DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine — Coming into Saturday’s state Class C track and field championships, Tim Glatter was hoping he could produce a solid showing and maybe earn a spot on the winner’s podium.
Glatter did all that and more as the home-schooled senior who competes with the Houlton track and field team, threw a personal best 143-feet, 5-inches in the javelin event to capture the state championship.
“Tim waited patiently throughout the meet to get his chance to compete as javelin was slated as one of the last events of the day,” Houlton coach Chris Rines said. “He had encouraged and cheered on his teammates all morning and afternoon.”
His first throw resulted in a fault, his first of the year. Glatter chalked up that misfire to a case of the jitters, which he managed to turn into positive energy for his second throw — a toss of 141-feet. As it turns out, that toss alone would have been enough for him to win the state title, as no other athlete exceeded that distance.
“Having the longest mark for the call back meant Tim threw last and he was able to see and hear the other six throwers before him,” Rines said. “No other boy threw for more than 140 feet on the day, the closest coming in at 139-9. Tim took advantage of his last throw to further solidify his eventual championship.”
“To be honest, I couldn’t see through the tears, I was so happy,” Glatter said of his third and final throw. “I don’t know where it came from.”
By winning the state championship, Glatter is an automatic qualifier for the New England Track and Field championships scheduled for Saturday in Norwell, Massachusetts.
There is something about the track-and-field facility at Foxcroft Academy that appeals to Glatter.
“There is something about the wind, it comes from behind and pulls the javelin forward,” he said. “For states, though, it was more of a left-to-right wind. But I feel pretty confident throwing in the wind.”
Glatter has been competing in javelin for the past three years. He also competes in the other throwing events (shot put and discus), and has tried some of the running events, but he keeps coming back to the javelin.
“Coach always says each athlete has a specialty event that we always spend more time on and work harder on,” he said. “For me, that event is the javelin.”
Glatter said the mechanics of throwing a javelin are such that one does not have to be the strongest athlete to enjoy success in the event.
“I am not the strongest guy,” he said. “The javelin comes down to sheer technique.”
“It was quite a day for our small squad of Houlton and [Greater Houlton Christian Academy] students at the Class C state meet,” Rines said. “We brought down seven of the nine who had qualified for states. Of those seven, four of them placed well enough to find the podium and take home some medals.”
Seniors Hannah Foley and Mackenzie Hunt, who had qualified, elected to participate in their senior trip instead of the state track meet, the coach explained.
Other highlights from the day were:
Greater Houlton Christian Academy’s Wesley Ganglfinger finished 12th in the 1,600 meter race with a time of 4:57.64 — which was a new personal best. “Wes ran an excellent time despite competing among a very talented and competitive first heat.”
Houlton’s Mia Hanning placed eighth in the 100 meter (time not reported) and was seventh in the 200 (28.21). “Mia ran her way into her first ever call back to the girls 100 finals at the state championship,” Rines said. “At first, we were unsure but when only seven names were announced we decided to investigate further and sure enough she had just barely made it in by one one-hundredth of a second over 9th place. She improved her time in the finals, however her place would remain the same.”
GHCA’s Teagan Ewings placed seventh in the 1,600 (5:52.21, a personal best). “Teagan had been battling with the six-minute mark all season and just nearly missed going sub six a few weeks ago,” Rines said. “I’m happy to say not only did she run under six, she ran so well in the slower heat of girls that she knocked out some of the girls in the fast heat and claimed her spot on the podium.”
Houlton’s Isaiah Brown placed fourth in the 1,600 (4:38.16) and was also fourth in the 3,200 (10:13.17). “The distance runner had set new personal bests just five days earlier at the PVC championship,” Rines said. “He was able to repeat the process in both events again on Saturday. He lowered his own personal best and modern school records in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter to blisteringly fast 4:38.16 and 10:13.17 respectfully. To [get a personal record] twice, in two events, in five days is just truly incredible.”
GHCA’s Cole Winslow competed in the 110 hurdles; and Austin Brown participated in the 100, 200 and high jump.
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- Houlton High School and Greater Houlton Christian Academy medalists at the state Class C championships Saturday in Dover-Foxcroft were, from left, Mia Hanning (7th in 200), Isaiah Brown (4th in 1,600 and 3,200), coach Chris Rines, Tim Glatter (state champ, javelin), and Teagan Ewings (7th in 1,600). (Contributed/Julie Winslow)
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- Houlton’s Austin Brown competes in the high jump at Saturday’s state Class C championships at Foxcroft Academy. (Contributed)
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- Houlton’s Isaiah Brown, left, edged Sacopee Valley’s Troy Hendricks at the finish to grab fourth place in the 1,600 meter event Saturday. (Stuart Hedstrom)
