Cold practice, hot wings —what we learned at Poland track and field practice

Senior Ryan Kelly goes over a hurdle during a Poland track and field practice Thursday at Poland Regional High School. The Knights' first track meet of the season is scheduled for May 1. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)

Runners practice dynamic stretching using lowered hurdles during a Poland track and field practice on Thursday at Poland Regional High School. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)

Varsity Maine reporters ventured out Thursday to visit Cony girls tennis, Cape Elizabeth girls lacrosse and Poland track and field preseason practices. Here’s what we learned at Poland:

Practice was windy Thursday, but the smiles on the faces of the Poland track and field team couldn’t be blown away. The sunny afternoon was one of the best weather days of the cold, dreary preseason, and it marked the first day the Knights could practice field events.

Runners set up the hurdles in the lanes, as long jumpers wiped sand off their legs and about 15 throwers were tossing javelins across the practice field. And although it was still a little brisk, senior Ryan Kelly was still happy to be outside in a T-shirt and shorts.

“We have such an open track, shot put ring, high jump pit, we have everything. It’s amazing just to go out and do your events instead of being inside, having very little opportunities,” said Kelly, who competes in the 400-meter dash and high jump. “It’s really nice out here.”

Kelly wasn’t the only athlete anticipating the start of the spring season. Senior thrower Cayden Michaud thinks the outdoor track experience is “so much more worth it” than the indoor experience. Junior distance runner Elianna Morello prefers indoor track to outdoor track, since it usually attracts more dedicated teammates, but she is excited for this outdoor season because this current squad is “the most dedicated I’ve seen our track team be.”

With 71 athletes, this spring’s outdoor track and field team is one of the largest Poland has fielded since the pandemic.

There hasn’t been a shortage of team-bonding activities, and the Knights shared a few ways they’ve become closer:

• Through international music. Michaud and senior sprinter Mason Dulworth are among a group of athletes who like to bump songs from Dominican artists and other Spanish-speaking singers before meets. Kelly is a big fan of K-Pop before he competes.

• With Buffalo Wild Wings. Many athletes on the boys team like to hang out and grab a bite to eat at B-Dubs, especially if a Patriots or March Madness game is on. They aren’t scared of the Blazin’ Challenge (in which a person attempts to each 10 of the mega-hot Carolina Reaper wings in five minutes), but they aren’t doing it often.

“We had like eight of the guys out there doing it, and we, um, did not do very great,” Dulworth said.

• With an outdoor adventure. Kelly invites his teammates to ski at Pleasant Mountain, and senior middle distance runner Harper Doyle likes to head to the beach later in the season. Morello doesn’t need to go too far or need certain weather to find an adventure.

“On our long runs, for sure, we make a lot of memories,” she said. “Especially, when we run up and down the roads, we find things, we explore… it’s really fun.”

• With concessions. The general consensus was that the Poland snack shack had the best bang for your buck compared to other tracks the Knights visit. Sophomore thrower Alyssa Mason goes for the pretzel, Kelly is a fan of the nachos and SunnyD (after he’s gone through boxes of apple juice), and Dulworth claims the pizza is one of the best he’s had anywhere.

“It’s not the best for you (pre-race), but if they have breakfast sandwiches, that’s where it’s at,” Doyle said. “Those are so good. There’s never a bad breakfast sandwich at a track meet.”