STANDISH, ME - History will be made tomorrow afternoon when the Saint Joseph's College track & field program participates in the Bowdoin College Invitational in Brunswick, the Monks' first-ever event as a varsity squad.
Led by second-year Head Coach Ray Putnam, the Monks will compete in a full slate of events this winter during the indoor season. The men's roster features 16 individuals, including two seniors, two juniors, six sophomores and six freshmen. The women's team lists 13 athletes with two seniors, two juniors, five sophomores and five first-year members.
A pair of veteran runners, senior sprinter Jack LaFreniere (Alton, N.H.) and junior Faisal Abdillahi (Lewiston, Maine), a versatile mid-distance runner who favors the 800-meter, look to lead a group of young and talented athletes during the Monks' first varsity campaign.
The list of youngsters looking to contribute includes freshmen Billy Brooks (Cape Elizabeth, Maine), Connor Dufour (Augusta, Maine), Sam Dunay (Groton, Conn.) and Eddie Donnell, Jr. (Gardiner, Maine). All four individuals have improved steadily during offseason training and figure to play important roles for the Monks this winter. Donnell throws the shot and 35 lb. weight and could prove to be a rare find for the fledgling program.
Senior distance-runner Ashley Condon (Sumner, Maine) headlines a promising women's group and looks to continue her upswing after posting her best cross country season to date last fall. Sophomore Amber Dostie (Standish, Maine), the Maine State High School 800-meter Champion her senior year at Bonny Eagle HS and two-time GNAC Cross Country Runner of the Year honoree, figures to be a major factor for the Monks. Sophomore hurdler Doe Leckie(Naples, Maine) and second-year middle-distance runner Heather Eaton (Lincolnville, Maine) also look to play prominent roles for the Royal Blue this season.
"We're ready to get our feet wet as a varsity team," adds Coach Putnam when asked of his goals for the season. "We're going to let our opponents know that this is a very serious program that will continue to build and grow. We look to be competitive and score at the regular season meets with several individuals and relays qualifying for the next level and will push individuals to improve upon their past times."
Saint Joseph's College, founded in 1912 by the Sisters of Mercy, celebrates its Centennial year in 2012 with a theme of "Realize the Promise" – honoring our commitment to educating well-rounded graduates who combine career focus with classic liberal arts studies. A Private, Catholic, primarily residential, coeducational liberal arts institution, Saint Joseph's welcomes students of all ages and all faiths. The campus, located 18 miles northwest of Portland and just two hours from Boston, encompasses 350 acres along the shore of beautiful Sebago Lake in Standish, Maine. Enrollment ranges between 1,000 and 1,100 students annually. Saint Joseph's offers challenging academic programs in the liberal arts and sciences, education, nursing and business fields in a value-centered environment.
