No track and field coach is a big fan of cold and flu season, especially when it affects many of his athletes.

That was the case facing the University of Maine’s Mark Lech last weekend as many of his athletes, including sophomore distance runner Brendan Carr of Brewer, were ill and couldn’t partake in the Black Bears’ season-opening dual meet against the University of New Hampshire at Memorial Fieldhouse in Orono.

“We had a lot of people sick, a lot of flus, mono, stuff like that,” said Lech, whose teams fell to the Wildcats in both meets.

Lech added that Carr had been having stomach problems in the week leading up to the meet and said a doctor told Carr last Thursday he couldn’t run for a week.

Then, it got worse.

“Two days later, he couldn’t even get out of bed,” said Lech.

Both the Black Bears’ men and women will be looking to be competitive in a strong America East conference this winter.

Lech’s women’s squad features 10 newcomers, including Hannah Breton of Greenville, Cynthia Hunter of Waterville, Heather Jackson of Old Town and Brunswick’s Chelsea Leeman.

The Bears figure to be the strongest in the sprinting and jumping events, where they will be led by Allyson Howatt of New Brunswick, who broke the school record in the 55-meter dash last weekend, posting a time of 7.27 seconds.

Other key contributors will be soph Vanessa Letourneau of Fairfield in the 400 and 800, Jenny Pierpont of Saco in the sprints, Jolene Belanger of Glenburn in the middle distances and 400 specialist Lindsay Burlock of Caribou.

Lech said the key for both teams will be maintaining a solid training base over the holiday break. The Black Bears compete this weekend at Sherbrooke University in Quebec before parting for Christmas.

“Distance people, you know how distance people are; they have to train or else they’ll never get it back,” Lech said. “Sprinters, it’s a little different. You’re trying to find a place to be able to do the work you’re able to do.”

The competition at Sherbrooke will be interesting in the sense that the Bears will be running different track events that they are used to.

Canadian teams run the 300, 600 and 1,500 meters in their meets as opposed to the 200, 400, 800 and mile events that UMaine is accustomed to.

“I’ll use the word strange,” Lech said in describing the meet. “We don’t run any of the regular races that we run.”

On the men’s side, the Bears will feature a solid mix of returning veterans, led by seniors Skip Edwards of Portland and Max Ludwig of South Portland.

Lech said UM’s strongest events will be “pretty much the middle area.”

“The hurdles will be good, and the 200, 400 and 500 will be good this year,” Lech said.

Edwards will head up the Bears’ mid-distance corps. He won the 400 against UNH in 49.82 while Ludwig took first in the hurdles (7.87).

Once Carr returns, along with Charlie Theriault and David Englehutt, who were also sick and missed the meet against UNH, that’ll add to a deep distance crew that already includes senior Donny Drake of Portland, soph Miles Bartlett of Casco and junior Dan Vonell of Hallowell.

“When we get Brendan back, [and] Charlie Theriault and David Englehutt, it’ll make things much better,” said Lech.

Lech will primarily use Bartlett in the mile this winter, in hopes that he can run in the 4:06 to 4:08 range.

“I’ll focus him on the mile this winter and see how far he can go,” Lech said.

Like the women, the Bears field 10 freshmen on the men’s squad, including Bashir Mohamed of Lewiston (distance), Noah Paytas of Caribou (middle distance) and Josh Maxwell of Gorham (hurdles, sprints).

Fort Kent’s Carson Hartman will contribute in the jumping events, as will Mark Liimakka of Old Town in the pole vault, which he won against UNH.

Master-ing Harvard

Bangor High School senior Riley Masters kicked off his indoor track season at last weekend’s Harvard Invitational in Cambridge, Mass.

Masters fared well in the mile run, placing 26th in a field of 61 runners, clocking a 4:36.73.

The field consisted of athletes from Division I, II and III colleges, including winner Chris McDermott (4:18.73) of perennial running powerhouse Providence College.

Masters and the defending state Class A champion Rams will kick off their Eastern Maine Indoor Track League schedule on Dec. 20 at the University of Maine.

Witches to compete at Bowdoin

Speaking of EMITL teams, the Brewer Witches will open their 2007-08 season at the Bowdoin College Relays Saturday.

Coach Jamerson Crowley’s club will compete at the meet for the first time since the winter of 2001-02, and his girls will be in contention for a top-five finish in a strong field that includes reigning Class B state champion Waterville and KVAC “A” foe Brunswick.

Lewiston looks to be the favorite for the boys.

Action gets under way at 11 a.m. at Bowdoin’s Farley Fieldhouse.

Ryan McLaughlin may be reached at bdnsports@bangordailynews.net or 990-8229