Northern Maine Class A Regional XC Preview

Northern Maine Class A Regional XC Preview

Class A Boys Individuals

Wyatt Lord (Hampden Academy) - Lord a sophomore has had a strong 2016 campaign which includes running the second fastest 5k in the state entering the weekend of 15:51.75 at FOC. Last time out at the KVAC Championship he finished 4th in what was a bit of a surprise. His 16:56.10 on the Cony course was still an excellent performance, and certainly will have Lord motivated for the regional championship this weekend. A year ago as a freshman Wyatt finished 6th in this meet.

Lord's 2016 Performances

Tucker Barber (Mt Blue) Barber was the surprise winner at the KVAC Championship last weekend at Cony. He clocked a 16:43.20, the second fastest time ever on the difficult Cony course. Tucker has the momentum on sides after the win last weekend, so expect him to carry over that confidence this weekend. On the year the senior has won 4 times, and has run 16:43 or faster on 3 different occasions.

Barber's 2016 Performances

Jacob Gamache (Edward Little) Gamache a senior from EL ran a smart race at last weekend's KVAC Championship where he went on to finish second with a 16:55.10 clocking. On the year he has broken 17 minutes 3 different times for 5k. With the change in racing style this year Gamache has found himself having more success, and I would expect that to continue at the Regional. He placed 5th a year ago in the meet.

Paul Casavant (Hampden Academy)Last year's regional runner-up enters Saturday as a bit of an underdog as it will only be his third race of the season. A stress fracture derailed the start of Casavant's season as he didn't race until two weeks ago for the first time. He has shown he's still fit, and with his speed and experience certainly a threat to win. He finished third at the KVAC Championship last week, less than 1 second back of second place.

Casavant's 2016 Performances

Zachariah Hoyle (Messalonskee) Hoyle a senior from Messalonskee has the second fastest 5k in the field this fall. Hoyle clocked 16:27.50 on the Belfast course at FOC. At last week's KVAC Championship he placed 6th. The course at Belfast fits Hoyle running style a bit better than Belfast so expect him to be right at the front on Saturday.

Hoyle's 2016 Performances

Others to Watch

Lisandro Berry-Gaviria (Mt Ararat) Freshman was 5th at KVAC last weekend, best 5k of 16:59.80

Isse Tawane (Lewiston) Tawane took the pace out hard at KVAC's, he ended up 10th, he has the 6th fastest time in the field this fall 16:49.91

William Webb (Hampden Academy) Webb was 8th at KVAC's and has run the 7th fastest 5k in the field in 2016, a 16:53 at Belfast.

Gabe Coffey (Bangor) Coffey ran to a 7th place finish at KVAC's. He has 11th fastest 5k this fall

Class A Boys Team Preview

The same teams that took the line at KVAC's last weekend will square off again. In round one of the championship season the Cougars of Mt Blue took the top spot at the KVAC Championship. Mt Blue took the win by 14 points over Hampden Academy, while Mt Ararat placed third with Brunswick three points back in fourth. Lewiston rounded out the top 5.

Mt Blue will look to carry the momentum from last week into the regional championship. A week ago they averaged 18:07 with a 2:15 split. They will need Barber to get them a low stick then have Zeke Robison & Isaiah Reid finish in the top 15. The key maybe #4 runner Emmett Trafton & #5 runner Sam Stinson who were 20th & 25th at KVAC's

Hampden Academy is much stronger now that Paul Casavant has return. Casavant & Lord give the Broncos the best 1-2 punch in the meet. Add in William Webb who was 8th at KVAC makes them dangerous. They will need a better race from #4 & #5 runners if they want to take the top spot.

Lewiston has raced Mt Blue tough this season including a win over them at Festival of Champions. The Blue Devils had an off day at KVAC's but the course at Belfast better suits their racing style. They'll need #1 runner Isse Tawane to get them a low stick to be in the mix.

