Viking track squads loaded with talent

14 years ago

By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter

CARIBOU — Bolstered by solid numbers, the Viking track and field teams are once again the best in Aroostook County and should be contenders for Penobscot Valley Conference titles as well.

Caribou was able to register a second-place performance on the boys’ side and was fourth among girls’ teams at last year’s PVC competition and with 91 athletes on the 2011 roster, depth should put the team near the top when the meet is held at the end of the month at Mount Desert Island High School in Bar Harbor.

 

“It’s an excellent group of athletes and the depth creates a competitive spirit among them,” said veteran coach Roy Alden, who works alongside Todd Alley, Todd Albert and P.J. Gorneault. “This is a special group with a great deal of potential.”

The Caribou boys are especially strong in distance running events and the race walk. Christian Sleeper is one of the best in the state in both the 800 and 1,600 and the senior has started off with some great times in those events during early-season meets. Senior D.J. Flynn is the top returning race walker in Class B and is also a top performer in the 3,200. Senior Jake Michaud and juniors Josh Kovach and Jesse Sandstrom add depth in those events.

Senior Matt Till is considered one of the best 400 runners in the conference and is also a talented sprinter and high jumper, while sophomore Brendan Wood and junior Nick Dobson have developed into dependable hurdlers at both the 110 and 300 distances.

Other top performers for Caribou will be senior Lance Jandreau in the pole vault and junior Jake Maher and senior Nick Michaud in throwing events. Juniors Kjetil Rossignol and Aaron Ellis are rapidly-improving 400 runners.

Other boys team members include seniors George Belanger, Mason Rossignol, Cole Sirois, Fred Page, Kyle McEwen, Kevin Strid, Levi Bither, Ethan Stetson and Adam Thibodeau; juniors Charm Karunsari, Alex Gehring, Nick Pucci, Colby Conroy, Cody Charette, Marc Sturzl and Dustin Boucher; sophomores Taylor Dobson, Sean Barbosa, Grahm Freme, Ron Lund and Matt Lulofs; and freshmen Adam Collins, Derek Richardson, Keith Draper, Jared Doody, Jacob Bither, Lucas Kinney, Kameron Manter, Tyler Strid, Alex Murchison, Tyler Charette and Danny LaCasse.

Sophomore Olivia Sleeper is one of the best sprinters in Eastern Maine and leads the way for the Caribou girls this season. She placed in three events as a freshman at last year’s state meet and is off to a great start this season as well.

Junior Sarae Sager is Caribou’s top hurdler and one of the best in the PVC, but the team has depth in that event with juniors Paige Small and Demarre Doody-Corriveau also doing well.

Sophomore Emily Soderberg and Small are two of the best race walkers in the state, while sophomore Mackenzie Belyea is a pole vault and distance running specialist. Seniors Dayna Michaud and Mary Jo Sheehan have been running well and are other strong distance runners for the Vikings.

Sophomore Reanna Plourde qualified for the state meet in four events (100, 200, 400 and high jump) and is another of Caribou’s top performers along with middle distance runner and sprinter Kendra Stephens, a sophomore. Sophomore Hannah Hebert, senior Laura Collins and junior Katie Plourde were state qualifiers in the triple jump and junior Kelly Kashian is strong in the high jump.

Juniors Morgan Swan and Sam Murchison are Caribou’s standouts in throwing. Swan owns the school record in the shot put and is also solid in the javelin and the discus. Murchison’s best event is the discus and she is showing marked improvement in the javelin.

The remainder of the team consists of seniors Meagan Wood and Nicole Cyr, juniors Annie Collins, Erin Madore, Marigan Doody, Katrina McPherson, Renee Dube, Sphen Johnson, Sarah Plourde and Samantha Watson; sophomores Rahel Donner, Qurosity Garcia, Katherine Page, Alyssa Randolph, Meredith Sleeper, Chelsea Bard, Bekah Walker and Haley Hunter; and freshmen Chaya Karunsari, Briana Rossignol, Alana Sirois, Sammy Camy, Jessica Kovach, Allisa Irving, Ashley Simon, Melanie Biggs, Clara Collins and Sara Hamlin.

Team managers are junior Paige Nadeau and sophomore Alexis McCrossin.    

“Their confidence will grow with every meet,” Alden said. “Our chances [for titles] will depend on how focused and determined our athletes can be day in and day out, all the way through the state meet.”