Several Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference teams will converge on Drummond Field in Waterville on Thursday for the eighth annual David Whyte Memorial Relays.

The event, which typically draws about 12 teams, provides coaches an opportunity to qualify some athletes for championship meets while trying others in new events.

It is, after all, an unconventional meet.

Although the field events are still contested, the track events are run as relays — save for one change this season.

“We are doing something new this year with the open (1,600-meter) race,” Waterville coach Ian Wilson said.

The top three times in the 1,600 for each team will be totaled at the end of the meet. The team with the lowest score will win the event.

The change will allow runners a chance to qualify for the conference and state championship meets in that event.

“It’s not as big of an exhibition meet as it once was and that’s what makes it great,” Lawrence coach Tim Alberts said. “We’ll try to put together some competitive squads and go over there and have some fun. We’ll have some kids do some events they haven’t done before. That’s what’s great about these kind of meets. You can find a new niche for some of the athletes.”

Added Messalonskee coach Scott Wilson: “Any time you can get your kids exposed to a big meet, it’s a positive. There’s going to be great competition.”

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Messalonskee senior Harlow Ladd said he verbally committed to attend Purdue University in the fall.

“By the end of the week I’ll be signed,” Ladd said.

Ladd said he will receive a 50 percent athletic scholarship to run for the Boilermakers. He will join Madison senior Matt McClintock at the school in the fall as well.

“We are rivals in high school and now we’ll duke it out in college,” Ladd said. “We’ll push each other a lot in college. It’s going to be great.”

Ladd said he fell in love with Purdue on a recent recruiting visit.

“It felt like home,” he said. “It felt right. They have all the ingredients I need to build a successful career.”

* * *

The Lawrence girls enjoyed a record-breaking day in their season-opening meet Thursday in Fairfield.

The 4×800 relay team broke a 30-year school with a time of 10 minutes, 27.41 seconds in a five-team meet with Bangor, Nokomis, Maine Central Institute and Skowhegan.

Marissa Paquette, Sarah Heald, Myrilla Hartkopf and Erzsebet Nagy comprised the squad. Nagy then went out and shattered her own record in the 3,200, finishing in 11:05.72.

“She definitely had a big day for us,” Alberts said. “We had two outstanding performances that broke school records. Our girls showed they’re going in the right direction.”

The Lawrence boys also had some strong performances, led by Mason Travers, who won three events.

The senior won the triple jump (38 feet, 10 inches), high jump (5-10) and the 110 hurdles (18.18).

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Waterville junior Bethanie Brown slowly warmed up to her time — 5:00.49 — in the 1,600 at the season-opening meet in Lewiston last Thursday.

“The funny thing about Bethanie was that she was disappointed with her time,” Wilson said. “She’s such a perfectionist. She had wanted to start where she left off, and that was incredibly unrealistic.”

Brown capped an impressive indoor season by running the mile in an eye-opening 4:56.35 at the New England championships.

“I wanted to get a (personal record) but it was a good way to start the outdoor season,” Brown said. “I hadn’t run the mile in awhile, so it was good.”

* * *

Madison coach Bob Hagopian said Matt McClintock will run the 800, 1,600, 3,200 and 4×800 relay at every meet this season.

“If I don’t run him like this, it’s not worth him going to these meets,” he said. “He’s a senior and he’s smart. He knows what he’s doing out there and he’s strong. He also loves it.”

Hagopian will take a more cautious approach with freshman Bronte Elias.

Elias ran cross country and made quite an impact. She was the top freshman girl at the Festival of Champions and then finished sixth at the Class C state meet.

She won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 at the opening outdoor meet at Hall-Dale last week.

“I don’t like to run freshman that much, but she seems strong and she enjoys it,” Hagopian said. “I did it more for conditioning. At the end of the year, I won’t throw her in all three events, unless she can win them.”

* * *

The Messalonskee boys opened a few eyes with a strong performance at a four-team meet at defending KVAC A champ Edward Little.

The Eagles scored an impressive 75 points and finished second to EL, which had 105.5

“EL is amazing,” Messalonskee coach Scott Wilson said. “They just have so much talent. But we had a good showing. We had quite a few athletes who did well, and we had some very pleasant surprises.”

Junior Travis Stacey headlined that list. A convert from lacrosse, Stacey finished third in the 200 and 400 in his first track and field competition.

Chris DeLisle, Zach Sutherland, Ladd and Cody Lachance also did well.

Lachance won the shot put with a throw of 38-7 while DeLisle was second in the event. DeLisle also finished fifth in both the discus and javelin.

Ladd easily won the 1,600 in 4:38.67. He finished third in the 800.

Sutherland, meanwhile, won the 110 hurdles (18.20), finished third in the long jump, fourth in the triple jump and sixth in the 300 hurdles.

“I’m very pleased with what we have going on this year,” Wilson said. “They have set the tone for the season.”

Bill Stewart — 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com

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