By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
For the first time since 1993, Washburn is fielding a cross country team. The Beavers hosted Fort Kent and Greater Houlton Christian Academy in a meet last Tuesday, and runners from the host school landed first-place finishes.
Sophomore Nick Bragg won the boys race in 19:04, while freshman Carsyn Koch captured the win in the girls race with a time of 22:03. Both Bragg and Koch are also key members of their school’s soccer teams, but are glad to have an opportunity to compete in cross country this fall.
“I’ve always liked to run,” Bragg said. “We’re always running at (soccer practice) and it’s something I enjoy doing.”
Bragg was running behind Fort Kent’s Lucas Woodward for the first mile before finally catching him and never looking back.
“After the first lap, I caught up to him and at that point just decided to run ahead,” he said.
Koch was urged to go out for the team by coach Mike Waugh. She likes the team aspect of what many consider an individual sport and also said there is plenty of thinking and strategy involved.
“Going up a hill, you have to force your calves to keep going,” she said, “and you’ve got to gear up for the stretch down the hill.
“Cross country is definitely strategic because when you are running, you’ve got to know when to hold back and when to try passing people.”
Waugh, a teacher in Washburn who formerly coached the Presque Isle boys cross country team, was pleased with the performances of Bragg and Koch.
“They show a lot of promise,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing them race against stiffer competition.
Waugh said the team’s other competitors are “growing by leaps and bounds as they enter the season with no real running experience.”
“By the end of the year, they are going to surprise themselves,” Waugh added.
Finishing behind Bragg in the boys’ competition were Woodward, 19:49; Micah Wiley, GHCA, 20:55; Kevin Carlson, Washburn, 21:20; Joey Fishman, Fort Kent, 21:50; Scott Whitney, Fort Kent, 22:47; Russell Socoby, GHCA, 22:57; Cameron Huston, Washburn, 23:47; Eric Deschaine, Fort Kent, 24;27; Ethan Holmes, GHCA, 24:52; Kyle McLaughlin, Washburn, 27:44; Matt Rioux, Fort Kent, 30:47; and Jordan Cummings, GHCA, 31:00.
Coming in after Koch in the girls’ race were Cassidy Spencer, Fort Kent, 25:05; Whitney Cote, GHCA, 24:52; Destiny Neureuther, GHCA, 25:51; Heather Albert, Fort Kent, 29:22; Anna Carlson, Washburn, 29:51; and Marlaina Spooner, Washburn, 32:33.
Washburn is set to join Limestone/MSSM and Fort Kent for a meet this afternoon in Houlton hosted by Greater Houlton Christian Academy.
Vikes compete at MDI meet
Caribou made the long trip to Mount Desert Island Saturday for a relay meet to kick off their seasons.
The Viking boys relay team of D.J. Flynn, Ryan Washington, Jake Michaud and Caleb Chapman took first place out of 28 teams with a combined time of 41:43 on the 1.82-mile course. Placing sixth was the Caribou foursome of Charm Karunasiri, Nick Dobson, Kjetil Rossignol and Josh Kovach in 45:14.
For the girls, Caribou’s Kelly Kashian, Mackenzie Belyea, Katelyn Plourde and Ashley Richards took fourth place out of 16 teams in 53:06. 
In the mixed relay, Caribou’s Jesse Sandstrom, Mary Jo Sheehan, Dayna Michaud and Christian Sleeper prevailed in 46:11.
Lacy Cyr had Caribou’s fastest individual leg with a time of 12:32.
For the boys, Caribou’s Chapman was first in 9:49, followed closely by Sleeper in 9:53.
“We competed very well,” said Caribou boys coach Roy Alden. “Christian, D.J. and Caleb all had excellent races, with Caleb making up 34 seconds to help the boys relay team to first place and Christian running a strong leg in the co-ed team’s win.”
Other schools participating included Presque Isle, York, John Bapst, Ellsworth, MDI, Bucksport, Hermon, Old Town, Mattanawcook and Sumner.
