A strong finish is Baldwin’s goal

How does an All-State soccer player and an East senior McDonald’s basketball all-star spend his off-season?

If the player happens to be Adam Baldwin from Nokomis High School in Newport, the answer is simple. There is no such thing as an off-season.

Baldwin has spent his last two springs as a member of the varsity track and field team. He switched from baseball to track after sustaining an arm injury his sophomore year.

It is a move he hasn’t regretted. In fact, his only regret is not having joined the track team sooner.

“That is one regret,” Baldwin said. “I think an extra year or two would probably have helped me… Although I didn’t really expect to do as well as I have.”

That’s not to say his junior and senior track seasons have been wasted. After running the 800-meter race most of last year, he switched to the long jump, 400, and both the 400 and 1600 relays.

The results have been dramatic.

Baldwin has gone from a one-event threat to a multi-dimensional point scorer for the Warriors.

He won the Penobscot Valley Conference championships in the long jump and 400, and has anchored Nokomis’ undefeated 1600 relay team (PVC and Eastern Maine Class A titles).

He will try to keep the Nokomis 1600 relay team’s record unblemished at Saturday’s Class A State Championship track and field meet at Thornton Academy in Saco.

The meet begins with the first field events at 10 a.m. Running events start a half hour later. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students (children).

Baldwin is seeded high in both the long jump and 400. His 1600 relay team is seeded second. The 400 relay team is a low seed.

The senior honor student can’t wait for the state meet to start. He’s hoping to make up for a disappointing Eastern meet last week, when he only managed a fourth-place finish in the long jump, but won the 400.

“He’s one of the best all-around competitors we’ve had here in awhile,” said Coach Dick Thompson. “He always bounces back. And when he does have a bad meet, look out the next time.”

If that’s the case, look for Baldwin to meet his goals of running the 400 in 52 seconds and jumping 21 feet in the long jump.

“I feel he’ll run below 52 seconds in the 400,” Thompson said. “He’s the type of kid who’s going to dig a little deeper in the late going. That’s what makes him such a great relay runner, while others might be willing to settle for less than first in a real tough race, he won’t even settle for second.”

Baldwin, who graduated seventh in his class at Nokomis (3.80 GPA), will move on to James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., next fall.

He hopes to continue playing either varsity basketball, his favorite sport, or soccer for the Dukes.

BOYS

Teams to watch – South Portland, Cheverus of Portland, Thornton Academy of Saco, Old Town, Cony of Augusta

Individuals to watch – Bangor: Ben Conrad (pole vault); Biddeford: Chris O’Brien (shot put, discus); Noble of South Berwick: Earl Morrill (javelin); Cony: Steve Blais (high jump, 110 hurdles); Thornton: Brent Raymond (high jump, triple jump); South Portland: Tyler Benz (high jump), Jere Link (300 hurdles), and Matt Olesen (triple jump); Medomak Valley of Waldoboro: Rob Dostie (long jump, triple jump, high jump); Mount Blue of Farmington: Jonah Tyler (100) and Jeremy Howard (3200); Cheverus: Justin Ward (200), Brian Turner (1600), and Ryan McCalmon (800, 1600); Bonny Eagle of West Buxton: Matt Stratton (400); Nokomis of Newport: Adam Baldwin (400, long jump) GIRLS

Teams to watch – Westbrook, Mount Ararat of Topsham, Cony

Individuals to watch – Brewer: Amy Winchester (shot put, discus, javelin); Westbrook: Dorothy Anthony (discus); Cony: Tricia Bean (javelin) and Cindy Morsehead (3200, 1600, 800); Portland: Maura Reagan (high jump); Deering of Portland: Susan Roderick (long jump, triple jump); Mount Ararat: Cuyler Goodwin (100, 400) and Leah Evans (1600); Thornton Academy: Vanessa Riordan (100 hurdles); Gardiner: Jenna Lavalle (300 hurdles, 200); Edward Little of Auburn: Jennifer LaChance (800)