CARIBOU, Maine — Our team took to the lanes of Caribou High School this past Saturday, May 13 as week four of the PVC meet schedule brought the Aroostook County League and the teams from Ellsworth, Central of Corinth, and Piscataquis of Guilford together. Our kids faced their second straight week of unfavorable conditions in some cooler temps and gusting winds but despite this we still had plenty of breakthrough performances.
“Competing in weather like this can be difficult physically and mentally if you are trying to hit a qualifying time or smash through a new personal best. We’re very fortunate to have some amazingly talented athletes on this team and many were able to rise above the elements to set new best marks today,” said Houlton/GHCA assistant coach William Janakis.
The team continued their reduced event schedule for a second straight week, allowing students to focus on some of those events that they were trying to hit qualifying marks in. With just six athletes and the reduced events the girls team would still find a second overall place in the team standings with 75 points. PI would win the meet with a score of 152. The remaining results were 3. PCHS 73, 4. Caribou 64, 5. Central 63, 6. Fort Kent 37, 7. Fort Fairfield 34, 8. Ellsworth 30, and 9. MSSM 10.
James Brady, followed by teammate Landon Laferriere, had an incredible breakthrough performance in the 1,600, smashing his previous best by six seconds and earning a state qualifying time. (Contributed photo)
Teanne Ewings claimed a pair of wins in the 1,600 and 800 while Natalie Johnson picked up her second career win in the 3,200. Scoring for Houlton/GHCA was Ariana Ardell with 15 points – 100 sixth, 200 second, long jump third; Ewings 20 — 1,600 first, 800 first; Johnson 18 points — 1,600 second, 3,200 first; Leanne Ross 14 points – 1,600 third, 3.200 second; and Andrea Ross eight points — 1,600m fourth, 800 fourth. Grabbing non-scoring top 10 places was Amelia Drake 40010th and A. Ross in high jump T-8th.
Our boys squad posted some impressive improvements but fell shy of some scoring positions this meet. They too were working with a reduced event schedule so scoring opportunities were more uncommon than usual. Winning the meet was host Caribou with 197 points while Ellsworth came in second with 131. Rounding out the results were 3. Presque Isle 81, 4. MSSM 62, 5. Central 48, 6. Fort Fairfield 20, 7. Washburn 12, and T-8 Houlton/GHCA and Fort Kent 6.
James Brady, followed by teammate Landon Laferriere, had an incredible breakthrough performance in the 1,600, smashing his previous best by six seconds and earning a state qualifying time. (Contributed photo)
Scoring for the boys were the distance team of James Brady and Landon Laferriere. Both competed in the javelin, 1,600, and 800 with Brady placing fifth in each race for four points and Laferriere placing sixth in the races for two points. Earning non-scoring top 10 places was Brady in javelin ninth and Gavin Wright in shot put seventh.
Full results, including names, times, and places from the meet can be found here: https://me.milesplit.com/meets/551809-pvc-week-4-caribou-high-school-2023/results#.ZGI65uzMLt2.
The team travels back to Caribou on Friday, May 19 for the Aroostook County League championships and the conclusion of the regular season.
For the postseason we have had several of our kids hit qualifying marks for the PVC Small School Championship in Brewer on Saturday, May 27 and the Class C championship at Cony of Augusta on Saturday, June 3.
The middle school team will be in action this week in Presque Isle on Thursday, May 18 – check out results from their first meet here and the photo album here.
For more information, please check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/houltontrack.
