Two local track and field standouts turned in season’s-best, regionally significant performances for the University of Maine men in the Black Bears’ opening meet of 2012.

Trevor “T.J.” England of Auburn (Polaand Regional High School) and Frank DelDuca of Bethel (Telstar) each established a qualifying mark for the IC4A championship meet in an event at Dartmouth College on Jan. 14.

England, a senior, won his signature event, the triple jump. His distance of 48 feet, 5 ¼ inches was good for the victory by more than five feet. England swept the day by winning the long jump (21-2 ¾).

DelDuca finished second in his 60-meter dash preliminary before clearing the 7-second barrier to win the final. The sophomore clocked a 6.98 in the championship sprint. He also was part of the victorious 4×400 relay team and finished third in the 200 meters, helping Maine to a runner-up finish in the meet.

The reigning America East conference champion in triple jump, England set one of the top-three distances in Maine history in the event as a junior.

This week’s efforts were rewarded with America East men’s track and field performer of the week honors.

On the women’s side, Allison Fereshetian of Turner (Leavitt) was second in the 60-meter hurdles, boosting the Black Bears to another second-place finish.

She was sixth and eighth in American East in her two hurdle events at the American East outdoor championships as a freshman.

Fereshetian was second only to teammate Jesse Labreck, who was named the league’s top female competitor of the week,

Another local sophomore, Ashten Hackett of Auburn (Edward Little), finished seventh in the same race. She was third in the triple jump.

REPLENISHING THE RANKS

Each basketball team at Central Maine Community College has reinforced its roster with a local standouts as they roll into second semester.

Maggie Sabine of Litchfield, a 1,000-point scorer during her career at Oak Hill, has made an immediate impact at the collegiate level.

The six-foot forward notched 21 points and 12 rebounds in the Mustangs’ 67-60 victory over New Hampshire Tech.

CMCC avenged an early-season loss with the triumph.

Tyler Smithgall of Winthrop returned to CMCC with authority in the men’s half of that doubleheader, leading the Mustangs with 27 points and 15 rebounds. CM nevertheless dropped a 69-59 decision in Concord.

BATES HOOPSTERS HONORED

Bates men’s basketball captain John Squires was named player of the week by the Maine men’s basketball coaches and writers’ association for the week ending Jan. 15.

Squires was stellar as Bates held serve against its CBB rivals at Alumni Gym.

The 6-foot-8 senior center chalked up career highs of 17 points and 20 rebounds in a 66-55 win over Colby.

For an encore, he tallied 12 points and 10 rebounds in an 81-60 romp over Bowdoin.

With the big weekend, Squires now has five double-doubles on the winter.

The two-sport standout was a first-team all-NESCAC performer during football season. He is one of four Bates players averaging at least 10 points per game on the hardwood.

For the Bates women, Molly Brown was named the state’s rookie of the week for the second time this season. She scored 19 points in Bates‘ impressive 69-53 victory over Bowdoin.

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