Matt Holman never competed in anything more than 400 meters, whether it be in high school or collegiate competition. So when the Gardiner native picked up the 500 during the indoor season at the University of Maine in Orono, he had just one goal in mind.

“I did it to build strength,” Holman said. “We didn’t have the 400 hurdles for indoor, so I decided on the 500 to build strength. It was the kind of thing we were building to.”

The training paid off — big time.

Holman, a 2005 Gardiner Area High School graduate, won the 400 hurdles at the America East Championships on May 3 and 4 and set a UMaine record in the process.

Holman won the event and set the school record with a time of 53.15 seconds at the meet, which UMaine hosted.

Joel Evans previously set the record in 2003 with a time of 54.22.

“The 400 meter hurdles is about who has more strength,” said Holman, a junior at UMaine. “There is an element of speed in every race, but at the end of the 400 hurdles, the one who comes out on top is the strongest. I’ve never run more than 400 meter hurdles in anything, in high school or college.

“It’s really hard. You have to use controlled speed. You can’t empty the tank. You learn how to control your speed. You learn how to run consistently fast.”

Holman qualified for the IC4A Outdoor Track and Field Championship, which gets underway this weekend at Princeton University. Although the IC4A is more of a regional event, Holman also qualified for the NCAA Regionals that Florida State University will host the final weekend in May.

“I’m real excited,” Holman said. “This is my first year I qualified for the NCAAs, and it’s going to be a great opportunity for me. I’m really anxious to see what I can do against some good runners from the big schools.”

At the America East Championships, Holman actually set the school record during the trials with a 54.1. Holman, who finished second in last year’s conference meet, then broke the 54-second barrier in the finals.

“It was a big relief actually,” said Holman, whose Black Bears finished sixth at the meet. “Setting the school record was a big weight off my shoulders. I’ve been real close. The 54-second barrier was hard to break. When I ran a 53.15, that was big.”

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Hall-Dale took a break Tuesday afternoon, playing kickball during their scheduled practice time.

The Bulldogs need the rest. Hall-Dale competed in its only meet of the week Monday and is preparing for three meets in a week, starting next Monday when it faces, among others, Mountain Valley Conference power Lisbon.

In Monday’s meet, hosted by Winthrop at Hall-Dale High School, three Bulldogs set school records.

Senior Laura Peterson broke her own record in the triple jump with a leap of 37-feet, 1-inch, bettering her old mark by two inches (36-11).

“Thirty-seven feet is a pretty big thresold,” Hall-Dale coach Ralph Peterson, Laura’s father, said.

Also for the Hall-Dale girls, Magen Ellis broke her own record in the 3,200 with a time of 11:43. On Monday, the boys and girls competed at the same time in the 3,200, something that helped Ellis set the school mark.

“Magen hasn’t had anyone to run with all year,” Coach Peterson said. “She ran with a young man (Monday) and I think she said, ‘OK, I’m going to compete with this guy.’ ”

Also in the 3,200, Wade Davis broke the Hall-Dale boys mark of 9:58.7 which was set by Colin Petty about 30 years ago, according to Peterson. Davis set the mark with a time of 9:58.34, which was 11 seconds better than his previous personal record.

“He had a great race with (Winthrop senior) Danny Soltan,” Peterson said. “It’s a good rivalry, they are friendly with each other.”

After competing Monday, Hall-Dale will host a meet next Wednesday, then compete in the Cony Invitational on May 23.

• • •

Since it put in a new track, Gardiner has hosted one meet every year since 2005. This year’s meet is Friday, when the Tigers welcome Maine Central Institute, Messalonskee and Mt. Blue to town.

“It’s a nice way to showcase our track and our team,” Gardiner coach Eric Hall said.

Hall added that bringing in Messalonskee will provide Nikole Robbins the opportunity to race against Jesse Labreck, one of the top track and field athletes in the state. Robbins is a jumper-sprinter for the Tigers.

“It’s a good thing for Nikole,” Hall said.

“She’s a multi-talented athlete who we’re trying to place in a number of events. It’ll be nice for her to run against Labreck. We’d like to see her run.”

• • •

Eryn Neptune and Max HoddWells recently tied Maranacook Community School track records. Neptune jumped 5-2 in the high jump while HoddWells went 20-8 1/2 in the long jump.

The Black Bears’ boys squad fared well last Friday against traditional powers Brunswick and Lisbon. Maranacook finished third with 85 points behind Lisbon (144) and Brunswick (163).

HoddWells won the long jump and 110 hurdles, and Cam Madore continued his strong season in the 300 hurdles, winning with a time of 41.86.

“He was having trouble hitting three strides per hurdle,” Maranacook coach Ronn Gifford said. “But this year he got stronger and he’s really nailed it down. He’s never broken 42 before.”

Gifford added that Taylor Burr is excelling in the 1,600 and 3,200 for the Black Bears as well.

Sports editor Scott Martin contributed to this report

Bill Stewart — 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com