Cony senior Lindsey Folsom says she can relax now that her collegiate plans are finalized.

“It’s so nice to have it all settled,” Folsom said. “You don’t even know how exciting it is.”

Folsom, one of the top pole vaulters in the state, signed a letter of intent to compete on the University of Rhode Island track and field team. She said she made up her mind last month.

“I went there and loved it,” she said. “I took three classes there and really loved the professors and the people. I think it’s a great fit. They have some talented pole vaulters there so it’s going to be a good transition.”

Folsom won the Class A pole vault title in 2010 and again last year. She also competes in some sprints, but she’ll focus on the pole vault at URI.

“At that level they allow you to be a bit more specialized,” said Cony assistant coach Peter Marsh, who works with the pole vaulters. “We’re very excited for her. It was a process. I think now she can relax a little bit more. I have high hopes for Lindsey in the next few meets to close out her career here.”

Folsom will join Bethany Dumas as the latest Cony pole vaulter to compete at the collegiate level. Dumas attended the University of Southern Maine and graduated last year.

“We’re making our mark,” Marsh said.

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It took a few weeks, but Maranacook coach Ronn Gifford says his teams may finally have “their legs underneath them now.”

“It’s been a little bit of a struggle,” Gifford said. “A third of the team, or about a third of the team, missed three weeks of practices because of foreign exchange trips. We had 20 kids go to France and 10 more to Germany. We’re just now starting to get it all together.”

Both Maranacook teams finished third at a seven-team meet at Brunswick last Thursday. The Black Bears finished behind KVAC A teams Brunswick and Mt. Ararat.

Andrew Lachance won the discus (121) and shot put (42-9). Sam Nielsen won the 110 hurdles (16.49) and finished second in the 300 hurdles (43.55).

Caroline Colan won the 1,600 for the Maranacook girls in 5:25.93.

“The runners are starting to get their times down now,” Gifford said. “Andrew Lachance threw very well. He didn’t set any (personal records) but he gained.”

Maranacook will host a five-team meet Thursday.

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Monmouth had some pleasant surprises at a seven-team meet at Hall-Dale last week, most notably senior Adrianna Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, who started in goal for the Monmouth soccer team, is new to track and field, but she qualified for the Mountain Valley Conference in three events — discus (74-0), shot put (25-10) and javelin (79-0).

“She’s been a big surprise,” Monmouth coach Tom Menendez. “We might be able to sneak her in the state meet somewhere. She’s pretty dedicated and is working pretty hard.”

Gonzalez helped the Mustangs finish second to Lisbon.

• • •

Taylor Lenentine set the Messalonskee school record in the pole vault when she cleared 9-6 at Edward Little last week.

“She just missed 10 feet, too,” Messalonskee coach Scott Wilson said.

The Messalonskee sophomore hit the mark on her second jump.

“We knew it was going to happen,” Wilson said. “It was exciting. We’ve been working hard on this. When she finally did it, it was like, ‘Wow.’ It was her time.”

Lenentine will next compete Thursday at Maranacook in a meet that will feature Folsom.

The Messalonskee boys set a school record in the 4×800 relay at the meet as well. Emmitt Heath, Logan Moses, Travis Stacey and Kyle Holmsen finished in 8:39 to win the race.

Bill Stewart — 621-5640
bstewart@centralmaine.com