Orono junior Ruth White became Maine’s first two-time New England high school cross country champion as she successfully defended her title Saturday, beating the field by 42 seconds at Ponaganset High School in North Scituate, Rhode Island.
White completed the 5-kilometer course in 17 minutes, 51.24 seconds, giving Maine a three-year winning streak at New Englands. Falmouth’s Sofie Matson prevailed in 2019, and White won in 2021 after the 2020 championships were canceled.
White was joined in the top 10 by two other Mainers: Amelia Vandongen of Mt. Desert Island in seventh (18:53.94) and Addy Thibodeau of Bonny Eagle in 10th (19:03.02).
Bonny Eagle, the girls’ team runner-up in 2021, finished fourth this time.
Nathan Blades of Portland was the top finisher in the boys’ race, placing 25th in 16:29.82.
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