Morris & Skillings win @ Cape

WMC: GNG, Merriconeag, Poland @ Cape
Derek Veilleux

Morris & Skillings win @ Cape

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Cape Elizabeth senior Mitch Morris sprinted off from the sound of the gun, and controlled the 3 mile race at Cape Elizabeth's Gull Crest field course on Friday afternoon under perfect running conditions. Morris who was coming off a 4th place finish at the Maine XC Festival of Champions last week where he ran a life time best of 16:06 for 5k, set the fast pace in the first 800m, and only his teammate Kyle Kennedy went with it. He would continue to keep the pace hot and when the emerged from the woods the first time he had taken command of the race.

Going through the halfway point in 7:50, Morris was on pace for a personal best time on the course, but he would have to do it alone. Kennedy was 14 seconds back in second place, with Tucker Pierce of Merriconeag stalking him in third about 6 seconds back. Zachary Neveu of Merriconeag was running 4th was next with Jared Duperre of Cape 5 seconds back of him rounding out the top 5.

Over the final 1.5 miles Morris continued to keep the foot on the accelerator as he would widen his lead to 44 seconds when he crossed the line in a personal best 15:41, the time moves him to 6th fastest in course history. Pierce would cross next in 16:25, followed by Kennedy 15 seconds later. Neveu would break 17 minutes with his 16:58 4th place effort while his freshmna brother Nick Neveu rounded out the top 5 with his 17:16

On the team side of things, Cape Elizabeth got their first team win of the season with 5 of the first 9 runners as the scored 26 points, Merriconeag with 33 was next, followed Gray New Gloucester in third with 71, & Poland 106 in 4th.

The girls race saw a pack of three, Olivia Skillings & Samantha Pierce of Merriconeag and Samantha Halos of Poland set the pace at the front. While Cape Elizabeth had a pack of 8 runners running together.

Coming out of the woods for the first time, Skillings & Pierce were running shoulder to shoulder while Halmos was 3-4 strides back of the duo, by the halfway point Halmos had caught the duo and moved to the front to push the pace. Cape's pack of 8 was still working together as a team and closing up the gap behind them Emma Gaul of Poland & Fiona Ahearne of Merriconeag.

Halmos continued her surge as she opened up on the football fields opening up a 5 meter gap to Skillings, and 10 more back to Pierce before entering the woods again. When they emerged from the woods this time we had a new leader as Skillings had regained the lead and was pulling away. Halmos remained second with Pierce within striking distance. Skillings finished very strong, pulling away for the 20:06 win, 16 seconds ahead of the next finisher. The battle for second was a good one as Pierce got on Halmos's shoulder with 200m to go, and was able to kick home for second, one second in front of Halmos.

Ahearne closed very well over the final 1.5 miles to get past the Cape pack to finish 4th, then came the sea of maroon, as Cape took spots 5-11th.

The team race was as close as you could get with Cape & Merriconeag tied with 35, but Cape took the win with the better 6th runner. Poland with 63 points was third while Gray New Gloucester (105) finished 4th.

 

 

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