Coffey & Matson Shine at Festival of Champions
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Defending champion Sofie Matson didn't doubt she could win this year's Maine XC Festival of Champions, but why would she. The sophomore has never lost to a runner from Maine in her already storied career.
"I realized that once the race started I probably wasn't going to outkick them because I don't have a super-strong kick." The Falmouth standout said post-race
"I had to make my move early like around the mile, and then hold on the best I could."
She would hold on but it wasn't a blow-out like usual as Edward Little senior Jillian Richardson came as close as anyone has finishing second just eight seconds back.
"It was nerve wracking making my move so early." The defending Class A champion commented.
Matson came through the mile in around a 5:30 opening up a 11 second gap on the chase duo of Kate Tugman (Gorham) & Richardson of Edward Little.
The race was down to two as the headed up the super-highway as Richardson dropped Tugman in pursuit of Matson.
At two miles Matson continued to set the pace while still maintaining a ten second lead of Richardson. Matson knew someone was still close as she turned her head to see if anyone was closing before departing onto the final 1.1 miles.
Richardson would cut back two seconds in the end but it wasn't enough.
Matson crossed the finish line in 18:21.52 to remain the best harrier in the state. Her time was 4 seconds off her winning time from a year ago, but the course conditions probably meant this was worth more effort than a year ago.
Richardson who is under the guidance of a new coach this fall in Keith Weatherbie had the race of her life as she ran a lifetime best 18:29.57 taking off 38 seconds off her best time from earlier this fall. She improved from 18th place a year ago.
The ever steady Ami Beaumier of Bonny Eagle ran a strong race moving up one spot over the final mile to finish third in an effort of 18:45.94, improving on her 6th place finish in 2017.
Siona Chisholm a sophomore of Dr JH Gillis, Prince Edward Island ran a strong fourth in 18:46.79. While defending Class C champion Olivia Reynolds of Maine Coast Waldorf continues to improve with every race dropped her personal best 24 seconds from the Hoka Southern Maine XC Classic to finish 5th in 18:47.60.
Chisholm's teammate Mairin Canning was next in 6th place. She was followed by Cape Elizabeth's Lila Gaudrault who ran in third place for much of the race. Gaudrault scored a personal best by 15 seconds.
MileSplit50 #2 Kate Tugman struggled for the first time this season but still managed to place 8th her best FOC finish by 41 places.
Last year's freshman champion Karley Piers of Falmouth had another strong effort to place ninth, while Sophie Peterson of Colonel Gray, PEI rounded out the top ten in a time of 19:27.24.
MileSplit50 #1 Bonny Eagle showed they are the team to beat in Maine in 2018 as they scored an impressive 34 point victory over Colonel Gray High School from Prince Edward Island.
The Scots were led by Ami Beaumier who finished third, but they had plenty of talent of the trails beside her. Freshman Delaney Hesler was the runner-up in the freshman race and her 19:15.15 was good for 10th fastest overall. Senior Kayla Raymond was 25th (20:01.80) with a pair of freshman close behind as Hannah Stevens (20:18.21) was 28th and Emmaline Pendleton (20:25) was 30th. Bonny Eagle averaged 19:45.28.
Colonel Gray behind the sophomore trio of Sophia Peterson (13th), Grace Richard (15th) & Katie Richard (17th) tallied 130 points with a team average of just under 20 minutes at 19:59
Fellow Prince Edward Island team Dr JH Gillis was third with 136 while Falmouth was the second Maine school in fourth with 161 points. The Yachtsmen had the best top 4 in the field placing them within the top 24 finishers.
Harwood Union of Vermont rounded out the top five squads.