Written by Michael Hoffer.
Published July 23, 2024 in the South Portland Sentry. Read the full article here.
Just call it deja vu.
In the winter, South Portland ended a long drought by winning the Class A indoor track state title for the first time since 2002.
Then, in June, the Red Riots’ outdoor squad did the same thing.
If you’re looking for a common denominator, beyond the individual transcendence of junior Arnaud Sioho, it’s longtime coach Dave Kahill, who has gradually built the South Portland program into something special and unrivaled.
As a result, The Sentry is naming Dave Kahill our Spring Coach of the Year of a boys’ team.
Kahill was also honored this past winter after leading the Red Riots to an indoor championship.
Kahill took over the South Portland boys’ track program in 2007, replacing legendary coach Paul Brogan.
South Portland, which was sixth outdoors a year ago, came into the 2024 season knowing it had a shot to ascend to the top spot, but that there were many good teams in both the South and in Class A as a whole.
“There are a number of talented teams in the SMAA and Class A and our team has potential to place in the top five in the championship meets,” said Kahill.
After a strong regular season, the Red Riots beat Gorham by 39 points to capture the league championship, but the state meet would be something else entirely.
South Portland would finish with 79.5 points and would need them all, as it held off Gorham by a mere half-point for its first championship in 22 seasons.
South Portland is track Titletown once more and as long as Dave Kahill, our boys’ team Spring Coach of the Year, is calling the shots, more greatness figures to be in store.