When distance specialist Hilary Maxim looked at the seeds for the New England Interscholastic Championship Meet, she was a bit befuddled that she had earned the No. 3 ranking in the mile.

“I just looked at it and couldn’t believe I was seeded third. I’m so pumped right now,” Maxim said after a recent practice.

The Old Town High senior has good reason to be pumped, as she will be one of the top contenders in the mile during Friday’s competition at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.

Maxim earned that third seed by virtue of her strong performance at the Class B state championships. She bested her closest competitor by 16 seconds in running a personal best of 5 minutes, 6.09 seconds.

That was only the beginning of a grand week for the Coyotes’ ace, as she later signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Maine.

“That was a huge decision, I’m glad I made it. I can’t wait for next year,” said Maxim, who also considered the University of New Hampshire.

In the end, her family’s history at UMaine (her parents, Dana and Ann, both attended the university where Ann holds the school’s indoor track record in the mile at 4:55.4), was her main selling point in choosing to become a Black Bear.

“I think it’ll be a really good experience. It seems like the right choice for me,” said Maxim.

Maxim is among a strong contingent of Maine high school athletes who will be competing Friday. Ten Pine Tree State athletes are seeded in the top six in their events, including two – Messalonskee of Oakland’s Jesse Labreck in the hurdles and Greely of Cumberland Center’s Becky O’Brien in the shot put – who own top seeds.

“Maine is going to do great and hopefully have some great performances,” Maxim said. “I know I’m excited, everyone else has to be.”

Maxim has a great deal of confidence going into the meet and will have strong competition in a field in which the top seven runners have all run faster than 5:10.

With that being the case, Maxim won’t be by herself through the duration of the race, which makes it somewhat difficult to maintain a fast pace.

“That will help me push myself a little more and lower my time, hopefully,” said Maxim. “Running against the clock is something I’ve gotten used to, but it’s hard getting down to lower those times.”

Maxim is enjoying by far the best season of her high school career thanks to the guidance of veteran coach Rod White, who has coached Maxim since she was 4.

She was quick to attribute her success to his tutelage.

“I’ve just improved so much, a lot of thanks [go] to him, and I’m going to miss him so much next year,” Maxim said.

Maxim, who was fourth in the mile in the New England meet last winter, will be joined by classmates and teammates Lauren Keane, who is running the 600, and Davis Falls, who will compete in the 1,000.

Labreck is seeded second in the high jump in addition to her top ranking in the hurdles.

Even though she is seeded at 5 feet, 6 inches, the Eagles’ senior – who also will attend UMaine – recently cleared 5-9 at the Maine State Pentathlon Championships and should be the favorite Friday.

Seeds in the New England championships are based on an athlete’s performance in his or her state championship meet.

O’Brien, who will attend North Carolina, posted a personal record in the shot put with a heave of 50-11 at the U.S. Indoor Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center last weekend after winning the Class B state crown with a toss of 49-11.75, breaking her own state record.

O’Brien, whose mark of 50-11 is currently tops in the nation this year, is the defending New England shot put champ.

Other Maine high seeds for the girls include Clare Franco of Brunswick in the 600, teammate Kristen Slotnick in the long jump and 300 and Bethany Karter-O’Brien of Waterville and Erskine Academy of South China’s Anna Niedbala in the shot.

Bangor senior Riley Masters, like Maxim, is seeded third in the mile and is coming off a 4:20.44 performance in winning the Class A state title.

Masters is in the mix in a deep field in which the top 10 runners are seeded under 4:25.

The only other Maine boy seeded in the top six is Falmouth’s Tom Winger in the long jump.

bdnsports@bangordailynews.net