Washburn’s Koch repeats as Class C state champion
By Jon Gulliver
Staff Writer
CUMBERLAND — The Caribou High School boys cross country team will be Rhode Island bound later this month to take part in the New England competition.
Photo contributed by Leo Kashian
Viking runners Lucas Kinney (549) and Jesse Sandstrom (553) run together in the state meet at Twin Brook in Cumberland on Saturday. The Caribou boys qualified for the New England meet to be held on Nov. 12 in Rhode Island.
The Vikings finished third in the state meet held Saturday at Twin Brook Recreation Center in Cumberland to qualify for the Saturday, Nov. 12 event in North Scituate, R.I.
Caribou coach Roy Alden said the boys were extremely focused the entire race.
“To place three athletes in the top 14 at a state meet is a tremendous accomplishment,” said the coach.
Ron Lund was the first Viking to cross the finish line, good for 10th place in a time of 17:31.40, about five seconds ahead of 11th place teammate Caleb Chapman (17:36.47). Ryan Washington finished in 14th. Lucas Kinney had a top 50 finish at 36th, as did Jesse Sandstrom who finished 40th.
Also competing for Caribou were Brendan Wood and Kjetil Rossignol.
“This is a special group of athletes who collectively were able to reach a level of success they never would have achieved individually,” Alden said.
The Caribou girls cross country team just barely missed out on a trip to the New England competition finishing third in the Class B state meet and seventh in all classes. The top six qualified for the Rhode Island meet.
Viking Mackenzie Belyea did qualify for the New England’s as an individual finishing seventh in her race in a time of 20:31. 34.
Caribou coach Thomas Beckum was extremely pleased with his team’s performance. Two runners cracked the top 30 with personal bests. Twins Nerisssa and Robyn Larrabee were 25th and 28th.
The Larrabee twins were followed by Katie Plourde 52nd and Chelsea Bard 57th.
“Katie is our nucleus as she is our most consistent runner on the team in the four years she was been running with us,” said Beckum.
Ashley Richards and Rene Dube also ran for the Vikings.
Photo contributed by Leo Kashian
Viking runners Katie Plourde (544) and Chelsea Bard (536) helped the Caribou girls to a third-place finish in the state Class B Championships held on Saturday in Cumberland.
Beckum added “the girls ran their best cross country meet when it mattered the most.”
It was also a special day for the Washburn girls who came very close to capturing the girls’ Class C championship.
The Beavers finished second, only eight points behind Merriconeag Waldorf High School of Freeport.
Sophomore Carsyn Koch won her second consecutive state championship by cruising the 3.1-mile course at the Twin Brook Recreation Center in a time of 20:17.74, more than 30 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor.
“She had a great race, she dominated,” said her coach Michael Waugh. “She had a good lead at the mile and the downstate runners just couldn’t keep up.”
This race for Washburn wasn’t about just one runner. Coach Waugh said his top three runners were outstanding. Another sophomore Carmen Bragg finished ninth at 21:46.49. Freshman Mackenzie Worcester crossed the line in 22:01.68, good for 12th.
Waugh also praised another freshman, Joan Overman.
“Joan made a good charge late in the race and allowed us to move up a few positions,” Waugh said.
Freshman Marianne Helton also cracked the top 50, finishing 47th.
Other Washburn runners were Mikayla Churchill and Hannah Heald.
By virtue of winning the state championship Koch will have the opportunity to race at the New England’s Saturday, Nov. 12 at Ponaganset High School in North Scituate, R.I.
As for the future of the only two-year-old Beaver cross country program Waugh has high hopes.
“We only have sophomores and freshmen on the team, we should be the team to beat next year,” said Waugh.
The Washburn boys did not qualify as a team, but individual runners did. Nick Bragg finished 25th and Michel Ericson was 84th.
Also competing as individuals were Lucy Wilcox (61st) and Helen Roberts (66th) of Limestone/MSSM.
