Saturday was a banner day for local cross country teams, as two brought home championships from the state meet at Twin Brook Recreation Center in Cumberland.
Yarmouth’s girls stole the headlines, by winning Class B for the first time, as Greely was second and Freeport placed sixth.
Freeport’s boys won the Class B title for the second year in a row. Greely placed third and Yarmouth was fifth.
In Class A, Falmouth’s boys were runners-up behind Scarborough, while the Yachtsmen girls placed fourth.
In Class C, the Maine Coast Waldorf girls came in fourth, while North Yarmouth Academy placed sixth. In the boys’ meet, MCW finished eighth.
Two champions
Yarmouth’s girls and Freeport’s boys were the big stories at the Class B meet.
The Clippers almost won a first title a year ago, but were second to Greely. This time around, Yarmouth tallied 65 points, which was 13 better than the runner-up Rangers. Freeport’s 167 points left it sixth.
Yarmouth had two of the top six scorers, as Anneka Murrin was fourth (covering the 5-kilometer course in 19 minutes, 53.72 seconds) and Abigail Hamilton placed sixth (19:59.46). Also scoring were Grace Cowles (14th, 20:36.39), Georgia Giese (16th, 21:16.40) and Lucy Alexander (25th, 21:38.42).
“It was a great moment when the girls realized they’d won,” said longtime Clippers coach Bob Morse. “I think that on Saturday morning, my assistant John Roger, and I were a little more nervous than the team. They seemed very calm. I was very proud of how they approached their training the week of the state meet. Each runner knew which Greely runner they had to beat or run with in the race. Mission accomplished. We have a very high respect for Greely and they gave us a great race, which forced us to run hard and fast. I want to personally thank Greely coach David Dowling and his girls for congratulating us after the race.”
The Rangers had the top two individuals, as Katherine Leggat-Barr was first in 19:11.71 and Carolyn Todd was runner-up in 19:18.51. Also scoring were Stophie Stickney (20th, 21:26.23), Faith Price (24th, 21:34.99) and Olivia Bucknam (31st, 21:50.99).
The Falcons were paced by Lily Johnston, who was 15th in 21:14.03. Also scoring were Hannah Schnyder (26th, 21;43.53), Laura Pierce (33rd, 22:02.22), Kayla Belanger (45th, 22:32.43) and Lily Horne (48th, 22:39.81).
“The girls were very happy to be back at the state meet after missing it last year,” said Freeport coach Brian Berkemeyer. “It was nice placing Lily and Hannah in the top 30. With three freshmen on the team, it was great giving them the experience.”
Freeport’s boys went back-to-back for the first time, won their second Class B crown and third overall (Class D in 1994) after placing Chandler Vincent (16:34.72) and Henry Jaques (16:41.17) first and second individually and tallying 52 points to finish 10 ahead of York. Erik Brobst also had an excellent showing, finishing sixth in 17:16.70. Other scorers included freshman Alex Les (17th, 17:50.03) and Thomas Doyle (26th, 18:17.25).
“I did expect the boys meet to be close with York,” Berkemeyer said. “They have a lot of experience. I was very impressed with Chandler and Henry’s 1-2 finish. Erik and Alex gave the same solid performances that they have all year. Tom Doyle continued to set personal records. This was a team effort, where everyone knew their job and did it to the best of their ability. I am so proud of the work all of my runners have put in all year and also with the final results.”
Greely had 80 points and placed third. Ryan Morrison (16:59.78) and Kyle Hansen (17:03.76) were third and fourth individually. Also scoring were Max Stickney (15th, 17:41.42), Matthew Todd (22nd, 18:11.59) and Adam Bruder (36th, 18:38.58).
Yarmouth was fifth with 138 points. Sammy Potter led the way with a ninth-place individual finish (17:30.60) and Luke Laverdiere was 11th (17:35.87). Also scoring were Ben Cox-Faxon (34th, 18:32.72), Zachary Rapone (37th, 18:39.35) and Caelan Pike Meter (47th, 18:57.29).
“The boys had a super race Saturday,” Morse said. “We had one junior, two sophomores and two freshmen, so we’re excited about next season.”
Class A
At the Class A meet, won by Scarborough for the second year in a row and eighth time in 12 seasons, Falmouth’s 80 points left it second, 20 points behind the Red Storm.
The Yachtsmen placed Sean Soucy in the top 10 (ninth, 17:10.34). Jeremiah Sands came in 11th (17:15.96). Also scoring were Josh Simensky (17th, 17:39.29), Conner Piers (21st, 17:47.71) and John Auer (22nd, 17:47.73).
In the girls’ race, won by Bonny Eagle with 58 points, Falmouth wound up fourth with 137.
The Yachtsmen were led by Mira Wyman, who was 19th in 21:13.53. Also scoring were Kaileigh Wimert (25th, 21:26.97), Gina Pardi (27th, 21:30.48), Hannah Berzinis (32nd, 21:41.10) and Antoinette Lambert (34th, 21:42.93).
Class C
In the Class C girls’ meet, MCW had 113 points to come in fourth (Orono won easily with 24) and NYA’s 166 points left it sixth.
MCW was led by Fiona Ahearne, who was seventh in 21:02.93. Also scoring were Louise Ahearne (14th, 22:10.04), Olivia Skillings (20th, 22:39.86), Sophia Skinner (30th, 23:36.04) and Fiona Libby (42nd, 25:12.41).
The Panthers’ effort was paced by Megan Alberding, who was 11th in 21:50.91. Also scoring were Sarah Austin (24th, 23:06.45), Kate Hilscher (32nd, 23:49.98), Claire Maurer (49th, 25:45.72) and Daniella Crane (50th, 25:55.36).
In the Class B boys’ meet, won by George Stevens Academy with 60 points, MCW had 182 points to place eighth. Leading the way was individual runner-up Tucker Pierce, who had a time of 17:13.21. Also scoring were Calvin Soule (40th, 20:05.48), Eli Gundersen (43rd, 20:08.07), Thomas Kolle (46th, 20:14.55) and Davis Ritger (51st, 20:31.08).
NYA didn’t qualify as a team, but Brennan Flatt competed as an individual and had the 50th-fastest time (19:38.15).
New Englands
The New England championship meet is Saturday, Nov. 14 in Thetford, Vermont. The state meet’s top six teams and top 25 runners regardless of class in each gender qualified.
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
Sidebar Elements
Yarmouth coach Bob Morse, left, and the Clippers girls’ cross country team show off their first-ever Class B state championship banner Saturday.
Freeport’s Henry Jaques finishes runner-up to teammate Chandler Vincent in the Class B boys’ cross country state meet Saturday. The Falcons repeated as team champion.
Falmouth’s Mira Wyman posts the 23rd-fastest time at the Class A girls’ state meet. The Yachtsmen were fourth as a team.
Maine Coast Waldorf School’s Tucker Pierce finished second in the Class C boys’ meet. MCW was eighth as a team.
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