Sports Reporter
BANGOR – The Caribou Vikings began the championship portion of the cross country schedule in style Saturday, tucking four runners among the top six to win the Penobscot Valley Conference Class B title in a meet held on a 3.1-mile course at Saxl Park.
Caribou scored 36 points to outdistance Ellsworth (49), Presque Isle (75) and three other squads. The Vikings were led by Timothy Freme (17:07), D. J. Flynn (17:20), Finn Bondeson (17:25) and Christian Sleeper (17:32), who finished third, fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, in the overall standings. They came in within 25 seconds of each other.
Ellsworth had six runners finish before Caribou’s No. 5, Jake Michaud (19th overall, 18:22), crossed the finish line, but the Vikings’ front pack made the difference.
Caribou now has won three of the last four PVC titles.
The Wildcats were third, as Matt Eager claimed the ninth position overall at 17:50. Chris Cawley (11th, 17:56), Tyler Hotham (12th, 18:00) and Logan Thibeau (14th, 18:01) were next for Presque Isle.
Zach Barnes (32nd), Joel Shay (34th) and Ethan York (36th) also participated for coach Mike Waugh’s squad.
Gabe Stewart of John Bapst was first overall in the meet with a time of 16:16. He was 34 seconds in front of Elllsworth’s Ben Chapman.
On the girls’ side, Caribou took third place with 87 points, behind winner Mount Desert Island (50) and John Bapst (67).
Presque Isle ended up fourth with 92 points, with Ellsworth, Hermon and Old Town the other teams involved.
Leading Caribou was Mary Jo Sheehan, who came in seventh overall in 20:31. Teammate Dayna Michaud was ninth in 20:40.
Alecia Palmer of Presque Isle took second overall with a 19:50 clocking. She was less than 11 seconds behind meet winner Dacie Manion of Old Town.
Elizabeth Wright of Presque Isle was 15th in 21:16 and teammate Hallie Bartlett was 22nd. Jaylee Fox and Jerica Fox were 26th and 27th, respectively. Emily Wright was 33rd and Samantha Simonds 43rd for the ’Cats.
The Eastern Maine Championships are next, to be held Saturday at Belfast.
Contributed photo/Laurie Sheehan
ON THE MOVE – Elizabeth Wright, left, of the Presque Isle Wildcats cross country team, competing here at a recent meet in Belfast, placed 15th overall at Saturday’s Penobscot Valley Conference championship meet held in Bangor.
