Track championships set today

ORONO – The second annual Maine USA Track and Field Open Championships will be held on Saturday at the University of Maine’s Clarence Beckett track complex with athletes from New England and eastern Canada expected to participate.

The racewalk will kick off the event at 11 a.m. and the hammer throw will open the field events at 11:30.

Anyone may register to compete and the entry fee on Saturday morning will be $5. American athletes must be members of the USATF and registration for membership will also be available.

University of Maine hammer thrower Andrew Oliver and Farmington’s Kevin Eastler, who is a racewalker, will attempt to qualify for the World Junior Championships in Lisbon, Portugal, later this month.

Among others headlining the list of entrants will be Gorham native Jeff Young, who has won several road races this year including the Greater Bangor Fourth of July 3K event; Glenburn’s Nate George, who will return to defend his title in the 100-meter dash and Middletown, R.I., native John Flis, who is the third ranked high school hammer thrower in the country.

The Don Peverada and Tom Sharpe Awards will be presented to the outstanding Maine male and female athletes and there will also be a club team championship award going to the Maine club that racks up the most points.

The event is sponsored by the USATF Association and the University of Maine’s track and field team. A total of 150 athletes participated in last year’s inaugural meet and several masters events will be included on this year’s docket.