Scarborough's Isabella Harmon: A Day of Personal Bests

At the University of Southern Maine indoor track facility, Scarborough High senior Isabella Harmon was the last one standing. While most athletes had already left, she was still working on her pole vault, aiming to improve her personal best. Earlier, she had already won the high jump and placed third in the 55-meter hurdles, both with season-best performances. Harmon, a former gymnast, swimmer, and equestrian, is no stranger to high-pressure situations. She approached the pole vault with a calm and focused mindset, using a longer pole for the first time this season. After missing her first attempt, she watched the video footage, made adjustments, and cleared 11 feet on her second try. This was a significant improvement from her previous best and higher than any other Maine girl this winter.Despite her success, Harmon remained humble and focused. She tried one attempt at 11-4 but decided to call it a day, satisfied with her performance. Her coach, Conrad Bollinger, praised her for her grit and composure, noting that she balances her hard-charging approach with grace and poise. The meet was designed to provide cross-class and cross-conference competition, giving athletes like Angela Boisvert from Maine Central Institute the chance to compete against the best. Boisvert improved her hurdles PR and set a school record in the long jump, inspired by watching top performers from other schools. In the boys mile, Marshwood's Henri Rivard used an impressive last-lap kick to win the race, proving that his speed workouts were paying off. Deering's Ellis Wood also improved his time, along with third-place Ryan Bolduc and fourth-place Atticus Merriam. The meet provided a rare opportunity for top SMAA runners to compete against each other, pushing their limits and proving their fitness.