The second-year Houlton High School track and field team has been formed with a strong number of participants.
“Things are looking good,” said Houlton coach Chris Rines. “The response from the student body and parents has been very positive.”
The Houlton High track and field squad will have 25 competitors (11 girls, 13 boys) on its final roster, along with GHCA student Wesley Ganglfinger.
“With all the snow right now, we have only been able to practice outside for just small periods of time,” Rines explained. “Most of our first week was learning a lot of technique. This is new to just about every kid so learning the events has been our primary goal.”
The track and field team has not been able to complete any event 100 percent yet because of the snow on the ground.
“Our concentration is mainly on taking all the necessary steps so when the snow is gone we are ready to go full blast,” said Rines.
The team has been dedicating a large core of time to workouts and plyometric circuits.
“We don’t see much time in the gym, but most of what we can do can be done in the hallways and cafeteria,” Rines said. “The throwers are in the school’s weight room putting in there reps and working on their technique for when they can go outside.”
The Houlton track and field schedule opens on Friday, April 24 at Bangor High School.
“I believe we have kids in every event except pole vaulting,” Rines noted. “It is an incredibly technical event that requires very expensive equipment and has heavy MPA regulations on weight reporting and equipment inspection. There was also not enough interest from our athletes to do it.”
Volunteers helping Rines this season are Heidi Warman (Houlton cross-country assistant); Tim Tweedie (Houlton varsity girls soccer coach); and Francis Frederick (Houlton High School football assistant).
The remaining schedule for the track team is as follows: Friday, May 1 at Caribou; Saturday, May 9 at MDI; Friday, May 15 at Presque Isle; Friday, May 22, County Championship at Presque Isle; Friday, May 29, PVC Small School championships at Foxcroft Academy; and state championships, Saturday, June 6 in Yarmouth.
