Caribou High School over the years has built a legacy of success in high school track and field, and this year’s team is no exception, as proven by the Aroostook League titles they captured Thursday.
Head coaches Roy Alden and Todd Alley, along with assistant coaches P.J. Gorneault and Evan Graves, once again have fostered great interest and excitement in their program. Their enthusiasm and expertise has proven to be contagious, and the Viking athletes are performing at very high levels.
The girls track squad is undefeated on the season, while the boys’ team has only one loss. With 65 athletes participating between the two squads, Caribou has built a level of depth that very few schools of their size are able to match.
“Our strong distance program, hurdlers, and race walkers are making us one of the stronger teams in the Penobscot Valley Conference,” Alden explained. “We will rely on strong relay teams to score points in the championship meets.”
While all of the athletes are putting in strong efforts, Alden noted that several have stood out.
“Dominic Judd has had a tremendous season demonstrating outstanding athleticism. He is one of the top jumpers and hurdlers in the state. Mitchell St. Peter is also having an outstanding season and is ranked currently as one of the top two or three race-walkers in the state. Distance runners Chathu Karunasiri and Elija Verhoff also are having an excellent seasons,” Alden said.
“Sarah Doak is one of our strongest girls distance runners. She has had a wonderful season – she has qualified provisional in the 1,600, 3,200, and triple jump. Madeline Gudde has been a great addition to our team as a sophomore. She has been able to qualify provisionally in the 800 and qualified for PVCs in the 1,600,” he added. “Other individuals who are having strong seasons are Eileen Patton and JoJo Fields. Eileen has done a great job developing the skills to be an outstanding hurdler and JoJo is becoming a very good sprinter.”
Alden said others have also been part of the amazing run of success.
“The kids have really stepped their game up,” he said. “They have been working as hard in practice as they would in a meet and we are very proud of them.”
Participating for the Vikings this year are freshmen Margeaux Beaulieu in the 100 dash, 100 hurdles, high and long jump; Calli Brown in the 100 dash, 200 dash and discus; Ashley Conroy in the shot put, discus and javelin; Evan Desmond in the 1,600 run, the 3,200 run and 1,600 walk; Meagan Dube in the 100 dash, 200 dash, 400 dash, shot put and discus; Mickayla Ellis in the 100 dash and 200 dash; JoJo Fields in the 100 dash, 200 dash, 400 dash, 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles; and Antwane Gear in the shot put and discus.
Also, Sarae Greenier in the 800 run, the 1,600 run and the 3,200 run; Apollo Grondin in the 100 dash, 200 dash, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles and long jump; Cory Jandreau in the 400 dash, 800 run, pole vault and javelin; Adessa Judd in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump and triple jump; Brandon Manter in the shot put, discus and javelin; Liam McMillon in the 100 dash, 200 dash, 400 dash, 800 run and 1,600 walk; Evan Michaud in the 400 dash, 800 run, pole vault and javelin; and Calvin Mockler in the 100 dash, 200 dash and long jump.
Also, Rachel Ring in the shot put, discus and javelin; Nic Sleeper in the 200 dash, shot put, discus and javelin; Bridget St. Pierre in the 100 hurdles, triple jump, shot put and discus; and Alex Tauer in the 300 hurdles and Javelin.
The sophomore participants include Nick Alfaro in the 100 dash, 200 dash, 800 run, discus and javelin; Emma Belyea in the 1600 run, 1600 walk, discus and javelin; Austin Brown in the shot put, discus, and javelin; Bryce Coffin in the 1,600 run the 1,600 walk, and javelin; Kendra Furber in the 1,600 walk, pole vault, discus and javelin; Shane Furber in the discus and javelin; and Madeline Gudde in the 400 dash, 800 run and 1,600 run.
Also, Dominic Judd in the 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump, pole vault and long jump; Erin Kashian in the shot put, discus and javelin; Lance Lagasse in the shot put, discus and javelin; Kristyn Maley in the 800 run, shot put, discus and javelin; Kerrigan Manter in the 100 dash, high jump long jump, and triple jump; Victor Mendez in the 100 dash, 200 dash and 400 dash; Julia Page in the 800 run, the 1,600 run and the 3,200 run; Nick Pelletier in the shot put , discus and javelin; and Josh Verhoff in the 100 dash, 200 dash and 400 dash.
The junior class includes Ashton Beaver in the pole vault; Matt Caron in the 100 dash, pole vault and triple jump; Lucas Doucette in the 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, long jump and javelin; Sarah Draper in the shot put, discus and javelin; Maria Espinosa in the 100 dash, 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and pole vault; Ben Ezzy in the 100 dash, 200 dash, and long jump; Kate Finnimore in the 400 dash, 800 run and 1,600 walk; Maura Freme in the 400 dash, 800 run and 1,600 walk; and Caleb Hunter in the 1,600 run and the 3,200 run.
Also, David Hunter in the 200 dash, 400 dash, 800 run, 1,600 run and 3,200 run; Chathu Karunasiri in the 1,600 run and 3,200 run; Lukas Lagasse in the 800 run, 1,600 run, 3,200 run and 1,600 walk; Tsion Macleod in the 400 dash, 800 run, 1,600 run and 3,200 run; Riley McDuffie in the 100 dash, 200 dash, pole vault, shot put, discus and javelin; Reagan Michaud in the pole vault, shot put, discus and javelin; Eileen Patton in the 100 dash, 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles; and Elijah Verhoff in the 100 dash, 400 dash, 800 run, 1,600 run and long jump.
A strong senior class is represented by Simona Amerio in the 400 dash, 1,600 walk, long jump, shot put and javelin; Lauren Chapman in the 400 dash, 3,200 run and pole vault; Sarah Doak in the 400 dash, 800 run, 1,600 run, 3,200 run, long jump and triple jump; Austin Griffeth in the 200 dash, high jump, long jump, triple jump, discus and javelin; Nerissa Larrabee in the 1,600 run, 3,200 run, high jump and javelin; Robyn Larrabee in the 3,200 run; Richard Newland in the 100 dash, 200 dash, 400 dash, high jump and triple jump; Kaitlyn Ring in the 100 dash, 200 dash, long jump and triple jump; and, Mitchell St. Peter in the 800 run and 1,600 walk.
