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COLLEGE TRACK AND FIELD

Massey thrives at USM

Freshman already owns school record in indoor long jump

By Travis Lazarczyk tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

When Christina Massey was going on pure athleticism, she was dangerous. Now that the Winslow High School graduate has a little technique to blend with natural ability, Massey might be on the verge of a fantastic collegiate track and field career.

"She's everything we hoped for and more," said George Towle, Massey's coach at the University of Southern Maine. "She's definitely better than we anticipated."

Neither Towle nor Massey anticipated the immediate impact Massey would have on the Huskies track and field program.

Just a few months into her college career, Massey already has the USM school record for the indoor long jump -- 17 feet, 6 1/4 inches. Last week at UMass-Lowell, Massey jumped 17-3 1/4, the third-best outdoor long jump in school history. Her indoor 400 meter time of 1 minute, 2.93 seconds is ninth-best in the Husky record books.

Massey also has helped three relay teams -- the indoor 4x400 and 4x200 and the outdoor 4x100 relay -- place among the school's top 10 of all time.

Five times during the indoor track and field season, Massey was named the Little East Conference Rookie of the Week. That success led her to earn the conference field events Rookie of the Year.

"It's going really well so far," said an understated Massey. "I'm glad to get off to a fast start."

So far, the long jump has been Massey's best event, but she arrived at USM with plans on focusing on the high jump. Massey placed second in the high jump in the Class B state championship meet last spring with a jump of 4-10.

At USM, a minor heal injury set Massey back in the high jump, but forced to focus on sprints and the long jump, she saw tremendous improvement.

"(The injury) helped me with other events more than I expected," Massey said.

Towle has focused his coaching of Massey on two things. One, teach his star freshman proper form, particularly in the long jump.

"For her, it's more about the technical aspects, not the speed and the jumping," Towle said.

Massey's long jump of 15-8 3/4 was good for sixth place in the Class B state meet last spring. Under Towle's tutelage, Massey has added almost 2 feet to her jump using the hang technique.

"In high school I would just use my speed and I hope I landed in the pit right," Massey said. "It keeps me in the air longer. It's a huge difference if I do it right."

Two, Towle is -- of all things -- trying to get Massey to slow down. In events such as the 400 meters and the 400 hurdles, which require a little pacing, Massey has a tendency to go out too hard and fade at the end.

"In the 400 hurdles, she just keeps on hammering," Towle said. "She's learning how to keep things in check. ... From a coach's standpoint, that's a good problem to have."

Added Massey: "I never actually learned technique. The only thing I learned is go as fast as you can right from the beginning. I'll get it eventually."

Towle sees Massey as a multi-event threat in the coming years.

"We're getting her ready for the heptathlon," Towle said. "I think that's where her future lies."

During the indoor season, Massey worked on the shot put. This spring she's practiced the javelin.

"I did the pentathlon for indoor (season) once this year, and it was fun," Massey said. "The 100 hurdles seems like it's going to be really fun. The javelin is definitely the hardest thing I've tried."

The high jump is still Massey's favorite event, although this spring it looks like her best chance of competing late in the season will come in the long jump. With her performance at UMass-Lowell last weekend, Massey earned an ECAC qualifying mark.

It helps that her fellow USM freshman, Nikole Robbins of West Gardiner, is also jumping 17 feet.

"We definitely push each other in a good way," Massey said. "We like to compete with each other."

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com