ADAMS TWP. - The members of the Freeport boys track and field team stood huddled on the infield grass, straining to hear the announcement over the public address system at the Mars High stadium.

"Freeport 128, South Side Beaver 22."

A sigh.

"Freeport 87, Union New Castle 63."

Another sigh.

"Freeport 75.5, Southmoreland 74.5."

Instant eruption.

The Yellowjackets jumped up and down, leaped on each other's backs and flung water from plastic bottles in celebration of a repeat title performance at the WPIAL Class AA Team Championships Thursday.

And it came by the slimmest of margins.

"When you get the trophy, no one asks how many points you won it by," said Freeport coach Bill Dillen.

Last year, Freeport won the team title and had its sights set on a repeat.

But it took pole-vaulting performances by Ryan Furhman and Mike Bergstom to claim the title.

They both edged Southmoreland, finishing behind two Center vaulters, to secure the victory.

"It's big," Dillen said. "I lost a lot of good kids and these guys stepped up. They wanted to come back and defend their title and they did."

Freeport has been undefeated in dual meets the last two seasons. The Yellowjackets' last dual meet loss came in 2002 against Mars.

Kiel Conjack won the 300 hurdles in 41.84 seconds to highlight five individual Freeport overall winners.

Freeport's 3,200-relay team also placed first overall in the meet.

The girls, though, had to watch someone else celebrate for the second straight season.

Center edged the Yellowjackets 78-72 to take home the team title.

"It's just one of those things," Dillen said. "There's really nothing to second guess. Sometimes, you just have to give the other team credit."

Lacey Cochran certainly did her part for the Yellowjackets. The junior won the 100, 200 and 400 and ran the anchor leg of the 1,600 relay that won by a wide margin.

Her time of 57.24 in the 400 was her best time of the season.

"I was excited about that," Cochran said. "I'm starting to peak now, so that's good."

Courtney Callas won the 800 and Oliva Hess ran the first leg on both the 3,200 and 1,600 relay wins.

In both races, Hess staked Freeport to huge leads.

"I always tell them that no matter what I have to push it," Hess said.

Callas is hoping to get back to the state meet in the 800. She didn't place last year.

Her showing Thursday was encouraging.

"It gives me more confidence," Callas said. "I beat a couple of the girls who will be there (at the WPIAL individual championships) Tuesday."

Boys

Freeport 75½, Southmoreland 74½

Freeport 87, Union New Castle 63

Freeport 128, South Side Beaver 22

Running events

Overall winners

110-meter high hurdles:

1-Madden (UNC) 15.2;

100-meter dash:

1-Brenner (UNC) 11.36;

1,600-meter run:

1-Sarver (F) 4:49.3;

400-meter run:

1-Huygens (SM) 52.8;

300-meter intermediate hurdles:

1-Conjack (F) 41.84;

800-meter run:

1-Kaminski (F) 2:08.5;

200-meter dash:

1-Sebeck (SM) 23.0;

3,200-meter run:

1-Kiefer (SM) 10:42.5

Relay events

3,200-meter:

1-Freeport 8:40.7;

400-meter:

1-Union New Castle 44.22;

1,600-meter:

1-Southmoreland 3:30.1

Field events

Shot put:

1-Leonard (SM) 47-4¼;

Discus:

1-Haynes (F) 130-2;

Javelin:

1-Ozoroski (SM) 147-10;

Pole Vault:

1-Union New Castle N/A;

High jump:

1-Brenner (UNC) 6-2;

Long jump:

1-Ferko (F) 29-4;

Triple jump:

1-Isenberg (F) 43-4½

Girls

Freeport 113½, South Park 36½

Freeport 87, Mohawk 63

Center 78, Freeport 72

Running events

Overall Winners

100-meter high hurdles:

1-Dolan (Center) 16.1;

100-meter dash:

1-Cochran (F) 12.8;

1,600-meter run:

1-Hoffman (M) 5:41.6;

400-meter run:

1-Cochran (F) 57.24;

300-meter low hurdles:

1-Sackin (M) 47.4;

800-meter run:

1-Callas (F) 2:28.3;

200-meter dash:

1-Cochran (F) 26.09;

3,200-meter run:

1-Morrison (M) 12:36.3

Relay events

3,200-meter:

1-Freeport 10:14.8;

400-meter:

1-Center 52.0;

1600-meter:

1-Freeport 4:13.1

Field events

Shot put:

1-Laughlin (Center) 35-11;

Discus:

1-Laughlin (Center) 104-8;

Javelin:

1-Ferko (F) 100-2;

Pole Vault:

1-Nesbitt (M) 8-0;

High jump:

1-McMahon (M) 5-0;

Long jump:

1-Snyder (Center) 15-9¾;

Triple jump:

1-Snyder (Center) 33-10½