They are among the most the most successful sports programs at USM, right up there with baseball and women’s basketball. And they have been entirely ignored.
“They” are the USM women’s track team.
What exactly constitutes a great team or program —- character? hard work? determination? the ability to succeed when all the odds are against you?
These women, 38 of them this season, don’t complain about the coverage that they don’t get, they just go out and do what they do best — winning.
The women’s track program has won nine straight Little East Conference Championships (1998-2007).
And seven straight New England Alliance Championships (2000-2007).
And three State Championships (2005, 2006, 2008).
And three top-10 finishes in the New England Division III Championships (2003, 2005, 2007).
And two top-10 finishes in the ECAC championships (2005, 2006).
Not impressed yet? They’ve been a full time program for little more then a decade.
The very successful women’s basketball program has been around for 22 years.
Can you imagine the astounding numbers if the track program had been around for that long?
Coach George Towle was a part-time volunteer coach early in the 90s before the Costello Sports Complex was built, which allowed track to become a full-time program.
Before that, “we used to practice in the parking lots,” he said.
Since they had virtually no facility to practice in and no recruiting availability since it wasn’t a full-time program, Towle could rely only on how many kids turned up to run and compete on their own accord.
And even then, the results blazed bright.
“We had four All-Americans before we were even a program,” Towle said. The talent has surely not dropped off.
As of right now, the Huskies have at least women going to the New England Track championships, with seniors Hattie Landry and Christa Hutchinson leading the way in four different events.
I was amazed when I saw the statistics of this phenomenal program. I was disappointed when I realized that this program has never gotten the respect it deserves. These 38 women put their hearts, souls, and bodies into this sport, and have done much for this university. It’s time they got some recognition for that.