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

HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD NOTES

Good way to start

Gardiner freshman impressive in 1,600-meter run

By Bill Stewart bstewart@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

Kylee Granholm picked a good time to record her best time in the 1,600-meter run.

The Gardiner Area High School freshman battled nerves and top-flight competition at an unscored meet last week at Greely High School, finishing third in the event in a personal best 5 minutes, 51 seconds.

"It was really tough," she said. "I hadn't really experienced this kind of competition. Middle school track is pretty easy."

The competition Granholm and the Tigers faced April 20 was anything but easy, with Waterville, Falmouth and York in the field.

"I tried to stay in fifth place and I ended up passing a lot of girls in the last 200 meters," Granholm said. "It was pretty intense."

Added Gardiner coach Eric Hall: "We don't get to see those type of teams too often. It was nice to see who we'd see at the Class B championships. We got some good performances. We had some young athletes who rose to the challenge."

Sophomore Cody Whitcomb finished the 1,600 in 5:15.

"It was a good early season preview for us," Hall said.

The Tigers will host Belfast, Medomak Valley and Lincoln Academy today in their first home meet of the season.

• • •

Maybe it was a stretch of good early season weather. More likely, it's the influence of new throwing coach Kristen Sinclair.

Whatever the reason, the Hall-Dale throwers got off to a good start, unlike last season.

"They have stood out as a strength," Hall-Dale coach Joe Viselli said. "That wasn't the case last year, the throwers came around late. But they are a big part of our early-season success."

In a season-opening meet April 15 in Madison, Kyle Bell-Colfer (javelin), Alex Carboneau (javelin and shot put) and Kristy Fredette (javelin) all had personal best performances.

"They were all ecstatic," Viselli said. "Our throwing core really did a great job."

Viselli credited Sinclair, a former Maranacook Community School and University of Southern Maine track and field athlete, with the early success.

"Last year we coached them by committee," Viselli said. "It was, 'Who is going to coach the throwers today?' But Sinclair has had a huge influence on the kids, and they are seeing results."

• • •

It was quite a season-opening meet April 15 at Wiscasset for Monmouth Academy. The Mustangs qualified six athletes for the Class C state meet.

Just how impressive is this?

"We only took seven kids to the state meet last year," coach Tom Menendez said.

Danielle Bumann (hurdles), Melissa Brassard (hurdles), Elliott Kahl (1,600), Kevin Desmond (800), Molly Menice (javelin) and Eric Columbe (javelin) qualified for the states.

"It was pretty incredible to come out like that," Kahl said. "This year we came out relaxed and got six people qualified. We took our preseason a little more seriously. We had gone to a track a month before to do our own work. We're just taking it more seriously."

Monmouth will return to action today in Gardiner.

"We're looking good so far," Menendez said. "I would say it's an excellent first meet."

• • •

Winthrop has competed just once and had a Tuesday meet postponed to rain.

The washout means the Ramblers won't compete again until Monday, more than two weeks after the season opened April 15.

"It is what it is," Winthrop coach Ed Van Tassel said. "We'll work them hard this week."

Van Tassel did take a small group to the Tom Foley Invitational last week at Greely High School.

"It was a good experience to get some competition," he said. "(Class C powerhouse) Lisbon was there, so that was good."

• • •

The Maranacook boys opened the season with a victory in a six-team meet at Camden Hills. The Black Bears scored 200.5 points to win the meet.

While coach Ronn Gifford said victories aren't his focus this early in the season, the team did pick up some momentum.

Taylor Watson (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles) and Harry Lanphear (discus, shot put) led Maranacook with two victories.

"They were really excited to win the meet," Gifford said. "Watson looked really good. It was a huge improvement from where he started last season."

Evan Vincent (race walk) and Breeze Rasmussen (javelin) also won events for the Black Bears.

Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com