The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Kayla Legassie placed seventh out of 144 runners to earn first team All-American status at the USCAA National Cross Country Championships, held Friday at Paul Smith’s College in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Legassie, who is from Presque Isle, finished the very hilly six-kilometer course in 25 minutes and 31 seconds.
As a team, the Owls placed seventh out of 17 teams. Two other UMPI runners placed in the top 35, with Nicole Green of Caribou taking 29th in 26:29 and Kati Christoffel of Clifton Park, N.Y. in 35th in 26:43.
Carly Langley of Truro, Nova Scotia and Ghaz Sailors of Santa Barbara, Calif. were the other Owl competitors.
“The women gave it everything today,” said UMPI coach Christopher Smith. “Our goal was to finish in the top half of the field and to perform as well as possible individually in the process to get there.
“It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with such a positive group of young women.”
The Owl men’s team also competed in the national race. UMPI placed 11th as a unit and had two runners finish in the top 40 among the 164 competitors.
Thomas Grylka, a freshman from East Hampton, Conn., led the team by placing 24th in 29:34 on the eight-kilometer course. Not far behind was teammate Philip Boody of New Sweden. The junior came in 36th in 30:07.
Corey Herbert of Baldwin, Garrett Hilton and Tyler Hilton, both of Charleston; and Aiden Bothwell of Penobscot were UMPI’s other runners.
“The course was much harder than any we’ve seen over the last month, but we were pretty well prepared,” Smith said. “Our finish was something we look to improve upon next year.”
