Hampden Academy hurdler finished the season in style

He doesn’t look like a hurdler or a jumper – no long, spindly legs or tall, gangling frame. But Hampden Academy’s Ron Lamie has established himself as one of the top high school hurdlers in Eastern Maine.

If not for early-season back trouble and a mid-season ankle sprain, he probably would be one of the top jumpers as well.

His long-jumping troubles aside, Lamie’s surprising comeback from his injuries near the end of the regular season, and his winning efforts in the post-season have earned him the designation as Midweek’s Athlete of the Month.

Despite being dogged by injuries all season, Lamie put it all together in a relatively short time to qualify for three events in the Eastern Maine championship meet – the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles, and the 1,600-meter relay.

“Everybody was surprised how I was able to come back so well,” said Lamie. “I hadn’t qualified in anything before my injuries, and I only had two meets to do it before the end of the season.”

So much for suspense. Lamie qualified for all three events in late May during his first meet after returning from his injury.

The Hampden junior didn’t stop there. He won the 110 hurdles, finished second in the 300 hurdles, and was third in the long jump in the Penobscot Valley Conference Championships.

Then it was on to the Easterns. Lamie did even better as he won both the 110 and 300 hurdles. His 1,600-meter relay team finished third. His coaches kept him out of the long jump in the regular season to prevent him from re-injuring his ankles, so he was not able to qualify for the Easterns or the state meet in that event.

“I didn’t mind,” Lamie said. “It let me concentrate more on my other events.”

At last Saturday’s state meet in Orono, Lamie finished fifth in the 110 and seventh in the 300 hurdles. His 1,600 relay team placed sixth.

“He’s done very well,” said David King, Hampden’s head track coach. “I’m sure his times would be even better than they are now if not for the setbacks.”

The season went about as well as Lamie expected. He was extremely pleased with his progress in spite of the injury problems. So were his coaches.

“He’s really come along in good shape,” said Kathy King, Hampden’s hurdling coach.”

King said Lamie needs to improve in the 300 hurdles. She said he second-guesses himself too much and has yet to find a rhythm (step count) in the event.

His technique in the 110 hurdles, however, does not need much work. “Technically, I think he’s one of the best hurdlers in Class B,” said King. “He’s hampered by his size, but what really carries him is his courage and aggressiveness.”

“In terms of courage, willingness, and desire, I’ve never seen anyone better,” added David King.

Lamie said he is already looking forward to next spring. He hopes to break the 42-second barrier in the 300 hurdles after running a 42.3 in the Easterns. He also wants to break Alan Baldwin’s school records in the 110 and 300 hurdles and in the long jump.

“I used to come and watch some meets when my sister (Brenda Sheehan) and Alan Baldwin were on the team,” said Lamie. “Watching him was what made me decide to do the hurdles.”

There’s obviously a lot of athletic talent in Lamie’s family. Sheehan was a standout athlete for Hampden in the late 1980s and holds the state outdoor record in the triple jump. She hit 36 feet, 9 3/4 inches in 1987.

Will Lamie add another state record to the family collection?

Let’s just say it is certainly one of his goals.