Festival of Champions: Insider Look at top Individuals
Boys
The Contenders
Last year there were two clear cut contenders battling for the individual title, and one of Josef Holt-Andrews would not only go on to win, but smash the course record with his mind blowing 15:06.92. The 2014 expects to have a few more boys in the mix for individual honors lead by 2013 runner-up and 6th fastest in meet history, senior Aaron Willingham of Mt Blue. So far this fall Willingham has been very good he has 4 wins under his belt, including a sorching 15:58.30 effort at Lawrence which is the fastest time in the state this fall. Willingham's teammate Dan Lesko has had a big fall as well, Lesko has been close to his teammate in several races and recorded his fastest effort of 16:07 at Lawrence. Scarborough's Jacob Terry has been unbeatable this fall in the SMAA, and looks to continue that success at Belfast on Saturday. The individual champion could also be an out of staters with Sean Laverty of Cumberland, RI & Sam Nishi of Harwood Union, VT. Laverty is coming off a 6th place finish at the Ocean State Invitational whre he ran 16:27. Nishi who finished 4th a year ago at FOC running 15:58.13 is back looking to move up the ranks, he is coming off a runner-up finish in the boys small school race at the Manchester Invitational. The Cape duo of Kyle Kennedy & Mitch Morris are contenders, Morris is finally healthy and finished right behind Nishi at Manchester last weekend, while Kennedy has a 16:50 effort at Twinbrook under his belt this fall. Lewiston's Osman Doorow & Isaiah Harris is another pair who should contend, Doorow has beaten Harris the last 2 times out, and Osman also finished ahead of Lesko at Leavitt. Never count out the speedster Harris, who placed 8th a year ago to lead his team to the win, this is his type of race and course. Hampden's Caleb Lord has had a strong fall and figures to be in the mix, as does Chris Walfield of Morse. Falmouth's Bryce Murdick can't be forgotten either he was 11th as a junior and has been solid this fall.
Aaron Willingham (Mt Blue)
Grade: Sr.
Last Year: 2nd place
Fastest Time at Belfast: 15:42.18 6th fastest in meet history
2014 Season 5k's
16:18.73 | 1st | 2014-09-25 | KVAC: Mt Ararat, Morse, Mt Blue @Brunswick | |
16:37.00 | 1st | 2014-09-19 | kvac: Ox Hills, Maranacook, Mt Blue, Lew, EL, Spruce Mt @Leavitt | |
15:58.30 | 1st | 2014-09-11 | KVAC: Ox Hills, Brw, Bruns, Cony, Mt B, MCI, Sko, HA @Lawrence | |
17:19.90 | 1st | 2014-09-05 | KVAC: Lawrence, Messalonskee, MCI, Spruce Mtn @ Mt Blue |
Dan Lesko(Mt Blue)
Grade: Sr.
Last Year: 22nd place
Fastest Time at Belfast: 16:38.03
2014 Season 5k's
16:31.14 | 2nd | 2014-09-25 | KVAC: Mt Ararat, Morse, Mt Blue @Brunswick | |
16:53.00 | 3rd | 2014-09-19 | kvac: Ox Hills, Maranacook, Mt Blue, Lew, EL, Spruce Mt @Leavitt | |
16:07.00 | 2nd | 2014-09-11 | KVAC: Ox Hills, Brw, Bruns, Cony, Mt B, MCI, Sko, HA @Lawrence | |
17:27.80 | 2nd | 2014-09-05 | KVAC: Lawrence, Messalonskee, MCI, Spruce Mtn @ Mt Blue |
Jacob Terry(Scarborough)
Grade: Sr.
Last Year: 26th place
Fastest Time at Belfast: 16:45.35
2014 Season 5k's
16:30.00 | 1st | 2014-09-26 | SMAA: Deer-Msh-TA @ Scarborough | |
17:09.00 | 1st | 2014-09-19 | SMAA: Chev-Scar-West @ Sanford |
Sean Laverty(Cumberland, RI)
Grade: Jr.
Last Year: 18th place
Fastest Time at Belfast: 16:32.67
2014 Season 5k's
16:27.03 | 6th | 2014-09-26 | Ocean State XC Invitational | |
16:16.46 | 1st | 2014-09-06 | Injury Fund X-C Carnival |
Sam Nishi(Harwood Union, VT)
Grade: Sr.
Last Year: 4th place
Fastest Time at Belfast: 15:58.13
2014 Season 5k's
16:29.53 | 2nd | 2014-09-27 | Manchester Invitational | |
18:17.00 | 4th | 2014-09-13 | Burlington Cross Country Invitational | |
16:18.60 | 1st | 2014-09-06 | Essex Cross Country Invitational |
Mitch Morris (Cape Elizabeth)
Grade: Sr.
