SACO — Amanda Arnold and Carly McKenna at times can look like blurs blazing around the indoor track at the Portland Expo as they race by their competitors like seasoned-veterans in total control of their events.

As they stride across the finish lines, usually in first place, they exhibit their youthful smiles and one quickly realizes that the two track stars are anything but veterans on a talented Thornton Academy squad. They are two young athletes with a promising future.

Arnold, 15, and McKenna, 14, are freshmen highlight reels for the Golden Trojans, who are positioning themselves nicely to out gun Scarborough for a state title.

Both competitors have qualified for the state meet in the hurdles, high jump, long jump, 400 and 200 relay. Arnold has also qualified for the triple jump.

“That’s almost unheard of for freshmen,” Thornton Academy girls indoor track coach Lisa Huntress said. “They are just so darn coachable.”

McKenna qualified in the 200-meter dash with a time of 28.70, a personal record. That puts her in 24th in Maine out of the top 50. She took first place last Saturday in the 45 hurdles finishing the event in 6.80.  She has also ran the 55 hurdles in 9.33, the 400 in 1:06.60 and long jumped 16-2. She has also high jumped at 5-0.

As for Arnold, she has ran the 45 hurdles in 6.80, ran the 400 in 1:04.70, high jumped 4-8, long jumped 14-10.5 and triple jumped 31-7.

Those numbers don’t necessarily jump out on their own, but when compared with the state leaders, “it’s impressive,” Huntress said.

For example, Teal Jackson of Brewer has the best 200 time at 26.79. Maria Curit, the star runner for Biddeford and a senior is at 27.50.

McKenna and Arnold compete in the junior division, but they are pushing their senior teammates who are “excellent” athletes, too, Huntress said.

Thornton Academy speedster  and senior Kaitlyn Hall has a personal best of 1:05.60 in the 400, which is a great time, but neither Arnold or McKenna are too far behind.

“I’ve surprised myself a lot this year,” McKenna said. “Going into it, I didn’t really know what to expect.”

Arnold shares those sentiments, she said.

“Again with the confidence I had to prepare myself more,” Arnold said. “I was surprised and I didn’t think that I could do as well as I could.”

What are their goals?

“I just want to improve on my times,” Arnold said. “Each week I want to set a personal best.”

“Just keep getting better,” McKenna said. “If I do that I think I can be successful.”

Arnold and McKenna aren’t the only freshmen making noise on this squad.

Kaitlyn Hilton and Lauren Russell are on the 4 x 200 relay teams with Arnold and McKenna, and making strides in the events.

“The combined team is running almost as fast as the senior relay team,” Huntress said.

We had watched this freshmen class coming up since they were in middle school,” Huntress said. “We couldn’t wait for this class to arrive.”

And arrive it has. Combine it with the stellar athletes that Thornton Academy already has and that bodes well for the Golden Trojans.

“Who doesn’t get excited?” Huntress said. “It’s so exciting to see the enthusiasm of this entire team. We’ve had great teams in the past, but this year we don’t need to do as much team building as before. This team has a drive to succeed.”

Biddeford’s Curit at it again

It’s no secret in York County that Biddeford’s Maria Curit is one of Maine’s best indoor track competitors. Now, she just continues to impress.

During the Jan. 22 meet, Curit ran season bests in the 40 yard dash (5.40), the 55 m (7.90) and the 400 m at 1:00.70.

Seagull flying solo

Look around at any indoor track meet on Saturdays at the Portland Expo and one will see colors of green, maroon, black and red. Look hard enough and one will see blue.

That one blue uniform is worn by Brynn Devou of Old Orchard Beach.

The Seagulls do not have their own team, so Devou trains daily with Thornton Academy and competes as OOB’s lone athlete on Saturdays.

While she admits it can get a bit lonely missing her classmates, she puts it into perspective.

“I’m just having a lot of fun,” said Devou, a freshman who competes in the 200 and 40. “It’s kind of weird at times, but Thornton has made me feel like part of its team.”

Biddeford’s Webb racking up season bests

Ryan Webb, a senior runner for the Biddeford boys track team, ran season bests on Jan. 22 in the 45YH (6.20) and the 200 m (25.9).

Jandreau sets new season best

Thornton Academy boy trackster Kyle Jandreau set a personal best time on Jan. 22 placing fourth in the 200 m with a time of 25.00.