This Bonny Eagle junior is the fastest high school sprinter in New England
Drew Gervais turned an underdog seeding into a New England title Saturday at Noble High School in North Berwick.
The Bonny Eagle junior crossed the finish line first in the 100-meter dash, stopping the clock at 10.78 seconds and claiming the region’s fastest high-school sprinter crown. The victory was all the more striking given that Gervais entered the meet as the 17th seed out of 35 competitors, a position he dismissed almost immediately.
Prior to the New England meet, Gervais captured the Class A crown at Bangor’s Cameron Stadium, stopping the clock at 11.07 seconds into a stiff headwind. He noted the previous time wasn’t his fastest, and that the seeding didn’t reflect his current form. Saturday’s meet brought sunny, mid-80s conditions just 45 minutes from his hometown, and he used the favorable weather to demonstrate what he could do.
From the blocks, Gervais launched explosively. By the 50-meter mark, he had edged out Sean Blaze of Clinton, Massachusetts, the event’s top seed who had posted the second-fastest preliminary time at 10.94. Gervais had spent the days leading up to the meet reviewing competitors’ personal records, noting that many of their best marks lined up closely with his own SMAA title-winning 10.63. “Everyone’s state times were pretty consistent with their other personal bests,” he said. “If I had a good day and they had a so-so day, I figured I could take it.” He also reminded himself that not every race calls for a personal best. “A victory stands on its own,” he added.
The championship adds Gervais’s name to a growing Maine legacy. He joins Andre Clark of Marshwood as the second athlete from the state to win the boys 100 at New Englands in three years, following Clark’s 2024 victory. Last year in New Britain, Connecticut, Gervais finished seventh in rainy, difficult conditions; this year’s dry, warm afternoon in North Berwick felt like a different competition entirely.
Outside the lanes, Gervais brought his usual pre-race ritual. Known for changing his hair color before big meets, he debuted a hot-rod style for the championships, joking that the look was intended to make him appear fast. He often says that being fast is what makes the look work, and this weekend it seemed to pay off.
His coach, Jake Newcomb, has watched plenty of talent, but he said Gervais stands out for his work ethic. Coaching track and field for 18 years, Newcomb called the junior the hardest-working athlete he’s ever encountered, someone who is meticulous in every technical detail. Newcomb said the moment felt unbelievable, highlighting a junior from Standish, Maine who is now the fastest in New England.
With his sights still set on the future, he noted there’s always next spring to chase the same goal. The performance was a mix of preparation, confidence, and a little personality—a reminder of why these moments matter in high school sports.
