Audra Curtis of Belfast and Cassie Hintz of Old Town are both just 13 years old, but they are already old pros when it comes to winning state titles.

Curtis and Hintz will be chasing more state titles – and state records – in the Maine USA Track & Field youth state meet Saturday in Augusta. The meet begins at 9 a.m.

Curtis, who earned her third USA Track and Field Jr. Olympics national crown last month, will compete in the 1500 meter racewalk. She will try to lower her own state record of 7 minutes, 40 seconds, which she set last week at the qualifying meet in Brewer.

Hintz will aim for victories in the 800, 1500 and 3000. She already owns the 3000 mark, courtesy of the 11:09 she ran last week in Brewer, so she will be focusing on claiming the 1500 and 800 records.

Curtis, a five-time state champion in the racewalk, is coming off a dominating victory in the 3000 in the 13-to-14-year-old division in the national meet July 25 in Sacramento. There she clocked 15:33.46, over a minute ahead of her nearest competitor.

Curtis credits much of her success to the support she receives from the close-knit Maine racewalking community. She was just one of six Maine athletes who earned All-American honors at the national championships.

“There’s a large community of different people and all the older racewalkers help you train,” she said.

Among Curtis’ colleagues are Anne Favolise of Narraguagus of Harrington, who placed second in the 17-to-18-year-old 5000 in 27:30.42. Ben Shorey of Ellsworth High was the runner-up in the 17-to-18-year-old 5000 (22:18.10).

Adam Staier of Farmington (25:20.79) and Jonathan Chasse of Readfield (25:45.13) were fifth and sixth in Shorey’s race. Jasmine Brooks of Dirigo of Dixfield also earned an All-American medal with her sixth place finish in the 15-to-16-year-old 5000 (30:02.16).

Curtis has received instruction from racewalking guru Tom Eastler of Farmington and Mike Woodbury of Belfast. Woodbury’s daughter, Jen Woodbury, a former state Class B champion for Belfast, also instructs Curtis and paces her through time trials. Curtis’ father, Nathan, coaches her on a day-to-day basis.

Curtis took up the sport when she was just seven years old, honing her technique at the Belfast YMCA’s summer track program. She also runs cross country and has run 2:42 for 800 meters on the track.

Hintz is the defending state champion in the 800, 1500 and 3000 and owns personal bests of 2:29, 5:05 and 11:09 in those events. Those times would make the eighth-grader-to-be a force to be reckoned with, even at the high school level.

Hintz has proved her mettle against older competition in road races, winning last year’s Labor Day Road Race in Bangor and placing fourth in the Walter Hunt Memorial 3k in Bangor on July 4.

Hintz’s middle school cross country coach, Steve Dexter, often has Hintz train with the Old Town High runners. Old Town High cross country and track coach Rod White, who works with Hintz in summer track, recognizes her potential.

“I’m anxious to get her in high school. She’s quite a talent. … She’s one of those kids who’s not stuck on herself. I think she realizes [she’s fast] but is very laid back about it,” White said.

Hintz began running three years ago under the watchful eyes of her parents, Ray and Marilyn. Her father and her mother regularly train with her.

Hintz runs 25 to 30 miles per week. She said that the longer the run, the more she enjoys it.

“The 800 is the hardest, cause I’m better at longer runs,” she said.