts, Gray has been named the 2015 Morning Sentinel Boys Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year.
“He had a couple throws over the course of the season that were very, very close to that, if not further,” Waterville coach Rob Stanton said of Gray’s top mark in the discus. “We kind of had this sense that the throw was in there somewhere, it was just can he bring it out in the moment. As it turned out, at New Englands he was able to do that.”
As great as the throw was, Stanton — like Gray — believes the now rising senior is not done making gains.
“I actually got the chance to really watch him throw (at New Englands). Often during the season I don’t. I get sucked into the track events, but getting to really watch him there was more,” Stanton said. “As good as that was, I think he had a little bit more. He just wasn’t able to really put the perfect one together, just awfully good though.”
Part of Gray’s motivation to get better comes from his result sophomore year at the Class B championship where he entered the meet seeded first in the discus but could not hold his position.
“I’ve had a chip on my shoulder going into this season and I think it’s really helped out,” said Gray, who also credited throwing coach Matt Gilley for helping him progress over the years.
As gray prepares for his senior track seasons, he does so with even greater aspirations on his mind.
“Anywhere from the 185 (feet) range and up,” Gray said of his goal in the discus. “It sounds like a big number but I definitely think I can get the state record (of 177-8) next year. I’m just going to have to keep working to achieve that.
“Sixty (feet) is my goal for indoor in shot and I’d love to break 60 before I leave high school.”
Gray also said he is starting to receive interest from prospective college track programs — including Iowa State University and the University of Connecticut — but is still in the very early stages of the decision process.
Evan Crawley — 621-5640
ecrawley@mainetoday.com
Twitter: @Evan_Crawley
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Comments are no longer available on this story