Skowhegan High School’s “beach” – the dirt track in front of the school on which the Indian track and field teams practice – will be no more thanks to a donation from The New Balance Foundation.

The athletic shoe and apparel company announced a $100,000 match grant for a new track and field complex at the school that would feature an eight-lane, all-weather track, areas for pole vault, javelin, shot put, and discus, and long and triple jump pit.

In the past, the Indians trained on their dirt track and traveled occasionally to Winslow High’s track (about 40 miles round-trip) to get ready for regional and state meets. Skowhegan’s pole vaulters would often work out at Cony High in Augusta (about 80 miles round-trip).

“This is something we’ve been talking about for years,” said Skowhegan High athletic director Terry Michaud, who coached the track and field team for 10 seasons. “New Balance really stepped up for us.”

A formal announcement of the grant will come at a pep rally Thursday that was initially set up for the Skowhegan girls basketball team. The Indians will play in a 7:10 p.m. Eastern Maine Class A semifinal game tonight against Cony at the Bangor Auditorium. The school invited New Balance officials to join in the rally and help kick off the fundraising phase of the project.

New Balance has had a manufacturing facility in Skowhegan since 1977.

Michaud said SAD 54 has pledged $100,000 and that money, along with the New Balance grant, will put the school more than halfway toward the goal of $350,000. The rest of the money will be raised in the community.

The school is aiming to start construction this summer and have the facility ready for the spring 2003 season.

Michaud stressed that the complex will be used by the entire community, not just the high school team. He is hoping the track will be the site of regional high school meets and summer youth track meets, and used by community residents who walk for fitness in the spring and summer and a local cardiac health program. The middle school team will also use the track.

“It’ll be safe and clean, a great place for the community to work out,” he said.

Sportsmanship banners handed out

Six teams representing Eastern Maine Classes B, C, and D girls and boys teams received Maine Principals Association sportsmanship banners at last week’s state championship teams.

The Maranacook of Readfield girls and Ellsworth boys earned sportsmanship honors in Class B. The Narraguagus of Harrington girls and George Stevens of Blue Hill boys won Class C banners. In Class D, the Bangor Christian girls and Jonesport-Beals boys took home banners.

In Western Maine, the York girls and Wiscasset boys took the Class B banners. The Winthrop girls and Winthrop boys both earned “C” banners, and the Waynflete of Portland girls and Buckfield boys won in Class D.