FOC: Inside Look at the top Boys Individuals

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.