By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
The Caribou girls placed third and the boys fifth at the Penobscot Valley Conference championships, held Saturday in Hermon.
Leading the Lady Vikes were Nerissa Larrabee, who placed 13th on the 3.1-mile course with a time of 21:28.05, and twin sister Robyn, who was 21st in 22:14.65. Chelsea Haney was 28th overall in 22:47.79 and Kristin Macek 30th in 22:54.27, with Lauren Chapman ending up 34th in 23:21.55. For the Caribou boys, Lucas Kinney claimed the 13th position in 18:17.79. Elijah Verhoff was 29th in 19:03.43, with Caleb Hunter 37th in 19:15.41 and Keith Draper 38th in 19:17.54. Tyler Strid and Tsion McLeod were 39th and 40th, respectively.
The Washburn girls’ cross country team picked up a championship last Wednesday and is hoping for another, on a much larger stage, this coming weekend.
Even without the services of their top runner, three-time state champion Carsyn Koch — out with an ankle injury — the Beavers were dominant at the Aroostook League championships held in Houlton.
Carmen Bragg of Washburn took individual honors with a time of 19:58.1 on the 2.9-mile course. Mackenzie Worcester of the Beavers was third in 20:18.2, Tori Koch fourth in 20:20.5, Emilia Churchill fifth in 20:34.72 and Marianne Helton sixth in 22:19.27.
Washburn had the only full team to score its 15 points. GHCA, Fort Kent and Limestone-MSSM also had runners competing.
The Beaver boys placed second in the meet to Fort Kent. Washburn had 34 points, with Derek Baker taking third place overall in 18:19.12 and Alex Pelletier fourth in 18:36.63.
Cameron Preston was sixth in 18:54.54, with Michael Ericson taking 10th in 19:23.89.
The Eastern Maine championships are next and slated for Saturday in Belfast.
