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The University of Maine track team saw its first official action of the outdoor season this weekend as they traveled to the University of New Hampshire for the Wildcat Invite.
While the meet was non-scoring, the Black Bears notched several impressive victories. In the grueling 10,000-meter race (6.2 miles), fourth-year distance runner Chuck Therriault took the top spot in 33:05.90.
In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Miles Bartlett, who placed second at New England in the event last season, won in 9:35.33.
One of the great performances of the day came from fifth-year captain Donny Drake in the 1500-meter run.
“Donny hasn’t run Outdoor for two years because of nagging injuries, and he still came back and ran 3:59 and got third place, which is outstanding – definitely one of the highlights,” said second-year distance runner Brendan Carr.
The men’s 4×400 team was victorious as well, going 3:24.55. The vaunted women’s 4×400 team was not as successful, settling for second place behind Holy Cross in a time of 4:04.61.
Allyson Howatt, the second-year sprinter known for her dominance in the 200-meter dash during the indoor season, ran the 100-meter dash this weekend and finished at the top in 11.93 seconds. Howatt has not run the 200-meter yet this outdoor season – she ran the 100-meter at Northridge as well – and has not indicated one way or another if the switch is permanent.
As predicted, third-year sprinter Vicki Tolton and fourth-year sprinter Lindsay Burlock finished back-to-back again in the 400-meter dash, taking the top two spots. Tolton finished in 56.99 seconds, just shy of her record-setting performance a few weeks ago; Burlock finished a moment later in 57.72 seconds.
Vanessa Letourneau came in second in the 800-meter run in 2:20.23.
“I did not run my best time at all, even though I placed second,” Letourneau said. “It was a little disappointing, but I know I can do better.”
One of the meet’s more notable performances came from UMaine club track team-thrower Matt Harmon. Harmon led all throwers from UMaine in the shotput with a heave of 40-7.75 feet. The throw was good for seventh place, providing a tremendous boost for Invictus’ confidence.
“If people see that a club team member could beat some of the guys on the [varsity] team, maybe more people will come out for the club,” Harmon said.
Beginning during the indoor season, Harmon set a somewhat lofty goal for himself in the shotput.
“It started back at the Maine Open. I really wanted to beat Josh Mimmovich, because he’s the best shotputter on the Maine team,” Harmon said. “The way I was throwing at the end of indoor, I figured that I could give him a run for his money.”
Harmon’s loft was more than enough to beat Mimmovich’s throw of 39-00.25 feet.
UMaine’s first scheduled meet of the season, a dual meet against UNH, was canceled last weekend because of unfit conditions for competition.
Maine’s next meet is split squad. On April 12, some runners will be competing at UNH while others will travel to Baton Rouge, LA for the Tiger Invitational at LSU. Invictus’ next meet is also on April 12 at Colby College in Waterville.
Bangor Daily News