Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

NEW ENGLAND TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Athletes headed to Vermont

By Bill Stewart bstewart@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

Chris Pelletier never competed in track and field prior to this season, so expectations were at a minimum.

Things have changed a bit for the Maranacook Community High School senior in recent weeks.

A week after winning a Class C state title in the triple jump, Pelletier will be in Burlington, Vt., on Saturday to compete in the 66th annual New England track and field championships.

And his goal for the triple jump?

"I'm hoping to place," he said. "I haven't looked at the other competitors, but that's my goal."

He may just have a chance. Pelletier is seeded ninth in the event thanks to his state-best leap of 44 feet, 9.75 inches last Saturday at McMann Field in Bath.

The New England championships are returning to Burlington for the first time since 2009. Burlington High School, which opened the $4 million Weaver Athletic Complex in 2009, will host the meet.

More than 1,200 athletes will compete, and they will look to break personal best times or distances.

Madison junior Matt McClintock won the 1,600 and 3,200 events at the Class C meet.

He heads to Vermont looking to "have a little fun."

"It's nice to have a meet where I won't be favored to win anything," he said. "I can go down there and just relax instead of worrying about having to win. It'll be nice."

McClintock is seeded 23rd in the 1,600 and 24th in the 3,200.

"I'm hoping to get a (personal record) in both," he said. "I want to break through in the 3,200."

Maranacook junior Abby Mace also will attend the meet. Mace, whose season started late because of a knee injury, said she hopes to lower her times in the 1,600 and 3,200 runs as well.

"I have different expectations than I normally do," she said. "I thought it would be a good chance to run with some faster girls. I haven't set any real time goals, but I hope to go lower."

Waterville, fresh off its Class B state championships, had an abundance of athletes qualify for New Englands.

Sophomore Georgia Bolduc is seeded 10th in the 100 and 18th in the 200. She won the state title in the 100 with a time of 12.38. Bethanie Brown (1,600, 3,200), Olivia Thurston (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Alex Rowe (triple jump), Alexa Frame (100 hurdles), Jeff Hale (1,600, 3,200), Alex Jenson (triple jump, 100 hurdles) and Isaiah Spofford (100, 200) also qualified for the Purple Panthers.

Thurston said Tuesday she would not compete in the meet.

Also qualified are: Travis Hutchins, of Winthrop (shot put); Ken Zahner, Lawrence (shot put); Kevin Desmond, Monmouth (800); Julian Hubbard, Cony (triple jump); Curtis Griffin, Mt. View (110 hurdles); Erzsie Nagy, Lawrence (800); Bri Crisci, Hall-Dale (200); Danielle Bumann, Monmouth (300 hurdles); Tyler Fitzgerald, Hall-Dale (100); Tyler DeAngelis, Maranacook (pole vault); Taylor Watson, Maranacook (300 hurdles).

Bill Stewart -- 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com