Caribou’s cross country teams wrapped up a busy week Friday, with the boys team taking first place and the girls finishing a mere point from the top spot at a meet in Orono.
Contributed photo/Barbara Bagley
Dayna Michaud, left, and Mary Jo Sheehan were Caribou’s top two finishers at a meet held Friday in Orono.
The Viking boys tallied 22 points to defeat Mount Desert Island (44), Orono and Schenck and remain undefeated on the season. Steve Melbourne of Caribou won another individual title, setting a course record in the process with a time of 16:07 on the 2.76-mile track.
“He had a great finish to win going away,” said Caribou coach Roy Alden.
He was backed by Finn Bondeson, third in 16:22; Tim Freme, fifth in 16:52; Christian Sleeper, sixth in 17:02; and Jake Michaud, 12th in 17:24.
“Finn continues to be very consistent … he is racing with a lot of confidence right now,” Alden said. “Jake has improved to be the best No. 5 runner in the Penobscot Valley Conference.”
Alden was proud of the way his team worked through its busy schedule, as the Orono meet was the team’s third meet in a six-day span.
The Caribou girls had five runners come in amongst the top-10 overall in the race that included 45 runners, but still fell a point short to MDI. The Lady Vikes scored 28 points on the afternoon.
MDI’s Heather Spurling (course record 18:49) was the meet winner by 17 seconds over Caribou’s Dayna Michaud, whose time was 19:06. Mary Jo Sheehan was third in 19:24, Katelyn Plourde fifth in 19:55, Ashley Clark eighth in 20:33 and Kaysie Pelletier 10th in 20:53 to pace the Lady Vikings, who were without top runner Hannah Saunders (hip injury) for the second consecutive meet.
At Limestone last Tuesday, Sleeper was able to pick up his first career individual victory, crossing the finish line on the 2.9-mile course in 17:19 and leading the Caribou boys to the meet win.
The Vikes scored 24 points, with Presque Isle turning in a strong effort with 31. Limestone/MSSM (79) and Greater Houlton Christian Academy (112) were the only other teams with full teams.
Melbourne followed Sleeper in at 17:23, while Wildcat runners took the next three positions, led by Jason Johnson’s 17:32. Caribou’s Freme, Bondeson and Michaud claimed the sixth, seventh and eighth slots.
Josh Forsman paced Limestone/MSSM by finishing 13th overall in 19:36. Teammate Ryan Keating was one place back at 19:52.
In the girls’ meet, Presque Isle edged Caribou, 25-30. Alecia Palmer of the Wildcats was the meet winner by coming in at 20:46. Sheehan of the Lady Vikes was the runner-up in 21:16, while teammate Michaud was third, just a few 10ths of a second behind Sheehan. PI then packed in the next four places to earn the meet victory. Plourde and Clark both turned in top-10 efforts.
Both Caribou cross country teams are back in action Saturday at the Sectional Invitational Meet in Old Town.
