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Any member of the University of Maine track and field team will tell you that it’s not about how you start, but how you finish. Despite reeling off a number of awe-inspiring individual performances during the indoor season, the Black Bear men and women couldn’t hold it together as a team when they competed for the America East conference championship this weekend at Boston University.
The women finished the first day of competition in seventh place, with every reason to be worried. Sophomore standout Jesse Labreck had been seeded second in the women’s 55-meter hurdles, a chic pick to take home the crown and set the tone for the following day, but she failed to make it out of the qualifying round when she caught a hurdle and got out of rhythm.
The final round failed to break eight seconds, as top-seeded freshman Nikko Brady of Boston University coasted to a win in 8.04 on top of her long jump victory, which earned her the Most Outstanding Rookie award.
As a testament to performances being about how you finish, Labreck came back for day two on a mission. Seeded first in two other events, she brought home first in the high jump (5-08), tying a conference record in the process, and second place in the triple jump (40-02.75), kicking in 18 points to the team effort en route to winning the Most Outstanding Field Performer award, cementing her status as one of the best female athletes in the conference.
The women’s team held its ground on day one and qualified six athletes for finals in four different events the next day, including sophomore Jill O’Brien, who broke the 55-meter dash record with a 7.19 second sprint in the preliminary heats.
The qualifiers did not disappoint, as the lady Black Bears went 5-6-7 in the 55 to score crucial points in a closely contested meet.
In the 200, freshman Cearha Miller ran 24.43, good for second place overall and a new UMaine record.
“To set a school record is exciting and nerve racking all at the same time because even though I set the record I know I can go harder and faster, especially with the former record holder running by my side pushing me to be better in all my races,” Miller said.
Senior Ally Howatt, former dual record holder in the 55 and 200-meter dashes, took fourth in the 400 with her season best time of 56.86.
UMaine’s heavy hitters in the distance events, fronted by sophomore Corey Conner, played a key role in Maine’s impressive showing. Conner laid down a 4:49.67 in the mile run, bringing home the conference crown and besting a school record held by University of Maine director of academic support for student athletes Ann (England) Maxim for the last 25 years.
UMaine ended the day with 106 points, climbing to fourth place, where pre-season polls predicted they would finish.
The men finished day one in fifth place after junior James Berry took second in the pole vault at a record-tying 15-09 and freshman Jamie Ruginski leaped 23-04 to nab third place in the long jump. They also qualified four athletes in three events.
Senior Landis Williams made the most of his qualification, winning the men’s 55-meter dash in 6.46 seconds and keeping the Black Bears competitive.
Riley Masters, as expected, pulled off a major performance following his sub-four mile last weekend. Masters won the 3,000-meter run in 8:14.66, showing the entire conference why he deserved his Most Outstanding Rookie award from one year ago and letting them know the best is yet to come.
“Right now we’re focusing on getting into nationals. There are a few last chance meets for the people who have hit the provisional times. Hopefully I can get into a fast race. We are looking at meets in New York, Washington and at Notre Dame.”
Sophomore Jimmy Reed finished second in the 55-meter hurdles in 7.64, tying the record held by his father for the second week in a row.
“Having run 7.64 the past two weeks has been a bit frustrating. I seem to have hit a little bit of a barrier,” Reed said. “I just need to keep pushing and attacking the hurdles and getting my lead leg down quick. If I can do that I think I can hit around 7.5, and with some really good competition at New Englands and IC4A’s, I think it can happen.”
The men’s team reached as high as third place as the meet progressed, buoyed by performances by senior Miles Bartlett (third in the 800, 1:52.00) and freshman Jadrien Cousens (second in the high jump, 6-06), but they were done in by the lack of depth the University at Albany used to claim the men’s and women’s titles. The Black Bears ultimately fell to sixth place with 84 points, where preseason polls also predicted they would land.
“It’s kind of disappointing, but we were right in the mix of things. A few more points and we would’ve had fourth, and we would’ve gotten those points if we hadn’t suffered some freak injuries,” said senior captain Corey Bean.
The Black Bears will be in the mix of things next weekend as they head back to Boston University for the third meet in a row, the New England Championships. The meet begins on Feb. 26 at 3 p.m.
