High school track athletes across the state banded together on Saturday to protest a proposal by the Maine Principals’ Association to cut costs by shortening athletic seasons, limiting exhibition games and withdrawing Maine teams and athletes from New England competitions.

According to the Maine track Web site sub5.com, protests were staged at meets at the University of Maine, Colby College and the Portland Expo.

The Scarborough girls track team made signs and walked a quiet protest lap prior to its meet at the Expo. Senior Whitney Chamberlain, who won the 600-yard run later in the day, said the proposed withdrawal from New England competition is what really irks many track athletes. She said the competitions, featuring the best athletes from across the region, are a big draw for college scouts and can get Maine athletes exposure that they otherwise might not receive.

“College scouts don’t really come to Maine,” Chamberlain said. “New Englands help you get known. Some people rely on sports to get them into college.”

The MPA Interscholastic Management Committee is expected to vote on the proposed cuts on Jan. 26.

Gorham junior Rachel Wilkinson who, like Chamberlain, has competed at the New England meet, said the energy and excitement of the New England meet was unlike anything she’d witnessed before. A top distance runner, Wilkinson echoed Chamberlain’s sentiments.

“We’ll be really upset if they get rid of them because it’s a place where colleges actually get to come and look at us and see how we do against the competition outside of Maine,” Wilkinson said.

The Gorham girls team had signs up on its section of bleachers at the Expo encouraging the MPA to reconsider. Wilkinson said the team also planned to join Scarborough in their protest lap.

Thornton Academy girls coach Lisa Huntress said her team would not be participating in the protest. She said she can understand the MPA’s need to cut costs.

“We’re staying neutral about this,” she said. “You can see both sides of it. Yeah, I’m disappointed in certain ways, but I’d be more disappointed if we didn’t have a program. I’m not in favor of New Englands being gone, but maybe it’s time to start looking at another way to pay for, if parents maybe have to chip in for it.”

Huntress said Thornton sent about eight athletes to last season’s New England indoor meet, and the school covered the costs, which include a nominal entrance fee along with travel and lodging expenses, which can add up.

Some schools already require athletes to pay for travel and lodging.

“We pay ourselves for all the traveling,” Wilkinson said. “We pay for hotel rooms.”

Chamberlain said she’d be willing to absorb the costs if necessary.

“They can tell people to carpool there if they want to go,” she said. “I’d rather do that than not go at all.”

Bonny Eagle senior Jamie Ruginski, a top boys hurdler and jumper, posted a testimonial on sub5.com explaining his first experience at the New England meet. It came last spring during his junior outdoor track season.

“Going into the day I was very excited to go up against such competitive athletes from all over New England,” Ruginski wrote. “I never could have imagined all that talent in one place”

Ranked 13th entering the 300-meter hurdles, Ruginski wasn’t expecting to be finish near the top, but he was ready to give his best shot.

“As race time came I don’t think I had ever been more ready in my life,” he wrote. “The gun fired and I ran my heart out that day finishing with a time of 38.98 (and) beating my personal best by over a second. Realizing what an awesome time it was, I jumped with joy. As the final heat went, I watched patiently thinking I might have a chance at placing, which blew my mind.”

Not only did Ruginski place, he won the event.

“This was the most amazing day of my life and will never be forgotten as long as I live because no one can ever take that away from me,” he wrote.