Windham indoor track and field team soars in late-season meet

By Matt Pascarella

As the end of the indoor track and field season is approaching with the Southern Maine Activities Association (SMAAs) championship and state meets on the horizon, Windham’s indoor track and field teams performed well at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham on Saturday, Jan. 14 against Marshwood, Portland and Westbrook.

The Windham girls finished second with a score of 103. The Windham boys also finished second with a score of 84.

Windham High sophomore Andrew Young gets some
distance in the long jump at the University of
Southern Maine in Gorham during a multi-school
meet on Saturday, Jan. 14.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

Girls

Windham had several first-place finishes. Sophomore Tayla Pelletier finished first in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 9.68 seconds, which qualified her for SMAAs. She placed first in the high jump and set a personal record height of 5-feet. Pelletier finished first in the triple jump with a distance of 33-03.75 feet.

Pelletier said she thought everyone did really well; a lot of people gave it their all. They all pushed each other and gave each other strength.

Junior Khalysa Hammith finished first in the 55-meter dash, senior division with a 7.60 time which tied Windham High School’s record, a goal she set for herself. She also finished first in the long jump with a distance of 15-03.00 and in the triple jump with a 31-0.175 distance. She earned senior MVP of the meet.

Freshman Myla Vercoe finished first in the 55-meter dash, junior division, with a time of 8.25. Vercoe earned junior MVP of the meet.

Sophomore Ava Gerrity finished first in the long jump with a 15-05.00 distance.

Sophomore Sarah John qualified for SMAAs in the shotput when she threw 26-1.50 feet and finished second.

She said the day was great; their team dynamic was amazing.

Freshman Sydney Broadbent finished second in the 400 and qualified for SMAAs with a time of 1:09.13 minutes.

Junior Elizabeth Bearce qualified for SMAAs in the 800 with a 2:40.65 time.

“Our players implemented our team-set-goal to target and work on their meet day confidence and composure skills,” said Windham girls’ indoor track and field coach Jeff Riddle. “Our team is unified,

confident, and won’t quit. It was an amazing regular season meet with quality results.”

Boys

The boys had 16 athletes out of 20 get personal bests for the day.

Freshman Nick Verrill finished first in the high jump with a height of 5-06.00.

Verrill said the whole team did really well. He said Windham did well in the 200s and 55s. He thought the team had a really good day.

Freshman Karl Longstreth finished second in the 55-meter with a 7.17 time and in the 200-meter with a 25.01 time.

Sophomore Andrew Young finished third in the 1-mile run open division with a time of 5:19.52 and first in the long jump with a 16-06.00 distance.

Also in the long jump, freshman Samuel Hutchinson finished fourth with a distance of 13-00.75.

Senior Derrick Stephens placed fourth in the 400 with a 1:00.83 time.

Senior Roman Thomas finished fourth in the 1-mile run open division with a time of 5:40.07.

“Every week the kids are seeing some big improvements,” said Windham boys’ indoor track and field coach Paula Pock. “We hope to carry that through for the next two weeks and get a few more kids qualified for SMAAs. We have a very young team, and they are a cohesive group so they’re fun to work with.” <