The men’s and women’s indoor track teams were back in action this weekend as they both finished second at the USM Coed Invitational held at Costello Sports Complex Saturday in Gorham.
The men’s team finished second to Bates College by a score of 271 to 151. USM men’s indoor track Head Coach Scott Hutchinson and some of the team’s top athletes didn’t compete because of another meet at Boston University, but that didn’t seem to faze the Huskies.
Senior Matt Harmon (Auburn) placed fourth in the weight throw among a dominant group of throwers from Bates who grabbed four of the other top five spots. Harmon also set a school record in the event, as well as finishing fourth in the shot put and qualifying for the Division III New England Championships.
Sophomore Ryan Storey (Cumberland) came out on top in the high jump, winning with a height of 6 feet, 1 inch and getting the men’s team off to a good start, as two other USM jumpers placed in the top four.
Senior Curtis Coleman (Bangor) collected third and sixth place finishes in the 55-meter and 200 meters, respectively. Coleman is coming back from an injury and is progressing.
“Ever since I tore my hamstring, I’ve been a little hesitant on the starts, and I’m just trying to stop that,” Coleman said.
In the mile run senior Sean Lunsted (East Boothbay) took home a fourth place finish with a time of 4:38.85 despite running in the races first heat — usually designated for the slower runners. Freshman distance runner John Clement (South Portland) also helped his short-handed team’s cause by winning the open 800-meters with a time of two minutes flat.
The showing by the men’s team in Gorham did not disappoint interim head coach Jon Letendre.
“For the number of guys we had today, this was great,” Letendre said.
The USM women’s indoor track and field team also had their share of success in both the track and the field sides, coming in second out of seven teams to Springfield College, 194 to 175.
Junior Hannah Patterson (Londonderry, N.H.) broke the school record in the weight throw for the third week in a row with a throw of 50 feet, 7 1/4 inches.
Sophomore Ariel Howes (Farmingdale) and senior Heidi DeHaan (Lewiston) turned in second and third place finishes in the 600-meter run, which also qualified them for the Division III New England meet.
“My goal for this season was to qualify for D-IIIs so it feels great,” DeHaan said.
The 55-meter hurdles were the Huskies’ most lucrative event as they placed runners two through six. Freshman Lynn Fleming (Waterville) took the runner-up spot while posting her best time of the season at 8.8 seconds, as well as placing third in the triple jump with a mark of 34 feet 5 inches. Junior Katlyn Gardiner (Standish) came in behind Fleming in the hurdles, while also placing third in the 55-meter dash and 200 meters.
The Huskies will host the State of Maine Championships this Friday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. in the Costello Sports Complex. Both teams are expected to have their whole team present and will attempt to take home their second title in three years.