During the last seven years, Erskine slowly pieced together a track and field facility that someday would be home to the school's first-ever meet.

Well, someday has finally arrived.

On May 15, Erskine will host Waterville, Messalonskee, Lawrence and Maine Central Institute in its first track and field meet.

"We're not quite sure what to expect," junior distance runner Sam Seekins said. "We're all very excited. We're the first to do it. It's a nice feeling to have our own meet."

Erskine athletic director Doran Stout, chairperson on the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Track Committee, said it's been a long time coming.

"We've spent $3,000 to $4,000 on track equipment every year," he said. "We slowly put this together. We've had a track program for about 20 years and we've had a track surface for about seven or eight. But we've been working on the equipment."

The new equipment includes more than 70 hurdles, a high jump pit and a discus cage. The school hasn't purchased pole vaulting equipment -- Stout said that could cost up to $15,000 -- but there are a few contingency plans in place for the event.

"Waterville and Winslow offered to lend us their pole vault," Stout said. "We're still trying to see if we can transport the equipment. We don't want to ruin other people's equipment. We could also hold the pole vault the day before somewhere else. We're still working that out."

Added Waterville coach Ian Wilson: "I think it's great for them. It's good for the sport and it's good for the conference."

Stout acknowledged the first meet will present some challenges.

"We expect pretty close to 400 athletes," he said. "I'm a little nervous because we haven't done it. But we're looking forward to it."

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Skowhegan coach Soren Siren said one of the challenges he faces is piecing together some relay teams.

"We'll play a chess game this week, switch people around," he said. "I don't see us having a 4x800 relay team in either the boys or the girls. But we want a 4x400 and a 4x100."

In a four-team meet with Waterville, Mt. View and Nokomis, the Skowhegan girls won the 4x100 relay. Haley Holt (freshman), Anna Marshall (freshman), Gabrielle Martineau (sophomore) and Renee DePres (junior) comprised the team that finished in 58.06 seconds.

"They surprised me," Siren said. "We should have a solid 4x100 relay team, but I have to try and develop a 4x400."

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Shelby Tuttle, Danielle Fossa and JD Gurski got off to what coach Wilson called "phenomenal starts."

The Waterville seniors certainly put on a show in their season-opening meet at Skowhegan.

Gurski won the javelin with a throw of 179 feet, 4 inches. He also won the 110-meter hurdles (16.76) and the long jump (19-1). Tuttle, meanwhile, won the 100 hurdles by almost three seconds (16.74) over Rebecca Wolinski of Nokomis. Tuttle also won the 300 hurdles (46.5) and the triple jump (35-7). Fossa easily won the discus with a throw of 123-2 and the shot put (37-9.75).

"They have looked awesome," Wilson said. "The key is keeping those kids healthy."

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Kourtney Bradbury competed in just the discus and shot put for Nokomis last season.

This season, Nokomis coach John White asked her to try the javelin.

"I knew she'd be good at it," he said. "I asked her to do it, and now she's into it."

It helped that Bradbury, a junior, went out and finished second to Skowhegan's Angelina Camillo in her first meet.

"I don't want to overload the younger kids too much, but she was ready," White said.

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Messalonskee freshman Harlow Ladd is opening a few eyes in the early going. Ladd, a newcomer to the sport, finished fourth in the 1,600 at a season-opening, six-team meet at Lawrence High School.

"He's got some running talent," Messalonskee coach Scott Wilson said. "He can fly."

What's more impressive is that Ladd went out last weekend and won the Papa's 5k Run in Oakland -- the first road race he's competed in. He finished in 18:46.

"It was his first road race ever," Wilson said. "I'm impressed. It was a real hilly course, too."

Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com