BY BILL STEWART

Staff Writer

She walked into one of her first collegiate classes and did what most unsuspecting freshmen do: Stare in disbelief.

"There were 350 kids in this child development class," Jesse Labreck said. "That was nuts. I went in and it was like a stadium. It was like we were having a play. I walked in there and was like, 'Ah ... OK.' Then I realized my legs were too long for the seats, so I have to sit on the ends or right up front."

It took about three months -- or close to one semester -- but Labreck, one of the best high school track and field athletes in state history, is finally settling in to life at the University of Maine at Orono.

"It was a little bit scary," said Labreck, who graduated from Messalonskee High School and holds six state track records -- two indoor and four outdoor. "The school felt really big and you felt you were all alone. It was a little bit stressful, but my coach and teammates really helped me a lot. They really made me feel welcome."

When did she start to feel comfortable in her new surroundings?

"Probably about a month ago it really sunk in," the Oakland native said. "The school suddenly didn't feel big at all. It was pretty recent. Once it hit you, it was a lot better. It was quite a beginning, though."

So, too, was her debut in college track.

Labreck won two events and finished second in another at her first collegiate event, Dec. 13 against the University of New Hampshire. She won the long jump with a leap of 18-33/4 and the 55-meter hurdles (8.4 seconds). Labreck was a close second in the triple jump, going for 38-21/4.

The America East Conference honored Labreck as its performer of the week.

Not bad for a freshman. Of course, that's not how Labreck, a somewhat of a perfectionist, viewed the accomplishment.

"I was a little bit bummed out when I got my score with distances and times," she said.

It wasn't until assistant coach Dave Cusano put the performance into perspective when Labreck felt satisfied with her performance.

"He said last year at this time I was just starting practicing," she said. "Then I realized what he was saying -- we weren't even in our hardest training yet. I had to look at that."

Added Cusano: "One of the biggest things she brings to the team is her tenacity. She just really wants to win."

Cusano recruited Labreck to come to Orono. Cusano said Labreck's ability to compete in a variety of events made her a top target for the program.

"It was how she competed," he said. "She would do four events and win them all. It was routine for her. She's a special athlete."

Just how special?

"I think she will be recognized as one of the best athletes in school history. By the time her career is over, she will be one of the best athletes to ever come out of UMaine."

Labreck and the Black Bears began training for the indoor and outdoor seasons in early September. Like the classes and campus food, it took some time to get comfortable with the training.

"We started working out the day we got there," Labreck said. "It was different. It wasn't extremely harder. It's tough to explain. There were no random practices. Everything you did was for a reason. It had a purpose. Everything we worked on was for the meets."

The training also helped Labreck adjust to college life.

"It was helpful," Labreck said. "It made you feel better about yourself. Going to practice, it gave you something to do. It just felt pretty normal. You felt like you belonged."

If the first meet is any indication, Labreck does belong.

Last spring, Labreck capped a brilliant scholastic career by breaking three records at the Eastern Maine Class A meet -- the triple jump, 100-meter hurdles and high jump. She went on to win the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles at the New England Track and Field Championships, establishing herself as one of the state's most accomplished high school athletes.

Labreck is focused on turning in a strong indoor season. She says her goal is to shine at a number of championship meets later this winter, including the ECAC Championships on March 7 in Boston and the NCAA Championships on March 13 in Fayetteville, Ark.

"It'll start to get intense when I get back from school vacation," Labreck said. "I'm really excited for that. My goal is to get to those meets, especially the NCAAs. I'm trying to qualify for those right now. It's pretty cool."

And enjoy the ride in the process.

"This is a lot more fun than high school," Labreck said. "It's a lot more free, which I like."

Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com