BY BILL STEWART

Staff Writer

A little more experience, a little more confidence and a little more strength has Mackenzie Dufour on the cusp of a breakout season for the Cony High School track and field team.

"Last year, it took her until late May to start putting up some decent times," Cony coach Shawn Totman said. "We're already seeing them this year. She really looks great this year. She's really stronger."

Dufour, one of the team's top sprinters, competes in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter runs, as well as the 4x400 relay. In the Class A championship meet last season, Dufour ran the 100 in 13.18. In the season-opening meet this spring, she finished in 13.70.

"I've been trying to improve my starts," said Dufour, a junior. "I've been working on my blocks. I've also seen improvement because I don't get nervous before races. I know how to calm down."

Dufour had never competed in track and field prior to entering high school.

"I decided to do it to get stronger for basketball and soccer," she said. "Then I started realizing it was really fun."

Added Totman: "Experience is paying off for her. She's had one more year of physical growth and that has helped her a lot."

• • •

Former Maranacook standout Max HoddWells is transferring to the University of New Hampshire from Stonehill College in Easton, Mass.

HoddWells, who won the Class B state title in the 300-meter hurdles last season and was the Kennebec Journal Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, said he wanted to compete at the Division I level.

"I definitely enjoyed it here, but they also don't have everything I want for school and I felt I would have a better track career (at UNH)," he said.

HoddWells is not competing for the Skyhawks this spring.

"They told me I couldn't compete, but I'm not too bent out of shape about it," HoddWells said. "I have a lot to look ahead for. It's actually good to have a break. I've been lifting and I've been able to get a lot stronger. Hopefully, I'll come back as strong as ever."

HoddWells added that he hopes to compete in the hurdles, triple jump and possibly some sprints at UNH.

• • •

The Hall-Dale track teams will compete Thursday at Madison in their first meet of the season.

"I don't know how the schedule was made up, but everyone is itching to get going and get some competition," first-year coach Joe Viselli said. "There are only so many drills you can do before everyone just wants a real meet. We're going to get the regular season done in two and a half weeks."

Hall-Dale is scheduled to compete at meets on consecutive days, May 21 at Wiscasset and May 22 at Gardiner.

• • •

Same leg, same injury.

Messalonskee High School senior Erik Anderson tweaked his left hamstring while running the 100-meter dash at a recent practice -- the same injury that forced him to miss the Class A state championship meet last season.

"It's a little sore," Anderson said. "But I won't let it hold me back. But I also don't want to injure myself any more. I'm taking it easy this week. I think I'll be fine."

The Eagles and coach Scott Wilson are taking no chances.

"We want him to do well in the states," Wilson said. "We think we got it before he did any real damage. Hopefully, with rest and stretching, he'll be fine. But I'd rather not even run him the rest of the season and then run him in the KVACs and the states."

Is that possible?

"Who knows? We'll see where this takes us," Wilson said.

Anderson added that he works out with a physical therapist "two or three times a week."

"It helps get me flexible," he said.

• • •

After a rash of what coach Eric Hall said were "bumps and bruises," Gardiner changed up its pre-meet exercise regiment.

"We're doing more dynamic stretches," Hall said. "We're trying to have the kids stretch and mimic what they will do with their events. We switched up our stretching, and it's cut down on some injuries. We just tried to get the warmups to mimic the events. We don't have a lot of depth to cover injuries."

Hall added that freshman Olivia Reny is enjoying a successful spring, which gives the team flexibility with senior Nikole Robbins. Reny recently finished second in the 400 and sixth in the long jump at a six-team meet at Maranacook in Readfield.

"Now we can move Nikole around to the stronger events," Hall said. Robbins competes as one of the Tigers' top jumpers and sprinters.

Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com