Mt Ararat is moving in the right direction with three potential top 10 finisher in Berry-Gaviria, Cameron Meier, & Eagan Eldridge.

Class A Girls Individuals

 

Katherine Leckbee (Mt Ararat) Leckbee has been on quite a roll as she has won 6 straight races including the KVAC Championship last weekend. She clocked a 19:44.20 on the the rolling layout at Cony to win by over 20 plus seconds. The time was her fastest effort on the season, and a great indication the junior is ready to pop a fast time on the Belfast course this weekend. She'll be the one everyone will be chasing, and she showed at KVAC's she not afraid to run from the front.

Leckbee's 2016 Performances

Anne Guadalupi (Cony) Guadalupi was the KVAC runner-up a week ago as she ran a course PR at Cony. Her 20:09.70 was just off her time from FOC, and an indication that she's feeling healthy again. She admitted after the KVAC meet she had some minor injuries earlier in the season but was feeling good again. 

Guadalupi's 2016 Performances

Jillian Richardson (Edward Little) Richardson has had a strong sophomore campaign as she ranks 4th fastest in the Northern Maine Regional entering Saturday. So far in 2016 Richardson has a best of 20:27, and last weekend placed 3rd in the KVAC Championship where she improved from 10th a year ago. 10th is also where she finished in the regional meet a year ago.

Richardson's 2016 Performances

Peyton Arbour (Messalonskee) Arbour a sophomore from Messalonskee placed 6th in the KVAC Championship last week. On the year she has the 3rd fastest time for 5k, a 20:13.89 effort on the Bangor course. She has had a strong improvement from a year ago where she placed 26th at KVAC's and 16th at the regional.

Arbour's 2016 Performances

Micaela Ashby (Brunswick) Ashby a freshman is running well heading into the regional meet, at KVAC's she notched a 4th place finish with her 21:13 effort. She has gotten better as the season progressed, and will run at Belfast for the first time on Saturday a course that should suit her style of running well. A top 5 finish is definitely in the cards for Ashby.

Ashby's 2016 Performances

Others to Watch

Jaden Gray (Lawrence) Gray is coming off a 5th place finish at the KVAC Championship. She has the 9th fastest 5k in the field so far in 2016. She placed 7th in the regional a year ago

Talia Jorgensen (Cony) The sophomore struggled at KVAC, but Belfast is the place where she hit her seaosnla best 20:29. Expect a rebound on Saturday

Maggie Hickey (Mt Blue) Hickey has the 6th fastest 5k time in the field this year a 20:30 effort from FOC. A week ago she 10th at the KVAC Championship

Simone Withers (Hampden Academy) Withers was 7th at the KVAC Championship, she was 9th in the regional a year ago.

With the same teams facing off as last week at the KVAC Championship the Northern Maine Regional the teams contending for the title should be familiar with eachother.

Brunswick hoisted the trophy at the KVAC Championship as the Dragons scored a 15 point win over Mt Blue with Cony in third place.

The Dragons were led by freshman Micaela Ashby but also had Isabella Pols finish 11th with teammate Caitlin Kelly a spot behind in 12th. Emma Slocum & Elina Woolever rounded out the scoring 5 for Brunswick in 23rd & 24th place. They averaged 22:30 at Cony last week.

Mt Blue had a strong 1-2 at KVAC's with sisters Maeve & Maggie Hickey placing 9th & 10th respectively. In fact Mt Blue had 4 of the top 17 in the race, they will need a #5 runner to emerge if they want to capture the top spot.

Cony based on 5k times this season has the second best team, The Rams are coming off a third place finish at KVAC's where #2 Talia Jorgensen had an off day, if she returns to form they will be much stronger. The lack of a #5 runner hurts their chances though.

Messalosnkee was 8th at the KVAC Championship, but if you put together the fastest 5 5k times on the season they have the best team.  #2 Alexa Brennan didn't run at KVAC'S so they should move up a few spots to secure a state meet birth. The loss of Avery Brennan to injury earlier this year hurt the Eagles chances.