BREWER – To say that the Hershey’s Track and Field program is popular in Aroostook County is an understatement.

Northern Maine was well-represented at Wednesday’s state championship meet at Brewer’s Pendleton Street Field, with County individuals or relay teams taking home first-place finishes in 22 of the 44 events contested on the afternoon.

“It’s great for our kids to get the exposure and to meet some kids from down here,” said Dale Bailey, who coached eight youngsters from Fort Kent.

One of them, Brandon Theriault, had an outstanding day.

Theriault took first-place honors in the 50-meter dash for 9- and 10-year-olds in 7.85 seconds while winning the 100 (15.29) and softball throw (148 feet) in his age group as well.

Theriault was competing in the program, which is designed for youths aged 9 to 14, for the first time.

“My friend Andrew Bailey, he told me about it and said it was fun,” Theriault said.

A select number of participants from Wednesday’s meet will advance to the North American Final in Hershey, Pennsylvania later this summer.

State coordinator Tim Baude said that athletes who win their race and have the top time in their region – in this case the New England states and Atlantic provinces – automatically qualify but after that, its pot-luck.

“Beyond that for us to get our five comes down to state winners and how you perform regionally,” said Baude.

Of all the regional programs throughout the state, Aroostook County had the most kids – 238 competed in their regional championships – and they enjoyed not only some fun in the sun but outstanding competition.

“They’re having a blast, I kind of didn’t know what to expect I guess when we came down for a big meet like this,” Bailey said.

Two other Fort Kent runners who had solid days were cousins Jessica Morin and Luke Bailey in the 9-10 age group.

Both participants won their respective 400 races, Bailey in an impressive 1:16.51 and Morin in 1:23.19.

While Morin admitted with a smile her favorite part about the competition is “me winning,” Bailey hopes this is only the start of his career in track and field.

“I want to start competing in track because I want to do it when I get in high school,” he said.

Theriault added his favorite part about the program is “meeting friends.”

A great number of the County kids who were successful hail from smaller communities, such as Bridgewater, Easton and Mars Hill along with youths from Caribou, Presque Isle, Houlton, Fort Kent and Madawaska.

“It is always our biggest regional, always our biggest -number of kids, I think it’s a great opportunity for them,” Baude said.

And at this level, winning is superb, but its not everything.

“It’s important at this age just to build some team camaraderie,” said Bailey.

That was evident throughout the day, with many young athletes exchanging high fives and handshakes after their races.

Local individual winners on the girls side included Molly Anthony of Bridgewater in the 9-10 50 and the 100, Tia Jackson of Old Town in the 11-12 100, 200 and standing long jump, Caribou’s Ashley Clark in the 13-14 1600, Kaitlin Saulter of Hermon in the 11-12 800, Amber Wilcox of Alton in the 9-10 200, while 4×100 relay teams from Presque Isle (9-10) and Fort Fairfield (11-12) took home first-place honors.

Taylor Williams of Presque Isle took the 9-10 softball throw and Jarae Libby of Fort Fairfield the 11-12 softball throw.

On the boys side, Bradley Wilcox of Alton captured the softball throw, 1600 and 800 in the 13-14 age group.

Other winners included Nick Gilpin of Hampden in the boys 11-12 100 and 400, Holden Turner of Easton in the 13-14 100, 200 and standing long jump, Andrew Bailey of Fort Kent in the 11-12 800, Josiah Krul of Caribou in the 9-10 200, Isaac Cone of Houlton in the 11-12 long jump and Kyle Bouchard of Houlton in the 11-12 softball throw.

Caribou captured the 4×100 relay in the 9-10 age group while Houlton won in the 11-12 age group.

Over 200 kids participated in the meet.

rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net

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