If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make any noise? Laws of physics suggest it does.

Well, a similar question could be asked of Maine high school track and field records, but the answer there is not so easy.

If a state record is broken at a Maine track and field regular-season meet, and officials are around to witness it, the mark doesn’t make any noise.

That’s because in Maine there are no state records in track and field – there are only state meet records. Maine high school track athletes can only set a state record at one of two meets – a regional or state meet.

At a Penobscot Valley Conference meet in early May, Parker Pruett ran 1 minute, 57.8 seconds in the 800 meters, surpassing the Class C state record set in 1987. But the state mark of 1:58.3 set by Matt Crook of Maranacook stood because Crook set the record at a Class C regional or state meet.

However, in other states, athletes get more than two chances.

New Jersey high school statistician Ed Grant, who has served as a resource for national newspapers and magazines for 30 years, said in New Jersey and New York a state record set at any invitational or championship meet goes into the record books.

“It’s silly to bind a kid to the state meet,” Grant said. “If it’s a legitimate meet, and not a dual meet, it counts.”

But according to Mike Kennedy, the high school editor for Track and Field News, many states count the state meet record as the state record. So Maine is not unique. Although Kennedy added that states that have a track statistician are fortunate because they can boast of true state records.

Saturday, when Maine athletes compete in the state track and field championships, they’ll have their second and last chance this season to break a state record. The Class A state track meet will be held at 10 a.m. at Cony High in Augusta, the Class B meet will be at 10 a.m. at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, and the Class C meet will be at 10 a.m. at Hampden Academy.

As Maine’s top athletes chase state records, track and field coaches, athletes and fans have to wonder if state-record-holders can be considered the best ever in their event in the state when others have gone farther or faster.

Too much to do

Last weekend in the Eastern Maine Class C Championships, Pruett missed the state record in the 800 by a second, winning in 1:58.59. However, Pruett was on a mission to help Sumner High School of East Sullivan, which finished second, so the junior wasn’t concerned with setting records.

“It’s not frustrating,” said Pruett who also won the 1,600 and the 3,200 last week. “I’m not overly concerned with getting the record. If not this year, I’ll get it my senior year. In the states I may get it out of pure competition.”

Pruett said given the choice to accrue points for Sumner or put his name in the record books, he would serve his team any day.

“I think it’s great that I can run four events. If I could, I’d do more,” Pruett said. “I like doing more events because I stay relaxed. In cross country, I have so much to think about. In track, all the events keep my mind busy.”

Often stellar athletes on juggernaut teams compete in a number of events at the regional and state meet so their teams can vie for a team title. With multiple heats in some events, it’s often difficult for multievent stars to focus on breaking records.

Brewer’s Peter Phelan is one example of a multitalented athlete on a team chasing a state title. Saturday he will compete in four events to help Brewer attempt to follow its Class A indoor state title with an outdoor title. Phelan, like Pruett, is happy helping his team.

“I’d like to go for the state record,” Phelan said. “[But] I don’t know that I have the energy to jump 46 (feet) – and with the triple jump coming after three heats of the hurdles. Now, I’d rather go to work for the team.”

However, Brewer coach Dave Jeffrey said the number of events an athlete does makes little difference in their ability to break a record.

“Peter has a chance this Saturday to get the record,” Jeffrey said. “If I singled him in the triple jump, I don’t think it would matter. Obviously, in the distance events it might be different.”

Jeffrey said for Brewer, which does not hold a state record for boys or girls, state records are not a priority.

“I think state records should occur only out of competition,” Jeffrey said. “I have a problem with people that go for state records. If you perform as well as you can perform, you’ll get it.”

Fair or frustrating

Phelan said he is satisified with the system. And frustrated. And afraid to see change.

At an indoor meet, Phelan jumped 47 feet, 1/4-inch in the triple jump, surpassing the state meet mark of 44 3/4. While the jump didn’t count as the state record, Phelan set a state record of 45-11 3/4 at the Class A indoor state meet.

Phelan said it is limiting that athletes can only set a state record at one of two meets, but the benefit is that the record is guaranteed of being accurate because the conditions are the same for everyone.

“I wished I were at the state meet when I broke the record, I wished then the system was different,” Phelan said. “But I just set my goals and went for it at the state meet. That’s what it’s about. It’s not going to be handed to you on a silver platter.”

For the athletes who set state records, the achievement is like setting a school record – but on a larger scale. And when the conditions make the goal possible, it becomes a priority.

“Any time I go after a record like that, I really strive for it,” Phelan said. “Call me egotistical, but I want to go into the record books.”

When the Orono 4×100 relay squad of Craig Sidell, Aaron Gavett, Ralph Polk and Robbie Pyle came close to the outdoor state record in the first meet last season, they set out to break the mark in the state meet. And they did, running 44.6, breaking York’s 1985 record.

“During the first meet we found out we were close to the state record,” Orono coach Gerhard Skall said. “When you see that, the goal is to break it – especially in the state championship.”

Chance of change?

PVC meet director Mary Cady, who has scored and announced high school track meets for eight years, said finding officials to help at meets makes running track meets difficult. But the lack of officials is not the reason state records can be set only at two meets. Cady said it’s just the way the Maine Principals’ Association has made the rules.

“Basically, during the regular season there are different facilities all over the state; meets are run in different ways; you don’t always have qualified officials at local track meets,” Cady said. “It’s a way of standardizing the records. At the regional and state meets we’re all there together. It’s in a more controlled environment.”

And yet Cady recalls not too long ago when an athlete could only set a state record at the state meet, and not at the regional meet. She said that changed when people appealed to the MPA. So changes can occur.

But will the system of making and breaking state records ever change?

Jeffrey, president of the Maine Track and Field and Cross Country Association, said there is no better way than the present system to fairly determine state records.

“It’s a tough issue, but it’s not one that comes up very much,” Jeffrey said. “Everybody sees the pitfalls. If someone sets it at a site and it is accurate and real – but sometimes it’s not. Do you really want that to be the record?”