Koch cruises to win,
Beavers take titles at own XC invitational meet
Washburn hosted the first regular season cross country meet in Aroostook County Thursday, with both Beaver teams collecting victories.
AND THEY’RE OFF — The 23 cross country runners, representing Washburn, Greater Houlton Christian Academy and Fort Kent, 
take off at the start of Thursday’s invitational meet in Washburn. The host Beavers won the event, with junior Carsyn Koch recording the fastest time in 20 minutes and 20 seconds.
Two-time defending Class C champion Carsyn Koch picked up an easy win in the girls race. Koch completed the 2.87-mile course in 20 minutes and 20 seconds. The time was 1:30 faster than runner-up Carmen Bragg, also of Washburn. Taking third was teammate Mackenzie Worcester, whose time was 22:22. Emmy Churchill of the Beavers placed fourth in 22:50.
Washburn’s score of 16 bested Greater Houlton Christian Academy’s 59. Fort Kent also competed, but did not have the required number of runners to figure in the team results.
The Beavers had the only complete team in the boys competition. Nick Lunn of Hodgdon took individual honors by beating Washburn’s Noah Caron by four seconds. Lunn’s winning time was 18:10. Fort Kent teammates Sam Ouellette and Kameron Hussein were third and fourth, respectively.
The Beavers’ second runner was Michael Ericson, who came in at 21:12.
Mount Desert Island hosted an exhibition relay meet Saturday, with Presque Isle taking part.
The event consisted of five races – open boys, open girls, boys relay, girls relay and co-ed relay.
For the Wildcats, Saul Nunez, Trevor Levesque and Matt Tilley formed the top boys relay team which placed sixth in 32:44. Emily Colligan, Erica Corey and Mandy Graham made up the team’s fastest girls relay squad, which was sixth in 43:01.
The co-ed relay team of Frank Nunez and Bonnie Corey was ninth in 24:58.
Lauren Schiff had the Wildcats’ best time in the girls open race at 13:58, good for 26th overall. Matt Burtt was 24th in the boys open race to lead PI.
