Orono, ME – CMCC Track & Field officially got its 2026 spring season underway at the UMaine Spring Opener hosted by the University of Maine. Competing against a deep and talented field that included the NCAA DI host Black Bears, NCAA DIII squads Bowdoin College, Husson University, and University of Maine Presque Isle, as well as YSCC conference rival UMaine-Augusta, the Mustangs gained valuable early-season experience and set the tone for the weeks ahead.
Despite a short lead-up to the season, CMCC athletes stepped up across multiple events, showing determination, versatility, and a strong team-first mentality.
"I couldn't be prouder of this group," said head coach Kevin Mitchell. "We had a very quick turnaround to get ready for this meet, and our athletes showed up ready to compete. More importantly, they supported each other, embraced the challenge, and represented CMCC the right way. This is a great starting point for us and I'm excited to see how much we grow over the next few weeks."
On the women's side, freshman Breanna Dwyer led the way in the sprints, turning in solid performances in both the 100-meter dash, where she finished sixth with a time of 14.25 seconds, and 200m (28.88). The first-year from Australia showed consistency and competitiveness in her first collegiate meet.
Fellow basketball teammates Keilani Horne, Mikela Alvarado, and Josie Friend also competed. Horne raced in both the sprints as well, finishing just behind Dwyer in the 100m (15.36) and 200m (31.48). Alvarado rounded out the sprint group, demonstrating resilience and a willingness to compete across events in her debut meet.
Friend took on the challenge of running both the 400m and 800m in back-to-back races, pushing her limits on a cold and windy day in Orono. Also in the middle-distance events, Eva Fleurent had a standout day, finishing eighth in the 800m (2:56.92) and coming home fifth in the 1500m (6:03.78). Fleurent's effort and range highlighted her as a key contributor for CMCC this season.
On the men's side, Zachary Peirce delivered one of the top performances of the day for Central Maine, placing fifth in the javelin with a massive throw of 40.73m, falling just short of his personal-best set at the YSCC Championships last year. The sophomore out of Foxcroft Academy also competed in the 1500m, showcasing his range from the Cross Country season to finish ninth in a time of 5:05.51.
Isaiah Taylor also threw the Javelin, finishing 13th of 19 athletes, and led the Mustangs effort in the sprints. The sophomore from Bath, ME finished 10th with a time of 12.86 seconds in the 100-meter dash. He came home seventh in the 200m, finishing in 26.33.
Gracen Golebiewski was just behind Taylor in the 200m, crossing the line less than a tenth of a second later for eighth with a time of 26.39 seconds. The Raymond, ME native also ran the 400m, setting a benchmark of 1:05.00 to chase over the rest of April. Brandon Powell took on both the 100m and long jump, gaining valuable meet experience and contributing across disciplines.
For the throwers, Tulebari Monday led CMCC in the shot put with a best throw of 10.02m to take ninth. He added a strong effort in the discus and javelin, anchoring the team's presence in the field events. Brian Somers also competed in shot put (7.38m), discus (15.66m), and javelin (29.07), showing consistency and a willingness to take on a full slate of events. Elijah Burkhardt added depth in the shot put, continuing to build experience at the collegiate level for his first throw.
As a developing program with a condensed season, the focus for Central Maine remains on growth, experience, and building momentum. The chance to compete at the first outdoor track and field meet hosted by the University of Maine since 2017, at the Black Bears new facility, was a great first step to set some benchmarks. The Mustangs look to build on the experience in their next event, the Monks Invitational, hosted St. Joseph's College of Maine on Saturday, April 11th. The meet gets underway at 10:00 am.
