Track and Field Highlights Busy Athletics Weekend
The University of Maine at Fort Kent Track & Field Team wrapped up their indoor season with a nearly flawless peaking performance at the University of Maine Orono this past weekend.
Event winners for the Bengals were Ajay “iJump” Thompson in the high jump (1.85m), Nick Gayle in the 60m (7.03), Mandy “The Miracle Miler” Graham in the mile (5:31.17) and 3k (11:22.88), the women’s 4x200m team of Jordan Maxwell, Grace Johnson, Vinnette Blake, and Rachel Johnson (2:08.05), and the men’s 4x200m team of Nick Gayle, Rodane Hibbert, Raheem Thompson, and Ajay Thompson (1:33.02).
Other top performances came from Rodane Hibbert: 2nd in the 400m (52.69), Aaron Boateng: 4th in the 400m (52.73) and 5th in the long jump (6.09m), Raheem Thompson: 3rd in the 60m (7.10), and 2nd in the 200m (23.32), Grace Johnson:4th in the high jump (1.35m) and 6th in the 400m (1:12.85), Lauren Morrison: 5th in the mile (6:08.53), Rajay Maragh: 6th in the weight throw (9.33m). and Vinnette Blake and Jordan Maxwell tie for 6th in the 60m (8.78).
Additional UMFK school records set were Catherine Shelmerdine in the weight throw (9.02m), Rachel Johnson in the shot put (8.46m), and Jordan Maxwell in the 200m (30.69).
Coach Matt Dyer was quoted as saying, “This was the best weekend we’ve had as a program in my year and a half at UMFK.”
Complete Results can be found at: https://www.tfrrs.org/results/64952/UMaine_Saturday_Invitational__T_&_F_Meet/
The Bengals will transition from their indoor season to their outdoor season over the next six weeks until they compete at the Point Loma Invitational in sunny San Diego, California, on March 21.
The basketball teams experienced mixed results on a long road trip through Southern Maine this weekend. On Wednesday, the Men’s team dropped to U-Maine Machias, but the Women’s team fought from behind to squeak out a victory in overtime, 68-65. The Men’s squad responded against Pine Manor College to beat them 86-82 in Boston but could not replicate that same success the following evening against Bryant & Stratton College of Rochester. However, the Men’s basketball team put on an incredible performance against Fisher College on the road, beating them 70-56, spoiling the Senior Night of the home team. Senior Pat Pauwels led the Bengals with 14 points, Mehki Foreman also contributed with 13, Logan Miller had 12, and Zeke McMurtry had 10.
The Women’s Basketball team also defeated Fisher College on Sunday after suffering defeat at the hands of Central Maine College the previous day. Against Fisher, the Bengals were down as many as 20 points as they struggled to score in the first half. But the Bengals persevered and finished the game on an 8-0 run in the final three minutes with all baskets coming from Savana Jankowski. The Bengals got the necessary defensive rebound as time expired to put them in the win column.
In their third game in three days, the Bengals were only down two points at halftime to perennial in-state power St. Joseph’s College of Maine on Monday evening but ended up losing 85-55. The Lady Bengals are back in action on Sunday the 16th against Vermont Tech at home, tip-off at 1 PM. Please join us for a halftime show, prizes, and other contests. It’ll be a great time out.