Max HoddWells has learned a lot about track and field while competing for the University of New Hampshire.
Unfortunately for the 2008 Maranacook Community High School graduate, he also knows a lot about coping with injuries, something he’s done far too often in his three years in Durham, N.H.
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“I’m battling injuries again, which is no real surprise to anyone,” HoddWells said. “I’ve gone from injury to injury. I just wish I could have a season where I’m healthy.”
That won’t happen this spring. Hoddwells suffered knee and groin injuries that have limited his participation at meets.
Still, the Wayne native says he hopes to compete at the America East and IC4A championships.
“I want to finish the season strong,” he said.
UNH coach Jim Boulanger said it’s been a struggle to keep HoddWells healthy.
“Health is always an issue for collegiate level,” he said. “We just have to get him healthy and keep him healthy. If we can, he has a lot of good jumps in front of him.”
HoddWells, who transferred to UNH from Stonehill College in Easton, Mass., in the fall of 2009, took an important step in that direction Tuesday.
He won the long jump — a relatively new event for him — at a three-team meet at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass.
HoddWells, historically a triple jumper and hurdler, won the event with a leap of 21 feet, 2.5 inches.
However, he has abandoned hurdling — at least temporarily — because of a knee injury suffered earlier this season.
He’s only competed in three meets this spring.
He finished second in the long jump at a meet at Holy Cross on April 7 with a leap of 22-1. A week later, he was fourth in the event at the Wildcat Invitational I with a leap of 20-11.75.
“I’ve been having a lot of success in the long jump,” he said. “I’ve changed one little thing and I’ve been having huge jumps.”
HoddWells said he changed what is often referred to as the penultimate step in the long jump. That step is the second to last one before the jumper goes airborne.
“It’s the longest step of the whole event,” HoddWells said. “You drop your hips so in the last step you are coming up with all your power. I’ve just never done it before. This is the first time but I hope it’s a sign of good things to come.”
Added Boulanger: “He’s been doing well in both jumps, the triple and the long. We just need to get him to be consistent.”
HoddWells, an exercise science major who has one year of eligibility left, is focusing on fine-tuning his technique for the Wildcat Invitational II on Saturday.
From there, he hopes to qualify for the IC4A Championships in Princeton, N.J., on May 11.
“The injuries have made it hard,” HoddWells said, “but hopefully I can finish this year out strong.”
Bill Stewart — 621-5640
bstewart@centralmaine.com
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