By Jon Gulliver
Staff writer
BELFAST — It’s two Eastern Maine crowns in two years for the Caribou Viking boys cross country team.
Photo courtesy Leo Kashian
Caribou’s Brendan Wood (454) and Ryan Washington (453) helped the Vikings win the Eastern Maine Class B Cross Country Championship last Saturday. The state final is being held this Saturday in Cumberland.
Caribou topped a strong Ellsworth squad by putting five runners into the top 20.
Caleb Chapman was the first Viking to cross the finish line, fourth overall. Coach Roy Alden says Chapman’s race was strong for several reasons.
“Caleb showed a lot of courage and leadership running with a sore Achilles tendon,” the coach said.
Ron Lund finished seventh for the Vikings, followed by Lucas Kinney (12th), Jesse Sandstrom (13th), Ryan Washington (20th) and Kjetil Rossignol (29th).
“They believed in the race plan they had and went out and worked extremely hard on the course,” said Alden. “It was an exciting day for the young men who make up this year’s team.”
Dan Curtis of Ellsworth was the individual race winner and Matt Eager of Presque Isle placed second.
Joining Caribou and Ellsworth at the Class B state meet, to be held Saturday in Cumberland, will be John Bapst (108), Mount Desert Island (131), Waterville (150), Winslow (173), Presque Isle (179) and Medomak Valley of Waldoboro (197).
Looking ahead to the state meet the Viking coach said, “Greely, Falmouth, York and Cape Elizabeth all look very strong. It will take an outstanding team effort to bring the State B Championship back to Caribou.”
The Caribou girls also had a strong showing finishing fourth to qualify for the state meet. Camden Hills, Mt. Desert Island and John Bapst finished as the top three.
Mackenzie Belyea was the top Caribou runner cruising the course in 20:37.39 to come in eighth. Other Caribou runners in the top 50 included: Nerisa Larrabee (14th), Katelynn Plourde (30th), Chelsea Bard (33rd), Rene Dube (34th) and Kelly Kashian (40th).
In girls’ Class C, 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 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).
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 Limestone/MSSM girls didn’t have enough runners to qualify for a team score but three runners did finish in the top 50. They are Lucy Wilcox (23th), Helen Roberts (27th) and Heather Brown (47th).
The state championships will be held this Saturday at Twin Brook in Cumberland.
