BY BILL STEWART

Staff Writer

The numbers are up -- way up.

"This is my third year doing this," said Mt. View High School track and field coach Kevin Petrak. "In my first year, we had 14 kids combined for girls and boys. Last year we had at most 20. This year, I had 41 kids at our last meet."

When asked how he attributes such a surge in interest, Petrak laughs and says, "I have no idea. I wouldn't care to guess, either. I'm just glad it happened."

The increased numbers helped Petrak fill out the events, something he couldn't do in previous seasons. For starters, the Mustangs are able to field relay teams for the first time in Petrak's tenure.

"I could do a (4x100-meter) boys relay last year, but other than that, not much else," said Petrak, who ran the Boston Marathon last month.

Of the newcomers, Petrak said he's received strong performances from freshman Hayleigh Kein and senior Eben Estell. Kein competes in the high jump, 100, 300 hurdles and at least one relay team.

"Estell, we're not really sure where we're going to keep him," Petrak said. "He helped on the (4x100) relay, he ran the 100 for the first time, and he's going to do the 400 and 200. We'll see."

• • •

Strike up the band ...

The Maine Central Institute girls track team scored 37 points in its season-opening meet April 17 against Mt. Blue, Nokomis and Lawrence.

Two weeks later, the Huskies racked up 121 points to win a meet that again featured Lawrence and Mt. Blue.

So, why the turnaround?

"We had a band trip, and 25 of our 40 girls were away," said MCI coach Jason Allen. "We had 10 or 12 girls at the meet. The band and chorus had a big day in New York City."

Members of the school's band and chorus competed in a three-day event in New York from April 17-19.

"It's nice to have everyone back," Allen said.

Jenna Lorentsen and Amanda Asaro turned in strong performances to lead the Huskies in their meet May 2. Lorentsen won the 200 (29.23), long jump (14-09.75) and triple jump (30-01.5). Asaro won the javelin (70-11), 1,600 (5:39.62) and 3,200 (12:53.90).

• • •

When Messalonskee coach Scott Wilson saw the schedules for the first time, he couldn't help but do a double-take.

"We only have five meets, and our first three were against Erskine," he said. "I've never seen anything like that before. When I first saw it, I said, 'Hey, this is interesting.' Three meets with the same two teams. Needless to say, we're getting to know Erskine real well."

Messalonskee and Erskine will compete against each other for the final time Tuesday. The girls teams split the previous two meetings, while the Erskine boys swept Messalonskee.

"I'm not sure how that worked out," Erskine coach Ben Willoughby said on the schedule. "I think it's just the roll of the dice."

• • •

Messalonskee's Jesse Labreck, one of the top track and field athletes in the state, tried the 200 last week for the first time in her career.

"It's just something she wanted to do," Wilson said.

Just like her other events, including the hurdles, high jump and triple jump, Labreck had no problems dominating the field. In a meet against Erskine, Rockland and Maranacook, Labreck easily won the 200 with a time of 26.79. Messalonskee scored 103 points to win the meet.

"She's only a few hundredths of a seconds away from the school record," Wilson added.

• • •

The Mt. Blue boys are 4-2 with both loses coming courtesy of Lawrence. The boys are competing with just 15 athletes, although 10 have qualified for the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference meet.

"We don't have that many kids, but we're getting a lot from the ones who are there," Mt. Blue coach Kelley Cullenberg said.

Captains Sam Mungin and Eric Marceau have helped lead the way. Mungin is competing in the 400 and 800, which is a new event for him.

Marceau is running the 1,600 and 3,200.

"He's playing around with the javelin, too," Cullenberg said.

• • •

Anna Niedbala is off to another good start for Erskine. Niedbala, a senior who will compete for the Dartmouth College track and field team next fall, won the shot put and discus in her team's May 1 meet against Messalonskee, Maranacook and Rockland.

In the season-opening meet, she helped the Eagles score 50 points against Brewer, Belfast, Messalonskee and Lincoln by winning the javelin, discuss and shot put.

"She is by far my strongest kid," Willoughby said. "She's throwing the discus at 133 feet, which is phenomenal."

Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com