POLAND – The first time T.J. England soared into the jump pit or glided over a hurdle on Poland Regional High School’s outdoor track as a wide-eyed freshman, everybody recognized he was a natural.

Everybody, that is, except England himself.

“I didn’t like it, so I quit,” England said. “I went to my first meet and I had no idea what I was going to do. I didn’t know what they were doing when they were calling the events. I was pretty intimidated, so I said, ‘This isn’t for me,’ and I left.”

The stage fright didn’t immediately disappear when coaches cajoled England into rejoining the Knights as a sophomore. Eventually, coach Mark Soehren encouraged his prodigy to get comfortable with the three-ring circus by simply watching an event.

Now everyone’s watching England … if they can figure out where to stand.

England entered his senior season as the top returning athlete from last year’s Class B state meet in both the 110-and 300-meter hurdles as well as the triple jump.

He’s entitled to enter four events at the upcoming Western Maine Conference and state meets, and there’s no guarantee that last year’s specialties will be on that list.

“The problem is, he’s talented in so many events that we’re trying to figure out what would be his best ones,” Soehren said. “We’ve had him in the high jump, triple jump, long jump, both hurdles, our 4×400 relay, and we could have him do more. You can do four events, and he’s got more that he’s good at.”

England launched his season by starring in the old stand-bys, sweeping the hurdles and taking top honors in triple jump at a home meet May 2.

Five days later, at Traip Academy in Kittery, England aced the triple and long jumps and cranked out a personal record of 15.4 seconds in the 110 hurdles.

“I’ve been PR-ing a lot. Working out in the weight room and doing more technique stuff has been paying off,” England said. “That, and harder workouts.”

Also a star on the cross country trails and the basketball court, England supplements his gifts with a behind-the-scenes intensity that is a far cry from his fits and starts as a freshman.

“He’s got springs for legs. He sets his mind to it, and he’ll work hard. He gets after it,” Soehren said. “And he’s fast. We could enter him in the open 200 or 400. He just has that natural athletic ability and the work ethic to keep working hard at it.

England served notice at his sophomore state meet with a sixth-place finish in the 110 hurdles.

A year later, he improved to third in the same event and was runner-up in the 300 hurdles.

“Last year I was so close as a junior. That was my ultimate goal is being a state champion,” England said. “This year that’s what I’m striving for. All I’m worried about right now is conference meet and that I peak at the right time. I don’t want to peak now. This is just training.”

Soehren’s persistence in pursuing fall and winter athletes who weren’t playing a spring sport paid off, in England’s case.

The coach is quick to point out, however, that his pupil’s dedication to the craft has helped him clear that invisible hurdle of reluctant star.

“His athleticism has always been there. Now you talk about leadership and maturing and what can you do to get better,” said Soehren. “Those are the things T.J. is doing now for us.”