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

COLLEGE CONNECTIONS: HoddWells pain free

By Bill Stewart bstewart@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

It took awhile, but Max HoddWells can finally run, jump and hurdle without much pain.

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BIG LEAPER: Max HoddWells, a Maranacook Community High School graduate, is back in action for the University of New Hampshire after hernia surgery in January.

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HODDWELLS FILE

Hometown: Wayne
School: University of New Hampshire
Year: Junior
Sport: Track and field

"Finally," HoddWells, a junior on the University of New Hampshire track and field team, said, "I feel healthy. It's taken some time."

HoddWells, 20, had hernia surgery in January that cut short his indoor season and delayed his training for the outdoor one.

"He's been through the mill," UNH track and field coach Jim Boulanger said. "He was in a lot of pain. Last year he decided to go through it, but he was in just too much pain. We wanted to get him healthy. When there is no pain, it's good to see a smile on his face."

HoddWells competes in a variety of events for the Wildcats, including the 110-meter hurdles and triple jump.

Prior to the surgery, he cleared 47 feet in the triple jump during the indoor season. He hopes to surpass the mark this spring.

"I do have big expectations," HoddWells said. "I want to win the triple jump at the conference meet and I'd like to win it in New Englands as well. It's been tough because I came back in March so I am a little behind everyone. Everyone else is peaking right now."

HoddWells jumped 46 feet to win the triple jump at a five-team meet April 9 in Durham, N.H. He also finished second in the long jump and third in the 110 hurdles.

The following week, in another home meet, HoddWells won the long jump with a leap of 20 feet, 6.5 inches.

"He has a lot of talent," Boulanger said. "He just has to get back into a good practice routine. He wants results now. He wants immediate gratification. He'll work very hard at it, but it will take a little time."

HoddWells graduated from Maranacook Community High School in 2008 and enrolled at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass.

However, he decided to transfer to UNH in the fall of 2009, saying he needed a change of scenery.

"It originally came down to UNH and Stonehill," HoddWells said. "I decided to go to Stonehill, but I wasn't happy there. I had to apply again and go from there. But I'm happy here. The competition is good and I'm finally healthy. It's nice to train and not be restricted by pain or the thought of hurting myself again."

HoddWells has two more years of eligibility remaining at UNH.

"He jumped over 47 feet with the hernia in the triple jump," Boulanger said. "We want to get him back to the 47-foot mark. The expectation is to get him back to the level he was at. We'd like to get him into the intermediate hurdles, too. He's definitely a big part of the team here."

Bill Stewart -- 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com