Ouellette, Dumont help Old Town to win

loading...

ORONO – Jill Ouellette had plenty of reasons to be nervous in Friday’s Eastern Maine Indoor Track meet at the University of Maine.

The Old Town junior was running in just her second track meet since she participated in a summer track league as a fifth-grader.

Last week, in her first high school track meet (an exhibition), she mistimed a handoff in the 880 yard relay.

But Ouellette overcame her jitters Friday, running the third leg of the Indians’ victorious relay and finishing second in both the 60 yard dash (8.18 seconds) and the 200 meters (29.19) and helping her team amass 92 points to outpace Foxcroft (74), Ellsworth (32), Bucksport (31), and Sumner (16).

In the boys meet, senior-laden Ellsworth romped to the victory by taking first place in eight of the 13 events. The Eagles had 100 points, followed by Old Town (70), Sumner (47), Foxcroft (25) and Bucksport (22).

Ouellette’s time in the 200 met the qualifying standard for the state meet (29.74).

Old Town coach Rod White said he was impressed with Ouellette’s progress.

“In our early season tests, I knew she was pretty fast – she was the only one close to Jess [Dumont]. … Last week she ran very nervous, but this week she was more relaxed,” White said.

Ouellette has played on the soccer and softball teams at Old Town. She said she decided to try indoor track at the urging of her father and teammate Liz Saucier.

“Someone provoked me to [join track],” Ouellette laughed. “But I just like to run.”

Jessica Dumont paced the Indians, winning the 400 (1:05.94), 200 (28.98) and running the leadoff leg in the relay. Amanda Nadeau nipped Bucksport distance ace Melissa Patten in the 800 (2:39.01 to 2:39.02) and anchored the relay. Jessica Paul captured the high jump (4-2) and took second in the shot put (27-11).

It was more than enough to reverse the result in last week’s meet, when Foxcroft finished 12 points ahead of Old Town.

“We really came together as a team today,” said an exuberant Dumont after the relay. “Our goal was to come in and be competitive.”

White also shuffled his lineup, moving Dumont from the 60 to the 400 (it was just the second 400 the junior has raced in her career) and Nadeau from the 400 to the 800.

“It’s great for the girls to get a win and some confidence,” White said, noting that the Indians will face stiffer challenges in upcoming meets that feature large schools like Bangor, Brewer and Hampden.

Foxcroft coach George Rolleston was pleased with his team’s performance. He said the Ponies also gave a number of athletes the chance to compete in new events.

Sophomore Bethany Sutton won the 60-yard hurdles (10.68) and took second in the 400 to lead Foxcroft. Sutton is competing in her first year of indoor track after deciding to forego cheerleading. She ran outdoor track last year.

“I decided to run track because I’ve gotten a lot more competitive. I’m very competitive,” Sutton said.

In the boys meet, Ellsworth senior Adam MacBeth cruised to victories in the 60 hurdles, 200 and long jump and classmate Steve DeWitt won the mile (4:22.37) and 800 (2:03.76) as the Eagles rolled.

Ellsworth graduated just one senior from last year’s team (distance man Ben Shorey) and has 18 seniors on its roster.

“We’re pretty deep,” coach Jim Shedeck said.

MacBeth set a personal-best for the indoor long jump (21 feet, 3/4 inch) and was just five-tenths of a second off the EMITL record in the 200 (23.85).

MacBeth, who will run track at Bates next year, said he ran cross country for the first time this fall in order to build a stronger base for the track season.

MacBeth said he doesn’t feel pressured when he competes in his events because he is confident in his team’s depth and experience.

“I just try to win, and that’s all I have to think about,” he said.

DeWitt is also experienced – though not in indoor track. DeWitt, a state champion in cross country and outdoor track, played basketball during the winters his first three years at Ellsworth.

DeWitt, though feeling the effects of an illness and some soreness due to tendinitis in his left knee, still made it look easy.

“I like [the indoor track] because it’s so small. The laps click by faster. It’s good for you mentally,” DeWitt said.

The Eagles were also aided by Erik Maleck, who pulled off a rare double win in the 2-mile (10:58.58) and the shot put (40-8). Lucas Sitterly won the pole vault and was third in the mile, and Erick Rudolph was second in the mile and the 800.

Shedeck was particularly pleased with his team’s performances because many of his athletes have been battling sicknesses.

“We will want to challenge for the [EMITL] title, of course,” Shedeck said. “But we set smaller goals each week.”