Adam Bendetson, Scarborough senior: Bendetson placed third in Class A in a time (16 minutes, 44 seconds) that was faster than any in Class B or C. He also placed third in the South regional. At the New England championships in Rhode Island, he was the seventh Maine finisher, 70th overall. In September, he ran a season-best 15:44 at the Southern Maine Classic in Gorham.
Nathan Blades, Portland junior: After winning the Class A South regional, Blades placed fifth at the state meet. He was runner-up at the Festival of Champions, and in September ran a season-best 15:39 at the Southern Maine Classic. At the New England championships, he earned all-New England honors by placing 25th in 16:29 to lead all Maine finishers.
Charlie Collins, Hampden Academy senior: Collins won the Class A championship in 16:29, tops among any class. He also led the Broncos to a second straight team title. He ran 15:38 to win the Festival of Champions in early October. At the New England meet, he was Maine’s third finisher and 50th overall.
Will Hileman, Bucksport junior: A week after winning the Northern Maine title, Hileman ran away with the Class C state championship. His time of 16:45 was fourth-fastest on the day. He also placed fourth in the Festival of Champions and was Maine’s second finisher at New Englands, 31st overall.
Henry Horne, Freeport senior: After winning the Southern Maine regional, Horne went after a course record at the state meet but wound up fourth in Class B. Still, he led the Falcons to a second straight state title. In September, he ran a season-best 15:26 in the Southern Maine Classic. He was Maine’s fourth finisher at New Englands, 52nd overall.
Maddox Jordan, Noble junior: Jordan was runner-up in Class A with a time of 16:38, second-fastest at the state meet regardless of class. He was Maine’s fifth finisher at the New England meet in Rhode Island, 58th overall. He ran a season-best 15:58 at the Southern Maine Classic in Gorham.
Xavier Lemieux, Bonny Eagle junior: Lemieux placed fourth in the Class A state meet in a time of 16:58, becoming one of eight runners regardless of class to break 17 minutes at Twin Brook. He was the sixth Maine finisher at New Englands, 59th overall.
Carter Libby, Gray-New Gloucester junior: After placing third at the South regional, Libby rebounded by winning the Class B state meet in 16:50 (despite a tumble in the final turn). He was the ninth Maine finisher at New Englands, 101st overall. In September, he ran a season-best 16:21 in Gorham.
Logan Ouellette, Leavitt senior: Ouellette placed third in Class B a week after his runner-up performance in the South regional. He was the eighth Maine finisher at the New England meet in Rhode Island, 90th overall. He ran a season-best 16:10 at Belfast’s Festival of Champions, placing fifth.
Sam York, Mt. Desert Island senior: A week after winning the Class B North championship in Belfast, York was the state runner-up at Twin Brook in Cumberland, in 16:51. At the New England meet, he placed 138th overall. He ran a season-best 16:11 at the Festival of Champions, placing sixth.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Matt Greear, Freeport: In his first season as head coach after eight years as an assistant to the since-retired Brian Berkemeyer, Greear led the Falcons to a second consecutive Class B state title. Four of the top seven runners were not in the program a year ago, so Greear and new assistant John Rogers faced a challenging transition. A couple of scoring runners from last fall dropped out of the top seven but remained valuable contributors. “Even though they could see their role was diminished, they were still working hard, they had that buy-in,” Greear said. “State champions aren’t just the seven who run, it’s getting through the workouts and being accountable and making sure everybody’s doing what they’re supposed to do.”
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