The University of Maine track and field team competed against the University of New Hampshire (UNH) in a home meet on Saturday, Feb. 13. The women came away with a victory against the Wildcats, while the men finished second.
The women took first place, amassing 103 points to UNH’s 59. Second-year Jaclyn Masters was the first woman to win her event, once again winning the pole vault with an outstanding 3.8 meter effort. Her nearest Wildcat competitor was a full meter and a half behind her.
Immediately after the pole vault, first-year Ariel Clachar and third-year Grace MacLean took first and second place respectively in the long jump. With Clachar’s first-place jump of 5.39 meters and MacLean’s second place 5.32 meters, both women broke the facility record that had been put in place by MacLean last year at 5.29 meters. MacLean instantly returned to action and placed first in the high jump, reaching 1.7 meters.
The women dominated the 400-meter dash, finishing first through third. Third-year Teal Jackson came in first with a final time of 58.39 seconds. After her, second-year Grace Macura finished in 59.06 and was the only other finisher to complete the event in under one minute. Second-year Synclaire Tasker finished third at 1:00.23.
Masters returned to take first place in the 60-meter hurdles, finishing at 7.86 seconds. UNH’s first-year Jessica Hackett finished second, but was followed by Maine’s first-year Lauren Magnuson at 8.05 seconds.
Second-year Kaitlin Saulter won the 600-meter run, finishing an amazing seven seconds before her nearest rival, UNH’s second-year Lauren Brady. Saulter’s 1:37.27 was easily enough to take five points for the Black Bears.
The 800-meter run was another landslide win for Maine, with fourth-year Shannon O’Neil and third-years Kelsey Maxim and Ahlin Sungsuwan taking the top three positions. O’Neil and Maxim finished nearly simultaneously, with O’Neil taking first at 2:17.57 and Maxim following her only .05 seconds later at 2:17.62. Sungsuwan followed closely at 2:20.34.
Masters gained her third first-place position of the day when she won the 200-meter dash by crossing the finish line at 25.78. Magnuson gained another three points for Maine when she finished less than a second later at 26.4 seconds.
The 3,000-meter run was another strong event for Maine, with fourth-year Annabelle Wilson completing the event first at 10:41.09. First-year Hope Gardner finished second at 11:05.81, gathering the top two places and a total of eight points for Maine.
Maine finished the day strong, with their 4×400-meter relay team earning first place. The team consisted of MacLean, Jackson, Tasker and second-year Alexis Dietrich. Their total time of 4:06.42 was easily sufficient to beat UNH’s time of 4:17.33.
The men’s team finished second to UNH, losing by a narrow margin of 15 points with a total of 75 to 90.
It was a competitive day for the men, who placed highly in multiple events. Third-year Assad Hicks earned first place for Maine in the high jump, reaching 2.04 meters. He was followed by fourth-year Tyler Martin who finished at 1.99 meters. Second-year Steven Longfellow won the triple jump at 41-11.25, beating out UNH’s first-year Alex Bice.
In the mile, Orach’s powerful performance of 4:19.84 gained him second place, with UNH’s first-year Brett Hoerner narrowly earning first place.
Fourth-year Michael Lucas won the 400-meter run, finishing at 50.58 seconds, a solid half-second ahead of UNH’s first competitor.
The 800-meter run was won by Maine’s fourth-year Jake Leithiser, who completed the race at 1:53.72, a full five seconds ahead of second place.
The 3,000-meter race was a Maine runaway, with the top eight contestants all coming from Maine. The top three consisted of third-year Levi Frye (8:35.44), third-year Justin Tracy (8:36.52) and second-year Joshua Horne (8:38.20).
Maine’s ‘A’ team won the 4×400-meter relay by over six seconds, clocking in at 3:21.20. The team consisted of Lucas, Leithiser, Martin and first-year Tucker Corbett.
Next Friday, Maine will travel to New York to compete in the America East Championships.
