Several senior athletes have led the way this season
CARIBOU, Maine — It’s been another fine season for the Viking track and field teams, which wind up their season Saturday at the Class C state meet in Dover-Foxcroft.
This is Caribou’s first year competing in the Class C ranks after spending the last several years in Class B.
“Personally, I have missed the relationships and the rivalries that we have developed in Class B throughout the years,” said veteran coach Roy Alden. “However in the long term, our students will have a much better chance competing against schools their own size.”
The Vikes got a taste of that Saturday by competing in the Penobscot Valley Conference small school championships, placing second among boys’ teams and third in girls.
The boys’ team has been led by several athletes, including seniors Richard Newland and Chathu Karunasiri and sophomore Evan Desmond.
Newland competes in the high jump, the triple jump, the long jump, the 400 and the 800, while Karunasiri is a distance running specialist and Desmond also runs distances races and is one of the top racewalkers in the region.
“Richard has been an excellent leader all season and by moving up in the 800 and the 4×800 has really helped the team, while Chathu is a workhorse and is coming on at the right time. Evan has performed extremely well all season and is seeded No. 1 in the state in the racewalk.
Alden said Nic Sleeper and Brandon Manter, both sophomores, are throwers who have worked extremely hard in the weight room and “are getting their technique down so they can develop into strong state class athletes.”
The Caribou boys have also excelled in the pole vault, with sophomores Cory Jandreau and Evan Michaud and senior Matt Caron all clearing 10 feet or more in recent meets.
“This group doesn’t have two or three extremely strong athletes, but instead has several who are willing to work hard in practice everyday and make the most of their talents,” Alden said.
For the girls, senior Eileen Patton was the team’s strongest athlete but was lost to a knee injury incurred at the Aroostook League Championships. She did the javelin, both hurdling events and the pole vault and was seeded in the top seven in the state in all four events.
Her absence hurts, but Caribou still has senior Maria Espinosa, another hurdler who also does the pole vault and competes on relay teams and has put together “an outstanding season,” according to Alden.
Sophomore JoJo Fields is one of the fastest girls in the PVC and she won the 100 hurdles at the PVCs. She also competes in the 100-meter dash, the 200 and the long jump and is a contributor in relays.
Alexis Rodriguez and Willow Whitten are freshmen who have also put together fine seasons — Rodriguez in distance events and Whitten in the hurdles and the 400.
Junior Madeline Gudde does the 800, junior Kendra Furber the racewalk, discus and pole vault; and Emma Belyea the racewalk and some throwing events.
“The girls have been able to be successful in a variety of events, with sprinting and hurdling the two strongest areas,” Alden said. “Losing Eileen really hurt, but we have a number of good freshmen and sophomores which makes the future promising.”
Alden is hoping his squad can finish strong this weekend.
“We need our athletes to be focused, and realize that all they have to do is be them themselves and that will allow them to be their best,” said the coach. “We hope to have some pretty strong relay teams and see improvement in key events that will make us competitive as a team.”
