The women’s indoor track team has gone from practicing in parking lots and crowded hallways in its first year as a recognized team four years ago to practicing and competing in the sparkly new field house built a few years ago. This has not only raised the level of play, but also given Southern Maine a home field advantage this year for more meets than ever before. Five meets including the State of Maine Championships were held at USM this season.
“We’re kind of spoiled now,” said Coach George Towle. “None of them have parking lot experience.”
The Field House also helps with recruiting students for next year. The facility is one of, if not the, nicest in Division III.
Another reason for high school seniors to consider USM for all their track and field needs is the high importance placed on academics with the athletes.
“As a member of this team you will be surrounded by 30 students who take academics seriously. The older athletes tutor freshmen,” Towle explained his recruiting pitch. “Last fall the team GPA was 3.2.”
The team consists of self-motivated athletes who have set 29 school records this season alone.
“This is a sport of records,” Towle said. “There is incentive to get your name on the list, and to move up that list.”
The team is not merely a group of individual athletes, but a team that encourages each other to excel. And despite the lack of official team captains, natural leaders do emerge.
“Leaders are leaders; they don’t need a label,” explains Towle. “They are leaders for the right reasons, not because they have to be.”
The women’s indoor track team has completed their season, and will now be switching gears for outdoor track this spring. All members of indoor track are reported to also compete in outdoor track. To segue the seasons, the team is travelling to Florida over spring break to compete at Disney World on Mar. 23, and at the University of Florida relays the week following. As early as the Florida relays, Southern Maine women have the potential to qualify for meets later in the season, including NCAA.
Senior weight thrower Kelly Busby and junior pole vaulter Nikki Freeman have qualified for and will be participating in the NCAA indoor track competition in Ohio.