There’s no longer enough interest to sustain a full indoor team, yet the John Bapst girls track program is stronger than ever.

Doesn’t make sense? It’s true, it’s just that most members of the two-time reigning state Class C outdoor track squad would rather test their athleticism in other arenas during the winter, such as a cross-country ski course or a basketball court.

“It’s why I’m such a huge booster of Title IX,” said John Bapst head coach Bruce Pratt, whose Crusaders on Saturday became the first Eastern Maine Class C team to win back-to-back state titles since the Orono squads of 1976 and 1977.

“Women’s sports at Bapst are on the rise. For instance, the women’s ski team is really good. A lot of the distance runners here are on the ski team. The skiers do it to be better runners. The runners do it to be better skiers, and the cross country kids and the soccer kids in the fall say I’ve got to do something year-round.”

Sophomore Katie Andrle, who won the 300 hurdles and was part of two state championship relay teams, symbolizes the multisport leanings of this John Bapst contingent.

“I love my team in soccer and I love my team in track,” she said. “Track is awesome because we have so much pride in our team. A lot of people mistake that for cockiness, but we have an awesome time doing it and we’re proud of all the accomplishments we have.”

While different Crusaders may have different sports for different seasons, those who participate in track and field in the spring have adopted an all-for-one, one-for-all approach to a sport that sometimes is conflicted between its individualized disciplines and the team concept.

“We’re always emphasizing that it’s a team sport,” said junior Lily Krichels, state champion in the long jump and part of two victorious relay teams. “I know what everybody else on the team does and I’m always asking how people are doing, and that’s universal throughout the team.”

That’s an understanding of the team concept that doesn?t surprise Pratt, even though this year’s squad had few seniors.

“I have such bright girls, I’m so incredibly fortunate,” he said. “They’re articulate, they’re intelligent and they’re there every day, they’re tough.”

They’re also a program poised for continued success. Just three seniors graduate from this year’s girls team, and with 71 boys and girls participating in outdoor track this spring at John Bapst, the sport’s profile at the school rarely has been higher.

“Clearly success breeds success,” said Pratt, who also praised the contributions this spring of assistant coaches Adrian Stone and Jeff Libby.

Pratt added that the competition the Crusaders get against Class A programs during the regular season serves them well at postseason events.

“Running against Bangor, Brewer and Hampden helps us,” he said. “We’re lucky to be able to compete against them. If we were to run those schools in a meet we’re not going to beat them, even though we’ve been in dual meets when we’ve beaten one of them one time or another. We don’t have enough depth for that, but for Class C we do.”

One final event remains to be completed before this championship season truly is over at John Bapst. Pratt promised that if the Crusaders successfully defended their 2002 title this spring, they could shave off his trademark beard.

“My oldest son is 24 at end of this month, and I’ve had this beard since before he was born,” he said. “As my wife says, ‘Your children have never seen you this way,’ and that?s true.”

Not for much longer.

Some high-flying advice

A little piece of unsolicited advice meant a considerable step up in airborne travel for Foxcroft Academy standout Brandon Hall at the state Class C track and field championships.

Hall had clinched a narrow victory in the triple jump over Rob Michaud of Winthrop on Saturday, but still had one jump remaining.

“Someone came over to me and said, ‘I’m the coach from Penquis [of Milo], and you should try stretching out on your middle phase.’ He told me that with my long legs I should try stretching out more, take a bigger stride on the middle stage of the triple jump and go from there.

“I tried it, and I improved my PR by nearly two feet.”

Hall, who had placed second in the event at the Penobscot Valley Conference small-school championships a week earlier with a best of 39-101/4, used that advice and soared to a personal-best jump of 42-11/2 on his final jump at the states, far eclipsing Michaud’s best of 40-51/2.

The 6-foot-7 Hall also won the long and high jumps at the state Class C meet held in Augusta.

Ernie Clark can be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net.