Last Year: 28th place
Fastest Time at Belfast: 16:45.64
2014 Season 5k's
16:30.90 | 3rd | 2014-09-27 | Manchester Invitational | |
17:02.00 | 2nd | 2014-09-19 | WMC: Cape, Lake Region, Yarmouth, Waynflete @ Greely | |
18:47.00 | 3rd | 2014-09-04 | WMC: Cape, Kennebunk, Traip, York @ Wells |
Kyle Kennedy(Cape Elizabeth)
Grade: Sr.
Last Year: 42nd place
Fastest Time at Belfast: 17:03.39
2014 Season 5k's
17:15.04 | 10th | 2014-09-27 | Manchester Invitational | |
16:50.00 | 1st | 2014-09-19 | WMC: Cape, Lake Region, Yarmouth, Waynflete @ Greely | |
17:34.00 | 1st | 2014-09-04 | WMC: Cape, Kennebunk, Traip, York @ Wells |
Osman Doorow(Lewiston)
Grade: Jr.
Last Year: 36th place
Fastest Time at Belfast: 16:54.93
2014 Season 5k's
18:46.00 | 1st | 2014-09-26 | KVAC: Lewiston, Leavitt, Spruce Mtn @ Oxford Hills | |
16:53.00 | 2nd | 2014-09-19 | kvac: Ox Hills, Maranacook, Mt Blue, Lew, EL, Spruce Mt @Leavitt | |
16:32.80 | 1st | 2014-09-12 | KVAC: Leavitt, Maranacook, Mt Ararat, Spruce Mtn @Lewiston |
Isaiah Harris(Lewiston)
Grade: Sr.
Last Year: 8th place
Fastest Time at Belfast: 16:21.70
2014 Season 5k's
18:48.00 | 2nd | 2014-09-26 | KVAC: Lewiston, Leavitt, Spruce Mtn @ Oxford Hills | |
17:03.00 | 4th | 2014-09-19 | kvac: Ox Hills, Maranacook, Mt Blue, Lew, EL, Spruce Mt @Leavitt |
Caleb Lord(Hampden Academy)
Grade: Sr.
Last Year: 24th place
Fastest Time at Belfast: 16:24.56
2014 Season 5k's
17:35.10 | 1st | 2014-09-26 | KVAC: MCI, Bel, Brw, Wtv, HA, CH, Mar, EL @Cony | |
16:37.20 | 3rd | 2014-09-11 | KVAC: Ox Hills, Brw, Bruns, Cony, Mt B, MCI, Sko, HA @Lawrence | |
17:13.63 | 1st | 2014-09-05 | KVAC: Brewer, Hampden, Waterville, Bangor @ Skowhegan |
Bryce Murdick(Falmouth)
Grade: Sr.
Last Year: 11th place
Fastest Time at Belfast: 16:22.33
2014 Season 5k's
17:14.01 | 1st | 2014-09-26 | WMC: Falmouth, Traip, Wells, Yarmouth @ Poland | |
17:29.00 | 1st | 2014-09-05 | WMC: GNG, Falmouth @ Greely |
Chris Walfield(Morse)
Grade: Jr.
Last Year: 45th
Fastest Time at Belfast: 17:06.83
2014 Season 5k's
16:43.67 | 3rd | 2014-09-25 | KVAC: Mt Ararat, Morse, Mt Blue @Brunswick | |
17:06.24 | 1st | 2014-09-19 | KVAC: Morse, Brunswick, Waterville @Mt Ararat | |
16:42.70 | 1st | 2014-09-12 | KVAC: Erk, Mor, Med, LA, Ocean, CH, EL @Belfast | |
17:14.74 | 1st | 2014-09-05 | KVAC: Belfast, Erskine, Cony, Morse, Camden Hills @ Winslow |
Others to keep an eye on
Jesse Southard (Gorham) Best of 16:30 for 5k on the season
Michael Aboud (Massabesic) Hasn't run 5k yet, 16:36 for 3 miles, 32nd last year
Chris Cote (Waterville) 17:15.15 for 5k is best this fall, 20th last year
Paul Casavant (Hampden Academy) Best of 16:37.7 this year, 4th in freshman race last year
Matt Malcom (NYA) Twice under 17 this fall, 16:49 is his best
Colin Tardiff (Scarborough) 17th a year ago, 17:31 best this year
Luke Laverdiere (Yarmouth) The favorite to win freshman race, he'll look to run under 17 again, best fo 16:33 so far.
Matt Toussaint (Fort Kent) a best of 16:43 on the year, he's often overlooked
Tristan Butterfield (Orono) On fire as of late, 16:34 last weekend, was 68th last year, could be most improved.
Ben Foster (Gorham) Foster has been right behind Southard all year, best effort a 16:37 last week, 60th in 2013.