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Both indoors and outdoors, the 2024-25 high school track season was unforgettable for Lewiston’s Craig John and his coaching colleagues. Six months later, the fervor it left has carried over.

A season of record-setting performances created a bevy of headlines across the state. This winter, the passion for the sport is evident in the 900 athletes competing for Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference schools — more than John or even his more-tenured fellow coaches can remember.

“It’s kind of insane,” said John, Lewiston’s fourth-year coach. “I think with the teams being so big and all the great things you saw last year, you just have even more (excitement than usual). I think the meets this year are going to be very competitive.”

Indeed, it’s slated to be a big winter in fieldhouses across the Pine Tree State. A banner year last season has laid the groundwork for a lot of excitement, with jam-packed rosters, new competitors and new(ish) venues among the major storylines.

A year ago, Marshwood’s Andre Clark (sprints), Lewiston’s Ryker Paradis (throws) and South Portland’s Arnaud Sioho (jumps) smashed records. Clark (indoor 55), Paradis (outdoor shot put), Windham’s Carter Engelman (outdoor pole vault), Lake Region’s Sam Laverdiere (outdoor 1,600) and Bangor’s Sophia Chase (outdoor long jump) won New England titles. Lewiston’s Josia Katroli (high jump) and Windham’s Tayla Pelletier (jumps) also shined.

Although all of those athletes, aside from Chase, have graduated, plenty of talent remains throughout the state. In Falmouth’s Ali Carter, Bonny Eagle’s Drew Gervais, Lewiston’s Cam Harris and Winslow’s Hassan Hobbi, there’s an elite group of boys sprinters. Chase, Scarborough’s Laurel Driscoll (distance) and Isabella Harmon (high jump, pole vault), and Fryeburg Academy’s Avery Bariteau (sprints) are among the top girls.

“Going into last year, the headline athletes were seniors, but I think —  especially through the course of the outdoor season — you also saw those underclassmen improve their performances a lot, too,” said South Portland boys coach Dave Kahill. “This year, those are the guys that have their talent as the focus going into the season.”

The enthusiasm is strong at South Portland, which has a whopping 131 athletes (68 boys and 63 girls) competing in indoor track. John’s Lewiston team is also among the state’s largest at 103 athletes (57 girls, 46 boys). 

The Blue Devils’ large roster is just one piece of a KVAC indoor track picture that’s bigger than ever. The 900 kids competing this year comes after the conference came in at a little over the 700 mark last winter. It makes, John said, for some competitive meets — but also some long ones.

“I do see a problem with it, with kids getting up the next day and going to school,” John said. “With having so many kids, these meets are going to be long. I live in Freeport, and by the time I get home, it’s midnight or 1 o’clock sometimes, and I have to get back up at 5 to go to school. I can only imagine what it’s like for the kids.”

To alleviate some of those concerns, the KVAC has added four meets at Colby College. The conference has rarely held meets at Colby post-COVID after doing so regularly in the years prior, but returning there eases the load, said MCI Athletic Director and KVAC Indoor Track Committee Chairman Jason Allen.

“For schools like your MCIs, Winslows, Lawrences, Messalonskees and Skowhegans that are close to Colby, it’s really helped lessen the travel impact this year,” Allen said. “(Colby) came through in a big way for us, and we’re really grateful for it. It’s something everybody should be excited about.”

Another change in the picture is the emergence of two co-ops in the capital area. Cony has joined with nearby Hall-Dale and Winthrop, while Gardiner, which is in just its second year as a program, is in a co-op with Maranacook and Lisbon. The co-ops push both the Rams and Tigers from Class B to Class A.

There are mixed feelings about the co-ops. Leavitt coach Jenniffer Grant said KVAC schools combining with Mountain Valley Conference schools creates an unfair advantage. Allen wants to offer opportunities for as many kids as possible, but pointed out that indoor track is in a tough spot with co-ops given facility availability. Gardiner coach Jen Boudreau, though, wasn’t about to turn down kids who wanted to compete.

“I get it, but I don’t want to turn kids away from track because track is such a cool sport,” Boudreau said. “If I had indoor track as an option in high school, I would not have wasted my team sitting on the bench in basketball because I was so bad at it. I feel like I need to provide that opportunity to other kids.”

Some kids who wouldn’t have been able to participate without a co-op arrangement are thankful for the opportunity. Maranacook junior Evelyn Stevenson, for example, won the Class C outdoor state title in the spring. Now, she has a chance to chase an indoor state title as well.

“We didn’t know if there was a school that would be willing to take us on, so it feels amazing to finally be able to have this option,” Stevenson said. “The Gardiner kids are super positive and super bubbly, and I’m glad to be in such a positive environment.”