In the 2013-14 indoor track and field season, Erskine Academy senior Jade Canak served as a role model for freshman Jordan Jowett.
“She helped me a lot,” Jowett, now a junior, said. “She definitely had a very positive attitude and was always willing to help everyone. She always gave good advice.”
2016 Morning Sentinel/Kennebec Journal Girls Indoor Track All Stars
55: Maddy Price, Sr., Skowhegan
200: Alexis Chamberlain, Sr., Lawrence
400: Angela Strain, Jr., Mount View
800: Lauren Brown, Sr., Waterville
1 mile: Lauren Brown, Sr., Waterville
2 mile: Lauren Brown, Sr., Waterville
55 hurdles: Erin Martin, Sr., Nokomis
4×200 relay: Messalonskee (Emma Wentworth, Jenna Nash, Lauren Pickett, Riley Field)
4×800 relay: Lawrence (Harley Dixon, Hannah Walsh, Alexis LaVerdiere, Jaden Gray)
High jump: Alison Linscott, Sr., Waterville
Pole vault: Alison Linscott, Sr., Waterville
Long jump: Paige Smith, Jr., Winslow
Triple jump: Maddy Price, Sr., Skowhegan
Shot put: Emily Steinmeyer, Sr., Messalonskee
Canak, now in her sophomore season with the St. Francis University (PA) track and field team, set a number of program records during her time at Erskine. One of those records, though, now belongs to Jowett.
At the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B championship meet, Jowett clocked a time of 28.16 seconds in the 200-meter — good enough for second place — to break the previous school record held by Canak. Jowett also added a third-place result in the 55 and a second as a member of the Eagles 4×200 relay along with Abby Haskell, Mayann McGrath and Mackenzie Gayer.
That same relay was ninth in the Class B championships, while individually Jowett was ninth in the 200 and 12th in the 55. For her efforts this season, Jordan Jowett has been named the 2015-16 Kennebec Journal Girls Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Haskell, a junior, was also considered.
“She’s a very determined athlete,” Erskine track coach David Currier said. “She comes in every day with a good attitude and works hard.”
Jowett has been a strong contributor since her freshman season at Erskine, but Currier said Jowett came into this year with a clearer idea of what she would like to accomplish.
“She knew what she wanted more this year,” Currier said. “Last year it was just kind of going with it and this year there was direct goal setting.”
Jowett has also had the benefit of having strong competition within the team to help push her toward achieving those goals. McGrath, Gayer and Haskell have been as good of friends as they have been rivals, according to Jowett.
“We’re all close and I felt that really helped,” Jowett said.
Haskell, in particular, has been a direct competitor for Jowett in the 55. Haskell beat her out for second in the dash by one-hundredth of a second at the KVAC meet, but Jowett was the higher finisher in the event at the state meet. Trading results on a meet-to-meet basis has been common for the two over the course of their careers and it is something they often talk about.
“We’re always back and forth. We always joke about it,” Jowett said. “We just are always saying how close we are and always encouraging one another.”
The two will look to continue that friendly competition in the spring, as each are standout member of the Eagles outdoor track and field team.
Evan Crawley — 621-5640
ecrawley@mainetoday.com
Twitter: @Evan_Crawley
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