The USM Men’s Outdoor Track team kicked off their season on Saturday, April 3 at the Springfield College Quadrangular Meet (after press time). The Huskies figure to be more competitive than last season and are looking to build off the success they enjoyed this past indoor season.
“We’re going to be much stronger than we were last year. We have a lot of guys that are capable of placing first, second, or third in their events,” said Head Coach Bruce Bickford.
During the indoor season, the Huskies won the Little East Conference Championships and finished eighth at the New England Men’s Division Three Championships. One of the surprises on the indoor team was Trey Gadbois. It wasn’t a surprise that Trey was successful; it was a surprise that he was running track for USM.
Gadbois, a standout track and field athlete at Portland High School, was one of Maine’s elite high jumpers. Gadbois was also a wide receiver on the Portland High Football team that won the 2002 Class A State Championship. Gadbois received track scholarship offers from many universities including the University of Connecticut but decided to run track for USM.
Trey finished first in the high jump at the New England Alliance Championships by clearing 6’8″ and finished second in the 55 meter hurdles.
“Trey is such a graceful athlete, it makes him very easy to coach,” said Bickford. Gadbois will be a key component of the outdoor team and he will be joined by some other great athletes.
Chris Roux, Peter Marsh and Michael Bunker have been named captains. Roux, a junior, will compete in multiple events for the Huskies this season, including the decathlon. “Chris is very dedicated and is a total team person, ” said coach Bickford. Marsh, a sophomore will compete in the pole vault.
Michael Bunker will be a strong long distance runner for the Huskies. “He trains very hard and really wants to get better, which is what you want in your athletes, “Bickford said of Bunker. Derek Murchie, Chris Hopkins and Rob Ligouri are also expected to score a good number of points for the Huskies.
Coach Bickford is optimistic about the Huskies upcoming season. “The guys are very excited. We won our conference title very decisively during the indoor season, and it is clear that this team is coming together, ” said Bickford. How good can the Huskies be? “I think we can win our conference title, ” said Bickford.
Kevin Moran can be contacted at [email protected]