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Track and Field Announces Eight Commitments
July 18, 2008
ORONO, Maine-- University of Maine track and field head coach Mark Lech announced the commitments of eight student-athletes for the 2008-09 track seasons. Shaniqua Burgess (New Haven, Conn./Hillhouse High), Jesse Labreck (Winslow, Maine/Messalonskee), Jennie Lucy (Bangor, Maine/Bangor), Riley Masters (Bangor, Maine/Bangor High School), Hillary Maxim (Old Town, Maine/Old Town), Katherin McGeoghan (Feeding Hills, Mass./Agawam) and Megan Nealy (Belfast, Maine/Belfast) and Jillian O'Brien (Buffalo, N.Y./West Seneca West) will be joining the Black Bears this fall. Burgess is the 2007 Gatorade Connecticut Track and Field Athlete of the Year. She won the 200 meter dash in the 2007 All-State Connecticut Outdoor Meet and placed second in the 100 meter dash. Burgess was also the Class L 55 meter dash state indoor champion while also placing second in the 300 meter dash. "Shaniqua is a very powerful, strong runner," said Maine assistant coach Dave Cusano, "When you add her to the sprinters we already have, it creates quite a sprinting crew." Labreck is the 2008 New England outdoor champion in the 100 meter hurdles and 300 meter hurdles, as well as the runner-up in the triple jump. She is also the Maine state class A outodor champion in the 100 meter hurdles, 300 meter hurdles, high jump and triple jump. In addition she holds three class A state outdoor records in the 100 meter hurdles, 300 meter hurdles and high jump. Labreck also won the state pentathlon championship and placed third in the event at the Nike Indoor Nationals. LaBreck is a First Team Maine Track and Cross Country Coaches All-State selection in indoor and outdoor track. "She is one of the best athletes ever to come out of a Maine high school and come to the University of Maine," said Lech. Lucy was a member of the 4x400 meter relay team for Bangor that won the state championship in the event. She was also sixth in the 800 meter run at the Maine class A indoor meet and seventh in the outdoor meet.
"She'll do well," said Lech. "Especially after she has a year of training under her belt." Masters won the one mile run in the 2008 Maine class A indoor meet while finishing second in the 800 meter run and the two mile run. He is the outdoor state champion in the 1,600 meter and 3,200 meter runs, and led his Bangor High School team to the 2007 indoor and outdoor state championships. He is a First Team MTCCCA All-State selection in indoor and outdoor track. "Riley is one of the best distance runners to ever come out of the state of Maine," said Lech. "I see a lot of untapped potential, he could be one of our fastest runners ever." Maxim is the 2008 Maine indoor state class B champion in the one mile and two mile runs, as well as the 2008 Maine state class B champions in the 1,600 meter and 3,200 meter runs. She also had a ninth place and a 13th place showing in the 1,600 meter run and 3,200 meter run, respectively, at the New England Outdoor Championships. "Hillary is definitely one of the best distance runners coming out of high school this past year," said Lech. "Hillary's had to work really hard as she did not have a lot of competition in races. She's had to make herself fast without any help, and that is a nice attribute to have." McGeoghan was the runner-up in the Division II Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Indoor meet in the high jump. She placed seventh in the high jump at the MIAA All-State track and field outdoor meet in June. "Katherine is a good all-around athlete," said Cusano. "She comes from a very athletic family and should have a lot of success." Nealy is the 2008 Maine class B outdoor state champion in the 800 meter run, as well as taking third place in the 800 meter run in the state indoor meet. "She's been one of the top runners in her class for at least the last two years," said Lech. "Definitely somebody I'm looking forward to coming in and continuing to improve." O'Brien was a member of the West Seneca West 4x200 meter relay team that broke the Section VI New York state record. She was also a member of the 4x100 relay team that set a school-record. "She's a great sprinter," said Cusano. "She will add depth to our short-sprint crew." The eligibility of all student-athletes is contingent upon admission to the University of Maine and compliance with all NCAA rules, including registration with the NCAA clearinghouse.
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