Washburn girls win EM Class C title
By Jon Gulliver
Staff writer
BELFAST — After not having enough runners to qualify for the Eastern Maine title last year, the Washburn Beavers didn’t have to worry about that this year, and made the most of their opportunity in Belfast on Saturday.
The Beavers were led to the Eastern Maine Class C title by defending individual state champion Carsyn Koch, a sophomore whose time of 20:28.46 was about 50 seconds faster than her closest competitor.
The Beavers, whose 10-runner roster included five sophomores and five freshmen, scored a 45-61 victory over second-place Orono.
Koch was one of three Washburn runners among the top seven finishers, with Carmen Bragg fourth and Mackenzie Worcester seventh.
“Our top three are amazing,” said Washburn coach Michael Waugh. “To place three in the top seven, they knew they had to do it and they came through for us.”
Also helping Washburn to the title were Marianne Helton (16th), Joan Overman (25th), Mikayla Churchill (28th) and Hannah Heald (30th).
“What I was especially impressed with was our fourth through seventh runners, they really stepped it up today,” said Waugh. “They knew they had to step it up, and they ran their hearts out.”
The Washburn boys finished seventh, but did have some good individual results. Nick Bragg (18:54.10) crossed the line in 13th place. Michael Ericson and Anthony Viola were 30th and 39th respectively.
The state championship will be held this Saturday at Twin Brook in Cumberland.
In Eastern Maine Class B, Presque Isle will be advancing to the state finals after finishing seventh in the Belfast meet. Wildcat Matt Eager (17:18.05) finished second to race winner Dan Curtis of Ellsworth.
Caribou claimed the EM title, narrowly topping Ellsworth. Other teams advancing on to the state meet include John Bapst, Mount Desert Island, Waterville, Winslow and Medomak Valley of Waldoboro.
Wildcat runners that placed in the top 50 are: 28, Saul Nunez (18:52.34); 39, Matt Tilley (19:22.89); and 50, Frank Nunez (19:41:31).
The Presque Isle girls finished ninth at the meet. Shelby Condon was the only Wildcat to crack the top 50. She finished in 41st place with a time of 23:14.58.
