BIDDEFORD — Biddeford track star Marie Curit ran down the long runway last year during the state title meet at the University of Maine in Gorham. She planted her foot, leapt forward and hurled her body into the long jump pit. After landing, she waited and listened for the final verdict on her jump.
“Maria Curit of Biddeford jumps 17 feet six and three quarters inches.”
Curit stood up smiled and walked back to her coach Ron Ouellette not just with a state title, but also a state record.
If one thinks that Curit is ready to settle for that feat, think again.
“I really just want to break my own record,” said Curit, a senior star on the track team. “That’s really what I’m pushing myself towards.”
Curit has competed in the long jump since her freshman year and this year she tends to do something a bit different in order to give herself the best advantage she possibly can to succeed.
“I’m going to practice more with the event and also compete in each field meet this season,” she said.
Curit didn’t go to each field meet, which happen every other week during the middle of the week. Track events take place every Saturday.
“I think if I focus on that, I will be just fine, but I would like to hit at least 18 feet,” said the diminutive Curit who stands about 5-4.”
Although Curit didn’t focus as much in the long jump in the past, her background helped prepare her for success, said Biddeford track coach Ron Ouellette.
“In the long jump it’s not really about practicing every day,” he said. “It’s really about an extension of running and having that core strength to help you along.”
Running is definitely one of Curit’s strengths. Last year she won the state title in the 400-meter run appearing almost unbeatable at times.
She also credits her background in gymnastics. She competed in the sport from age three until the eighth grade. She started track in junior high and hasn’t looked back, taking down competition along the way.
“I figured you should stick with something you’re good at,” she said. “I think gymnastics helped me just from a work ethic standpoint. You can’t slack in gymnastics and once I found track I continued to work just as hard.”
Curit isn’t the only Tiger looking to excel in events this year when the regular season kicks off today at 8 a.m. at the Portland Expo.
Cody Chaloult, who most York County fans remember from anchoring the Biddeford football line in the fall, will try his hand at the shot put.
Chaloult transferred from Thornton Academy back to Biddeford this fall. He played JV basketball for the Golden Trojans last season and contemplated not participating in any winter sport this year.
“That was my plan, but Coach (Biddeford football coach Scott Descoteaux) told me he wanted me to stay active,” Chaloult said. “I spoke with Coach Ouellette and he convinced me to participate in the shot.”
Chaloult fits the mold of a shot putter. He is 6-1 and weighs about 240 pounds. But size will only get you so far, he said.
“It’s really all about technique,” he said. “I think a lot of people think you just need to be big and you can do this, but I’ve found that you need to have good form and proper footwork or else you won’t be that successful.”
Ouellette has big aspirations for Chaloult, he said. In a preseason meet in December at South Portland, the senior put the shot 43 feet. A few weeks later, during the USM relays, he put it 47 feet. Big numbers for an athlete that has limited experience in the event.
“I really think he can get to 50 feet or a bit more,” Ouellette said. “If he can do that it will put him in the elite group in Maine.”
Can Chaloult get there? He says yes.
“I’m very competitive,” he said. “If I throw less than 47 feet, I will be very upset with myself.”
Around the league: The Thornton Academy girls are once again one of the top teams in the league. The squad boasts a strong corps of shot putters, including Abby Huntress and Emily Morin. The two placed third and fifth at last year’s state championship meet. The Golden Trojans haven’t won an indoor state title since 2004, but it might have the talent to knock off perennial power Scarborough, which has won the past six state titles.
— Contact Al Edwards at 282-1535, ext. 317.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less