After weeks of running through woods and along roads, cross country athletes begin to show fatigue in the first third of October.
“You get to this time of the year, they’re getting tired, they’re getting sore – especially the younger kids. They’re not used to all the racing,” said Thornton Academy coach Paul Mondor. “So we get conservative. Sometimes that costs you a win or two, but that’s not so important. What matters is two weeks from tomorrow.”
Mondor was speaking moments after Friday’s meet at Smiling Hill Farm in Westbrook – which featured TA, Deering, Noble and host Scarborough – but like all of the runners and coaches, he was focused on the coming regional (Oct. 22) and state (Oct. 29) meets.
As a result, athletes will sometimes sit out late season meets, whether to recover from nagging injuries or to rest up and avoid them. Mondor’s top male runner, Ben Rumery, was sidelined Friday with a tight leg muscle, while Scarborough’s girls team had a number of people on the mend.
Still, the Red Storm won both sides of the meet, with the talented young runners stepping up for the girls and the boys, as strong as ever, steamrolling forward.
The Scarborough girls (36) edged Deering (41), while the Golden Trojans (58) took third and Noble (95) was fourth. The order was the same for the guys, with the Red Storm (17) besting the Rams (51), TA (62) and the Knights (120).
Scarborough took six out of the first eight spots in the boys race, including the top three. Ben Talbot (16:59) was across first for the Storm, followed by Travis Griffin (17:06) and Chris Harmon (17:11). Brecht Moulin (17:33) came in fifth overall and Henry Prosack (17:39) was sixth.
“I went out with the front pack and tried to stay with them,” Talbot said. “I got to the two-mile mark and I was feeling good, so I picked up the pace and broke away in the last half mile.”
Talbot was the fourth member of his team to win a race this season, which speaks to the depth of talent on the squad. Griffin, Harmon and Moulin have also broken the tape.
“The top four, I think, all ran their best times on this course,” said Scarborough boys coach Jim Harmon. “We’re very pleased, but never overconfident.”
Noah Hudson (17:58) was first across for the Trojans and seventh overall.
“I went out kind of slow,” the senior said. “I was behind a lot of guys, but the last half of the race I really picked it up. The last mile I passed two guys.”
Thornton’s Kyle Hoseit (18:20) finished in 10th place, while Thomas Letourneau (18:29) was 13th and Dylan Moulton (18:31) was 14th.
Marie Lemay (20:45) was the top female finisher for the Trojans and third overall. Jouhan Allende (22:32) came in seventh.
“Our team has been really strong this year,” said Lemay. “We’ve bonded and we support each other, and that makes it a lot of fun. We hope to do our best at the regionals.”
Though one half of the Scarborough girls dynamic duo was home sick – Erica Jesseman – the other half – Kaitlyn Saldanha (20:27) – took second place. Freshmen Courtney Robinson (4th, 21:52), Whitney Chamberlain (9th, 23:12) and Erin McElwain (10th, 23:21) helped the Red Storm squeak out a win.
In addition to Jesseman, Amber Bond (cold), Katrijn Moulin (shin splints), Ainsley Price (knee) and Allison Chamberlain (hip flexor) also missed the meet.
“Next week is key to decide who will be in my top seven for the regional meet,” said Storm coach Ron Kelly. “By then we should be healthy.”
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