Waterville senior Alex Jenson will miss the track and field season with a knee injury that required surgery, coach Ian Wilson said Tuesday.

Jenson, the defending Class B state champ in the triple jump and 100-meter hurdles, suffered the injury — a torn anterior cruciate ligament — late in the ski season.

Wilson said she had surgery Tuesday.

“She’s an awesome kid and we’ll look for her to contribute in other ways,” Wilson said. “We named her a captain and I have complete confidence she will make other kids better. We’ll lose her points, obviously, but she’ll contribute in helping us pick up some. This is now her moment to overcome it. She’s a tough kid.”

Jenson, who skis at Carrabassett Valley Academy during the winter, scored 28 points by herself at the Class B state meet last season. She also ran on the winning 4×100 relay team.

Wilson said he expects the sophomore class — led by Lydia Roy, Sarah Shoulta and Kellie Bolduc — to fill the void.

“They are more than happy to embrace the role,” Wilson said. “The sophomore class is really strong. They are ready to assume a bigger role on the team.”

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The Mt. Blue boys struggle each year to put together a group of throwers who can score points. Coach Kelley Cullenberg hopes that trend may end this spring.

“Throwing, for us anyway, is still an up-and-coming thing,” she said. “It’s not the norm for that type of athlete to come out to track and field for us. This year, we have a lot of them. It’s pretty cool.”

The throwers provided some strong performances in a season-opening meet at a cold and windy April 11 meet at Winslow.

Brad Dwinal finished third in the discus (105-5) while senior captain Colin Richards finished third in the javelin with a throw of 137-6. Dwinal was also sixth in the javelin with a throw of 120-2.

“Richards had just an amazing meet,” Cullenberg said. “He had lifetime bests in the javelin, discus and shot. That’s pretty incredible. We just have a lot of guys who are working hard. Brad (Dwinal) and McKinley (Goozey) had personal best days as well. Across the board, we couldn’t be happier.”

The Cougars also received a big day from Miranda Nicely, who doesn’t compete in either indoor track or cross country. Nicely qualified for the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A meet in the 1,600 with a time of 5:38.20. She finished third in the event.

“She also just missed qualifying in the 800, so she is right there,” Cullenberg said.

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The Messalonskee girls opened the season with an impressive showing at Mt. Ararat in a six-team meet that also featured perennial Class A power Edward Little.

Amanda Knight won the 100-meter dash (13.29) and was second in the 800 (2:34.73). She also finished fifth in the long jump (12-8) and anchored the 4×400 relay team, which finished fourth.

“She had a big meet,” Messalonskee coach Scott Wilson said.

However, Knight also re-aggravated a foot injury that slowed her a bit during soccer season. She won’t compete at the team’s next meet Thursday in Bath.

“She won’t run this week,” Wilson said. “We’re just being very cautious. She’ll be fine, but there’s no reason to push it now.”

Taylor Lenentine also turned in a strong day for Messalonskee. She won the pole vault (8-0), finished third in the 100 hurdles (17.78) and was sixth in the 300 hurdles (54.93).

“It’s funny because Taylor jumps off the wrong foot every time in the pole vault,” Wilson said. “If we can get her to switch, who knows how high she can go.”

Bill Stewart — 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com

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