ELLSWORTH, Maine — Saturday proved to a be good day at the track for many Houlton and Greater Houlton Christian Academy athletes as the squads competed at Ellsworth High School.
A week after pulling off a double victory in the 100 and 200 meter events, Houlton senior captain Mia Hanning established new personal bests in each of the four events (100, 200, long jump and shot put) she competed in and subsequently set new school records in each, according to coach Chris Rines.
Tessa Solomon continued to solidify her standing as a top javelin thrower in Class C in just her first season competing with the Shires. The junior found herself in yet another round of finals for the throwing event. Solomon and three others were the only girls out of 40 to throw past the 90-foot mark, which was facing into a strong head wind, Rines said. She finished in fourth place.
The Houlton girls 4×100 team rose to the occasion and was able to set a new school record at the meet as well. Members of the team were senior starter Delaney Despres, freshmen Emmalyne Drake and Emma Ardell, and Hanning. Their time of 56.58 seconds was good enough for third place.
The Houlton boys continue to improve with several competitors also hitting their personal bests in various events. Daniel McNally, Miguel Jimenez, Justin Cook all hit the sub 13 second mark in the 100 meter for the first time of their careers, while Drew Foley and Brandon Roshto both had low 13 second readings in the same event, the coach said.
The GHCA squads competed in several new events.
“The usually long-distance minded relay teams dipped down into a 4×400 meter relay event to allow for more rest going into their individual events earlier in the meet,” Rines said. “Typically, both boys and girls GHCA relay teams will run in the 4×800 which is at the start of the meet and this will tire them out early on so when they get to their 1,600 or 800 later on, they’ve already had a toll taken on their legs.”
This time around the coach let them hit their individual events head-on with fresh legs and it seemed to work well for them. The strategy paid off as nearly every GHCA student set personal bests in at least one of their events.
Current state qualifiers for GHCA are Grace Graham, Teagan Ewings, Bridget Hill, Cole Winslow, and Wesley Ganglfinger.
“This is the largest group of state qualifiers from the school ever,” Rines added.
In Ellsworth, Graham and Ganglfinger (1,600) and Winslow (300 hurdle) set personal bests.
Hodgdon’s Shawn Flemming, Joel Bond, Jillian and Jeannelle Ross also had several personal bests in their events.
“Bond continues to push the pace in the distance races constantly keeping his name in the mix of some of the best runners in Class C alongside GHCA counterpart Wesley Ganglfinger,” Rines said. “Flemming hit new personal records in the 200 and long jump and the Ross sisters did excellent in their events despite heavy competition but still also managed to set personal bests in the 800.”
The group will next compete Thursday in Presque Isle.
