LISBON — Coaches Doug Sautter and Carlo Kempton watched each other’s jaw drop.
Drew Gamage had been getting better at the triple jump this season, but last Thursday, the Oak Hill senior took a giant leap into track history.
“I was standing across the runway with coach Kempton, whose coached at Winthrop for years and years,” said Sautter, one of Lisbon’s track coaches. “We both looked at each other when he jumped that. We both looked at each other and were like, ‘What the heck was that?’ He’d never seen anything like it, and he’s coached longer than I have. He said, ‘I have never seen that in all my years of coaching.’ So that puts this in perspective.”
Gamage jumped a distance of 46-7. That beat any record in all classes at any Maine Principals Association state meet. It’s second all-time to Traip’s Atencio Martin, who leaped 46-9.25 at the New England’s in 2013.
“I was very excited,” Gamage said. “It was great. I want to put my school somewhere to be seen. We only have two people on the track team right now. It’s going to die off after this. I might as well go out with a bang.”
Gamage, a basketball and football player at Oak Hill, had competed in track in recreational leagues in elementary school. He had not participated in the sport until his brother, Derek, lured him back last year. He and Samson Lacroix are the only two Oak Hill track athletes. They train and compete with Lisbon’s program. Sautter is his coach for jumping events.
“He was 41 last year,” Sautter said. “I expected 42 or 43 this year, a little progression. The first meet of the year, he was right around there. Then he was 45 at Brunswick. So then we started thinking that he can go further. When he went over 46, he’s so competitive and he has such an inner drive, he’s a freak physically. He’s got the height and he’s got the strength.”
Gamage had been working over the summer diligently on his technique. The better he got, the more driven he became.
“Over the whole summer, I was watching YouTube videos and trying to get better,” Gamage said. “As soon as I got better than last year, I got excited and kept building. I just kept going further.”
What happened last week was stunning, not only for the coaches watching but for Gamage himself. His first jumps of the day were at 43 and then 45.
“I had a lot of people rooting for me at my school,” Gamage said. “Other than that, it was self-determination. I just wanted to show I could do something.”
Sautter said that Gamage is so athletic and strong, he’s able to do what a lot of jumpers can’t do during the triple jump’s three phases.
“It’s the middle phase that separates the good from the really great jumpers,” Sautter said. “He’s got no buckle at all. The strength he possesses as he goes through the phases, he hit the first one and he does not buckle. He’s able to jump 18 feet and locks right in and he’s able to hold it. He goes to the next phase and he does not give at all. It’s unbelievable.”
It’s a tough accomplishment to follow but he was back at it Tuesday at Lisbon. The Greyhounds hosted a meet with teams from St. Dom’s, Telstar, Richmond and Gould.
In the triple Tuesday, Gamage jumped 43-04 to take first. He also won the high jump with a height of 6 feet and was second in the 400 in 53.17.
“Right now, he’s frustrated,” Sautter said. “Today he only jumped 43. I think a meet like this is kind of tough because the adrenalin is not quite there. You’re still competing, but when the big meets come around and the weather is really nice, I definitely think there’s no doubt that he’ll do 46 or 47.”
Gamage said he was bothered by shin splints the day after last week’s meet. It bothered him Tuesday and effected his performance.
“When I recover from shin splints, I want to stay right on there,” Gamage said. “It’s all about technique in triple jump. It’s not working right now, but hopefully, I’ll let my legs rest and I’ll be right back. Then I’ll be able to do everything perfectly and we’ll get further. 47 — that’s what I’m going for by the end of the year. I don’t know if I’ll get it, but I’ll try.”
In the boys’ meet Tuesday, Lisbon won convincingly with 365 points. Telstar was second with 66 followed by Oak Hill with 35 and St. Dom’s with 30.
Lisbon had a number of athletes win multiple events. Henry Adams took the 200 and long jump. Nicholas Harriman won the 800 and 3,200. Andrew Golino took top honors in the discus and shot. Other winners for Lisbon included Bradley Boulet (javelin), Austin Bedford (pole vault), Jeff Willey (racewalk), Charles Adams (110 hurdles) and Jordan Cole (1,600).
Telstar got a pair of wins in the 100 and 400 from Maverick Griffin. Avry Griffin won the 300 hurdles for the Rebels.
“The kids were trying to go for some personnel bests,”Lisbon coach Dean Hall said. “I’m looking across and seeing number that don’t really stand out. It was kind of an even meet, but there’s some positives there.”
The Lisbon girls’ won with a total of 120 points. St. Dom’s was second with 53 followed by Richmond with 42 and Telstar 11.
Lisbon’s Chase Collier had an outstanding day with four wins. She took the long jump, both hurdle events and the 100. The Greyhounds also got wins from Mia Durgin (pole vault), Hannah Berube (triple), Bree Sautter (400) and Emma Houle (200).
St. Dom’s got a pair of wins from Ella Brown. She won the 1,600 and the 3,200. Sydney Sirois won the 1,600 racewalk and and was second in the 3,200.
Telstar got a victory from India Orino in the discus. Richmond eaned a pair of wins from Taylor Houdlette in the javelin and the shot. Destiny Anair won the 800.
“Overall, I think we’re getting there, slowly but surely,” Hall said. “We’re starting to gear up for the championship level. We’ve got a tough meet here next week. Then we have the Cony Invitational against some tough teams and the MVC’s. We’re getting ready to ramp it up.”
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