BANGOR, Maine – It was a perfect storm of circumstances heading into the 76th New England Interscholastic Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday, June 10 for Houlton’GHCA’s Teanne Ewings.
The weather was prime for running events. A slight overcast to keep the sun at bay, cool temps, and next to zero wind all culminated for ideal conditions. Add in the proximity of Bangor, the familiarity with Cameron Stadium, the caliber of competition, and experience with three previous New England championship events; the stage was set for some truly incredible times for all.
“Everything heading into championship weekend was as good as it could be. Practices were on point and high quality, aches and pains were little to none – training, rest, nutrition all lined up better than any week we’ve had during our regular season. Teanne was ready for a big day, and she did not disappoint,” said Houlton/GHCA head coach Chris Rines.
Houlton/GHCA’s Teanne Ewings chases behind York’s Cary Drake in the final stretch of the 1,600 at the New England championship on Saturday at Cameron Stadium in Bangor. Ewings came in third in 4:56.23, a new personal, school, Aroostook League, PVC, and Class C record. (Contributed photo)
Ewings would finish her 1,600 in a new personal, school, Aroostook League, PVC, and Class C record of 4 minutes, 56.23 seconds, a time that is roughly six seconds ahead of her previous best. The time also places Ewings as the No. 4 all-time fastest Maine high school girl ever at the distance. Overall, she would take third place in the event and earn All-New England status.
Ewings was part of a trio of Maine girls who were able to go sub five minutes and finish 2-3-4 in the event. York’s Cary Drake who ran in the second heat with Ewings finished just ahead of her with her time of 4:55.35 while Orono’s Ruth White would run to fourth place from the first heat of the event with her effort of 4:58.65.
In Ewings’ secondary event, the 800, we saw another very competitive field take to some incredible opening times. She would race in the first heat of the event and certainly rose to the level with a 1:10 opening lap, nine other competitors were all within the 1:09 to 1:11 range at the end of 400 meters. In the closing meters of the race Ewings would pour on the last strides of her season with an incredible burst of speed and finish with a new PR of 2:22.93.
“Teanne has had an incredible sophomore year and for an athlete at her level, new personal best times are hard to come by and not always guaranteed. She went all season hovering above her freshman stats and sometimes those barriers become a lot more mental than they ever are physical,” Rines added. “I was really happy to see her progress and mature in her running this season and was elated for her and what she accomplished at New Englands.”
Full girls results – http://www.sub5.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/negirls2023.htm.
Race video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG6IOezRmK4&t=15732s. Ewings’ heat of the girls 1,600 is at 2:43:18 of the video, her heat in the 800 is at 4:14:45 of the video.
Photo album – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.278363988065232&type=3.
