Long-distance running standout Cassie Hintz of Stillwater is on the fast track – both in the classroom and on the track.

The Old Town High School senior already has completed her academic requirements for graduation, and currently is taking a 14-credit course load at the University of Maine.

But that ambitious academic pace is matched by her most recent effort on the track.

Last Friday the 18-year-old Hintz won the girls’ 5,000-meter run at the National Scholastic Indoor Track and Field Championships held at the New York Armory.

This marked the second straight year Hintz won the event, but her 2006 time of 16 minutes, 50.8 seconds not only topped her 2005 winning time of 17:12.27, but also marked her second-fastest personal time for the 3.1-mile distance.

Her personal best for the 5,000 indoors, 16:45.84 at a Jan. 28, 2005, meet in Boston, is the second-fastest time ever run by a U.S. high school female.

“To me this was almost better than my best time because I was running by myself and after five laps I was already lapping people,” said Hintz.

Hintz was within striking distance of the national high school record of 16:43.02 run in 2004 by Brianna Jackucewicz of Farmingdale, N.J., but that wasn’t her primary goal.

“I was just focused on winning and trying to run within myself,” said Hintz, who also has the third-fastest U.S. prep time for 10,000 meters at 34:36.81.

Last Friday’s race was held on a banked 200-meter track, quite different from her normal training milieu of local roads and flat-track indoor facilities.

“It’s not a big difference,” said Hintz of the banked indoor track, “but turning that much is a little hard on your legs.”

Hintz, who trains independently, is gearing up for the outdoor season, which includes a return to the Penn Relays in late April and plenty of road races.

That’s all in preparation for entering collegiate competition in the fall at the University of Wisconsin, where she has accepted a track scholarship.

Hintz chose Wisconsin – where her family has roots – after also visiting the University of Nebraska and the University of Arkansas as well as considering the University of Maine.

Hintz joins Hannah Grinaker of Detroit Lakes, Minn., as the key recruits for the Wisconsin women’s cross country and track teams.

Grinaker was the runnerup in the 2004 and 2005 Minnesota state Class AA cross country championships. On the track, she finished second in the 3,200 meters at the state meet in a personal-best time of 10:43.67.

“Hannah and Cassie are both national-caliber athletes who will make an immediate impact on our cross country and track teams,” said Wisconsin coach Jim Stintzi in a release announcing the signings. “They are incredibly talented young ladies with a strong work ethic. I am excited about the opportunity to work with them and to see them racing in Badger uniforms.”

And when she arrives at Madison, Wis., to begin her collegiate studies, Hintz will be at the head of the first-year academic pack, with some 53 credits already earned by then.

“It’s worked out pretty well,” said Hintz, who started taking college courses online as a high school junior. “Hopefully I’ll be working toward my grad degree before my scholarship ends,” she said.

All-star season continues

The high school basketball postseason isn’t quite complete. The Big East Conference held its all-star games Tuesday night, while the KVAC Senior Boys Class A Basketball All-Star Game will be played at 6 this evening at Thomas College in Waterville.

Then on Thursday evening, the best of the Penobscot Valley Conference Classes C and D ranks converge on Husson College in Bangor for a pair of all-star games.

The PVC girls’ all-stars will square off at 5:30 p.m., followed by the boys game at 7 p.m.

Slike wins MABC scholarship

Levi Slike of Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln and Maura Cass of Marshwood of South Berwick are recipients of the 2006 Maine McDonald’s All-State Academic Scholarships.

Slike and Cass were selected to receive the $1,000 scholarships from among members of the Maine McDonald’s All-State Academic Team.

Slike is valedictorian of his class at Mattanawcook, and carries an “A” average in the classroom. He is vice president of the National Honor Society, and plays varsity baseball, basketball and golf for the Lynx. He plans to attend the University of Maine to study business administration.

Cass is captain of the Marshwood varsity basketball, tennis and soccer teams, and plans to study medicine and international relations in college.

King, Caddigan win FT contest

In other competitions associated with the Maine McDonald’s all-star games, Jenna King of Old Town and Sean Caddigan of Telstar of Bethel were crowned state free-throw shooting champions.

King made 45 of 50 free throw attempts to best a field of girls finalists that also included Ashley Nemer of Ashland, Kelsey Richards of Mount View of Thorndike and Sarah Oliver of McAuley of Portland.

Caddigan made a perfect 50 of 50 from the line in besting Mike Wharff of Piscataquis of Guilford, Matt McGlinn of Presque Isle and Kyle Staples of Mount Desert Island of Bar Harbor. Caddigan’s marksmanship on Saturday made him 100 for 100 in the statewide competition, since he also made 50 of 50 tries to win the West Region qualifying meet held earlier in the year.

Carolyn Freeman of McAuley won the 3-point shooting competition held between the two girls all-star games played Saturday at Husson College in Bangor, while Carlos Strong of Deering of Portland won the boys slam dunk contest held later in the day.