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HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD NOTEBOOK

Eagles work on speed

By Bill Stewart bstewart@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

Sam Seekins and the rest of the Erskine Academy distance runners are starting to integrate some speed work into their routines.

They'll run some 400-meter sprints, as well as a few 600-meter runs, to help prepare for the championship meets.

"In terms of meets left, we're not halfway done yet, but in actual time of the season we are halfway done," said Seekins, a senior. "We started off with just doing distance work, like 40 miles a week. Now we'll maintain the mileage, and we have a few more faster workouts."

Seekins is preparing to defend his Class B state titles in the 1,600 and 3,200. He acknowledged this season has felt different.

"It's definitely different after winning them," he said. "I want to keep the same attitude toward racing. It won't be any easier than last year because the same guys are back."

Indeed, the top six finishers in the 1,600 at the Class B meet returned this spring. Five of the top six in the 3,200 are back as well.

* * *

Sebastian Peters has one goal this spring.

"I want to get under the 10-minute mark in the (3,200)," the Lawrence senior said. "Anything under it I'll take, like 9:59.9."

Peters finished about 40 seconds off his goal in a meet Tuesday at Erskine.

Peters leads a talented core of Lawrence middle-distance and distance runners that includes Chris Low, Joe Gorman, Drew Bois and Jimmy Pershken.

"Our middle distance is where we are at right now," Lawrence coach Tim Alberts said. "Peters has had a couple slow meets, but when it gets warmer for him, he gets better. But the 4x8 relay team of him and Lowe, Gorman and Drew Bois should be pretty good. I think they will compete in the conference and state level."

Junior Sarah Quimby is off to a good start in the high jump for the Lawrence girls as well, including two first-place finishes.

"She is also part of the 4x400 relay that should do really well this year," Alberts said.

* * *

There was plenty of drama Tuesday for Erskine's first home meet of the season, and it had nothing to do with any event or performance.

"Five minutes before the meet was supposed to start we lost all of our power," Erskine athletic director Doran Stout said. "It was a breaker and we couldn't keep it on."

The solution?

Coach Scott Rollins rode a utility vehicle to his nearby home and returned with a generator.

"It worked out," Rollins said. "But I had to keep checking it to make sure it had gas."

When asked what he would've done without access to a generator, Stout replied, "I don't even want to think about it. I don't think there were six stop watches on the property. But the cool part about living in the country is that everybody's got everything."

* * *

It's that time of year, Waterville coach Ian Wilson says, when teams are starting to settle on which events their athletes will do come championship time.

"You begin to see what other teams have," Wilson said. "There are no more surprises out there. It's a good time to jockey for position and see what the kids can do. Over the next couple of weeks the kids will begin to focus on their events."

Wilson prefers to spread his athletes around early to get as many qualified for the KVAC and Class B championship meets as possible.

This gives the Purple Panthers tremendous flexibility at those meets.

"The older and more experienced kids, I have a plan for them early in the season," Wilson said. "You may take a 400 runner late in the season and have them do an 800. Maybe early in the year you start them off with the 100 and 200, so by the time the postseason rolls around you will have a well-conditioned athlete."

* * *

She competes in the hurdles and all the throwing events. Throw in the 4x400 relay team, and Maine Central Institute junior Meghan Hughes competes in one of the more interesting assortment of events at each meet.

"It's hard in that a lot of people think it's weird that the top thrower is going out and placing in both hurdles as well," Hughes said. "And then to go out and run the 4x4, I take pride in that. Now, a lot of the bigger and stronger girls are throwing and the little girls are running. It's hard to find someone who can do both."

Hughes has already qualified for the Class C state meet in all her events.

* * *

Nokomis coach John White is receiving strong production from his throwers.

Dan Tucker is throwing the javelin around 131 feet consistently while freshman Tracey Carson is scoring well for the girls team. Carson is throwing the javelin and shot put.

"We're searching around to see where Dan is best at," White said. "He throws the javelin and can do the shot, but I want to see him try the triple jump."

Courtney Bradbury, meanwhile, finished first in the discus (79-3) in a season-opening meet April 26 at Cony.

* * *

There were a few fantastic finishes in a five-team meet Tuesday at Lewiston.

Cony senior Luke Fontaine edged Mt. Blue senior Kelton Cullenberg in the 1,600 by 1.4 seconds.

Fontaine finished in 4:37.8; Cullenberg in 4:39.2.

Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com