Windham Parks and Recreation’s summer track and field team showcases skills at state meet

Windham freshman Karl Longstreth receives
congratulations from Windham Parks and
Recreation track and field coach Katherine
Slomczynski after he became state champion
in javelin with a 120-foot throw during the
United States of America Track and Field
Meet at Cony High School in Augusta on Aug.
13. PHOTO BY MARINA LONGSTRETH

By Matt Pascarella 

The Windham Parks and Recreation summer track team competed in the Maine United States of America Track and Field (USATF) state meet at Cony High School in Augusta on Saturday, Aug. 13. Windham performed with distinction, sending a squad of 16 athletes from ages 8 to 15 to represent the town.

To participate in the state competition, athletes had to place in the top four at the qualifier meet.

The COVID-19 pandemic had temporarily halted the summer state meets for a while and Windham had not competed in one since 2019.

“The kids missed being able to do the meets the past few years, so they were excited to be back,” said Windham Parks and Recreation track and field coach Philip Jackson. “The kids liked being able to see their progress from meet to meet. The 13 to 14-year-old boys were a cohesive group. They were very supportive of each other and were good at pushing each other as well. I am especially proud of the sportsmanship of our athletes.”

At Augusta, Windham freshman Karl Longstreth was the boys’ javelin state champion with a throw of 36.62 meters – about 120 feet. He also placed second in the 100 meter, and third in the 200.

Many other Windham athletes also racked up exceptional performances in the state competition including:

· Windham freshman Meg Kingsley finished second in the 400, third in the javelin, fourth in the girls’ 100 and fifth in the long jump.

· Windham seventh-grader Peter Funk finished second in the boys’ shotput and fifth in the discus.

· Windham’s Josephine Sanborn placed third in the 9 to 10-year-old 800 race-walk.

· Windham’s relay team of freshmen Aaron Sanborn, Marek Slomczynski, Connor Witham, and Karl Longstreth finished in second place.

Windham’s Mason Bragdon finished third in the 13 to 14-year-old boys’ 3000 run and also competed in discus.

· Windham freshman Nick Verill finished third in the boys’ high jump.

· Windham freshman Connor Witham finished fifth in the boys’ javelin.

· Windham seventh-grader Renner Gerrity finished fifth in the boys’ 80-meter hurdles.

· Windham sixth-grader Jacoby Burton finished fifth in the boys’ triple jump.

“The whole Windham team worked so hard all summer putting all of our effort in every meet,” said Longstreth. “Every practice we try our hardest pushing our limits and making us stronger which made us faster and better for the state.”

Longstreth said he felt like a champion when he heard how far he threw the javelin before he became state champion.

He’s been working hard at track and field for seven years now, and that hard work has finally paid off.

According to Longstreth, he’s very proud of everything he accomplished during this year’s state meet in Augusta. <

Amazing showing for Windham Eagles at outdoor track state meet

Freshman Khalysa Hammith is about to land in the long jump
competition during the state outdoor track meet at
Massabesic High School in Waterboro on June 5. Hammith
placed 10th overall with a distance of 15-07.25 feet.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

By Matt Pascarella

The outdoor state track meet at Massabesic High School on Saturday, June 5 was a hot day but the high temperatures did not prevent Windham athletes from giving it their all.

Several Windham athletes placed and set personal records (PR) for themselves. Senior Ethan Wert placed in three events and has three school records in those events. Senior Katelyn Smith placed and set two new school records. The boys placed eighth overall with a score of 37. The girls placed 15th with a score of 14.

Boys

After starting with the pole vault three weeks ago, Senior Tavi Anghel placed third with a height of 11-06.00 feet.

Wert placed in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.24. In the 200 he placed fourth with a time of 22.67 and in the 400 he placed second with a time of 49.37.

“It felt great and I thought I wasn’t going to perform well, because the temperature’s really hot,” said Wert. He added adrenaline played a part, he gave it his all and surprised himself.

Sophomore Connor Langstaff placed seventh in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 43.43 seconds. He also placed seventh in the high jump with a height of 5-10.00.

Senior Niall Gushue placed fourth in the 400 with a time of 52.52. Gushue set a PR in this event and went from a ninth seed to fourth place.

“The athletes had an incredible season,” said Windham boys’ coach Paula Pock. “Almost every athlete hit their personal best, which is the goal for championship meets. I will truly miss the seniors; they are a competitive group that has been super fun to work with.” 

 

Girls

Senior Katelyn Smith set two new school records and PRs in the long jump and triple jump. Smith placed second in the long jump with a distance of 17-01.25 feet. In the triple jump, she placed third with a distance of 37-01.50.

“(The day was) better than I could have imagined, especially with it being my senior year. I didn’t have many expectations, I just wanted to go out strong,” said Smith.

Freshman Khalysa Hammith qualified for four state events: the 4x100 meter relay, the 4x400, the long jump and the 100. She had a PR and placed ninth in the 100 with a time of 13.02. In her second time doing the long jump, Hammith placed 10th with a distance 15-07.25.

Junior McKenzie Crossman set a PR and placed 18th in the 100 with a time of 13.41.

Senior Diane Ingalls set a PR in the pole vault when she placed 11th with a height of 7-06.00. She also set personal records in the 4x800 and 4x400.

“All of our players gave their best on that hot day,” said Windham girls’ coach Jeff Riddle. “School records blasted by one and PRs earned by many on the day, & confidences gained. Thanks so very much to all seniors for a great season, and to all players for trusting the process and pushing themselves to progress.” <