Orono’s `Fab Five’ freshmen enjoying early track success

The Michigan Wolverines had their “Fab Five Freshmen.” The Orono High School track team has its “Fab Five Freshmen Females.”

Just as the University of Michigan used its talented freshman lineup dubbed the “Fab Five” to go all the way to the NCAA national basketball final, the Orono Red Riots are using their own group of freshmen to make some noise in the Penobscot Valley Conference this spring.

The members of the Fab Five Freshman Females are Amy Taylor, twins Jen Roberts and Laurie Roberts, Elizabeth Levy, and Annie Jaeckel.

“This is the best freshman class I’ve ever had,” said Bill Meehan, Orono girls track coach. “It’s the strongest by far since I started coaching here in 1987.”

The statistics bear out Meehan’s statement. All five freshman girls have been scoring valuable meet points in each of Orono’s three regular season meets to date.

Taylor has been the group’s standard bearer with three victories in each of the last two meets. She has run a leg of Orono’s winning 400-meter relay team and has also won the 100 dash and long jump.

Levy also notched a first, in the 300 hurdles, in the team’s third meet as well as a second in the 100 hurdles. Annie Jaeckel finished second in both the high and long jumps.

The Roberts twins also notched second-place finishes – Laurie in the 1,600 meters and Jen in the 800.

In fact, of the 20 first-through fourth-place finishes scored by the Orono girls in the third meet, 10 of those places were claimed by the five freshmen. In meet two, the reshmen took six of 12 places.

“They’re all well above what I expected out of them,” said Joe Gallant, Orono’s head track coach. “This is just a talented and mature group of young runners.”

Another sentiment echoed by both coaches has been the dedication shown by each athlete.

“They’re all very anxious to improve on their times and marks,” said Meehan. “They don’t just go through the motions.”

Here is a summary of the coaches’ comments about each runner:

Taylor: “She’s one of the most dedicated freshmen we have… goes the extra mile in practice.”

Jen Roberts: “She has a smooth running style.”

Laurie Roberts: “Very intense, lots of energy. She and her sister are both very competitive runners.”

Jaeckel: “Could be a great jumper. The high jump is her best event.”

Levy: “She picked right up wher she left off in indoor track. She’s done very well in the hurdles this year.”

As diverse as each girl’s talents and event specialties, each has one important thing in common: the desire to win and improve their performances.

“We all get along pretty well,” said Levy. “It’s a nice surprise to have all of us doing so well at the same time.”

“This is great,” agreed Taylor. “I think it kind of takes the pressure off you with everyone else doing equally well.”

The real pressure will begin with the postseason championship meets. Those are challenges that each girl is eagerly anticipating.

“They’re all just having fun and having a great season,” said Meehan.