The conditions weren’t perfect Saturday at Twin Brook Recreation Center for the cross country regional championships, but runners from Forecaster Country didn’t mind, as they stole the show.

Two-time defending state champion Freeport captured the Class B South boys’ title, tallying 52 points, 10 fewer than runner-up York. The Falcons have now qualified for states in every postseason since 2009.

Alex Gilbert was second individually, completing the 5-kilometer course in 16 minutes, 32.71 seconds. Also scoring were Will Spaulding (fourth, 16:58.87), Conner Smith (ninth, 17:31.7), Teo Steverlynck-Horne (14th, 17:49.66) and Owen Dawson (23rd, 18:36.69).

“It means a lot,” Gilbert said. “I’m so proud the team was able to go out strong and go back-to-back for regional titles.”

Greely (145 points) came in fifth and qualified for the ninth consecutive postseason. The Rangers were paced by William Coull (seventh, 17:26.66). Also scoring for the Rangers were Zachary Vanni (27th, 18:52.43), Tait Harvey (31st, 18:59.69), Owen Cooper (35th, 19:04.92) and Cullen Rafford (45th, 19:34.86).

Yarmouth had 163 points and tied Lincoln Academy for sixth place, but dropped to seventh after the sixth-place runner tiebreaker was factored in. The Clippers, who were last team in the region to qualify, will go to states after falling short a year ago. Yarmouth was led by Cameron Pernal (21st, 18:18.17). Also scoring were Jeffrey Owen (28th, 18:55.57), Nathan Pires (32nd, 18:59.98), Evan Hankins (33rd, 19:01.45) and Tristan Hardel (49th, 19:42.13).

The Class B girls’ title was won by York with 73 points. Freeport (97) was third, behind Lincoln Academy (83). The Falcons, who have qualified for states in eight straight postseasons, were paced by Lucy Huggett, who came in fifth (20:40.24). Also scoring were Josie Spaulding (21st, 22:10.73), Lilah Hall (22nd, 22:14.1), Caroline Carter (24th, 22:17.37) and Ella Oshetski (25th, 22:25.82).

Greely (112) was fifth and qualified for the 15th consecutive postseason. The Rangers were led by Rowan Barry (sixth, 20:46.67). Also scoring were Annie Reynolds (11th, 21:10.01), Emma Stein (17th, 21:55.58), Sabine Sites (36th, 23:21.82) and Sylvia Harvey (42nd, 23:51.55).

Yarmouth (126) was sixth and has now qualified in every postseason since 2010. The Clippers’ top finisher was Chloe Bibula (16th, 21:48.18). Also scoring were Eleanor Weyenberg (19th, 21:59.61), Norah Mills (20th, 22:03.84), Leah Muentener (31st, 22:41.57) and Lauren Keaney (40th, 23:43.03).

In the Class A state girls’ meet, run in the rain and won by Bonny Eagle with 43 points, Falmouth (80) placed third, two points behind Portland. The Navigators have now qualified for states every year since 2004. Maeve Ginevan led the way with a 10th-place finish (21:13.83). Also scoring were Sydney Young (13th, 21:27.82), Bella Koepsell (15th, 21:42.61), Georgia Moon (16th, 21:46.09) and Elise Tardiff (26th, 22:11.52).

In the Class A boys’ meet, Portland won its third straight regional title, tallying 44 points. Falmouth (237 points) was the ninth and final team to make the cut in the region and has now qualified for states in 25 straight postseasons. The Navigators were led by Christopher Jaynes (31st, 18:27.39). Also scoring were Jon Kearns (39th, 18:50.66), Connor Lund (48th, 19:08.35), Olin Johnson (52nd, 19:16.38) and Andrew Nalchajian (67th, 19:46.59).

In Class C, Waynflete’s girls repeated as champions with 53 points, defeating runner-up Maine Coast Waldorf (87). MCW’s Soren Stark-Chessa was the top story, however, as she came in first in 19:17.78, becoming the first transgender athlete to win a regional high school cross country championship in Maine, beating runner-up Grace Alexander of Waynflete (20:40.29) by over a minute.

“I think I came out a little strong, but kept on pushing through,” said Stark-Chessa. “I’m happy with it.”

Also scoring for MCW were Rahel Delaney (fourth, 21:25.6), Murreal Wilmot (23rd, 24:18.86), Lydia Sharp (26th, 24:31.71) and Charlotte Schatz (33rd, 25:47.24).

North Yarmouth Academy had 132 points and was the fifth and final team from the region to qualify. The Panthers, who had last qualified for states in 2015, were led by Hadley Smith (ninth, 22:52.38) and Daicey Spiers (11th, 23:18.66). Also scoring were Acadia Guliani (15th, 23:25.9), Olivia Hamilton (48th, 29:50.42) and Kseniia Spanovska (49th, 30:17.29).

In the boys’ Class C South meet, won by Winthrop with 59 points, MCW (186) finished seventh and was the last team from the field to qualify. MCW was led by Maixent Machefert (13th, 19:49.5). Also scoring were Noah Corcoran (24th, 20:32.33), Fionn Mattson (39th, 21:17.69), Leighton Doyle (46th, 21:54.93) and Cameron McLaughlin (64th, 23:34.43).

NYA (190) was eighth and didn’t qualify, missing out for the third straight postseason. The Panthers were led by Chris Noreika, who was 14th (19:56.06). Also scoring were Leif MacCarthy (25th, 20:36.26), Nate Barmby (32nd, 20:53.15), Caleb King (49th, 22:01.00) and Haddon Doyle (70th, 24:09.8).

States

The state championship meets will be held Saturday in Belfast.

The Class B girls start the day at 11 a.m. The Class B boys’ race is at 11:40 p.m. The Class C girls’ race starts at 12:20 p.m. and the Class C boys follow at 1 p.m. The Class A girls’ race starts at 1:40 p.m. The Class A boys’ meet begins at 2:20 p.m.

Portland Press Herald staff writer Glenn Jordan contributed to this story.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. For game updates and links to game stories, follow him on Threads: @foresports2023

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