Silas Eastman (Fryeburg picture left by Beth Rand) led the Class B race from start to finish, this style of race is something he has done all fall, and become very good at. Eastman just a sophomore was 2nd in the race as freshman, moved up to take the title this year, covering the 5k course in a blistering 16:02.44. Eastman was 19 seconds better than runner-up Tim Follo (Falmouth) 16:21.30. For Follo this was a personal best, and more importantly led his team to a runner-up finish. Freshman Dan Curts showed that the future is bright, as he went out hard trying to chase Eastman, assistant coach Louie Luchini said “I may have cost him some time, but I told him to just try to challenge for the win” While Curts didn’t win he was good enough for 3rd in a lifetime best 16:28. Christian Sleeper (Caribou) rebounded for a couple of sub par races to nab the 4th place finish (16:36). Eben Hodgkins the Eastern Maine Regional runner-up ran well for 5th place (16:41).
Top 20 Individuals Silas Eastman Interview
1 Silas Eastman SO Fryeburg Academy 16:02.44 1 2 Timothy Follo JR Falmouth 16:21.30 2 3 Dan Curts FR Ellsworth 16:28.60 3 4 Christian Sleeper SR Caribou High School 16:36.94 4 5 Eben Hodgkins JR Erskine Academy 16:41.15 5 6 Evan Piccirillo SR Hampden Academy 16:57.43 6 7 Mitchell Finitz JR York High School 16:59.10 7 8 Thomas Bottomley JR Cape Elizabeth 17:06.82 8 9 Will Shafer FR Gray-NG 17:08.07 10 Stefan Sandreuter JR Greely High School 17:12.01 9 11 Leo Ledman SR Cape Elizabeth 17:13.36 10 12 Ethan Burke SR Hampden Academy 17:15.97 11 13 Caleb Chapman JR Caribou High School 17:15.98 12 14 Nick Kopf SO Hampden Academy 17:18.00 13 15 Jeff Hale SR Waterville 17:18.61 16 Ben Nickerson SR Yarmouth 17:18.94 14 17 DJ Flynn SR Caribou High School 17:19.29 15 18 Luis Mauser FR Belfast 17:22.04 19 Nickolas Shuckrow SO Winslow High School 17:22.54 16 20 Reid Douty SR Cape Elizabeth 17:22.92 17
In the team race, Eastern Maine Champion, Caribou broke through the Western Maine dominance to capture their first state title since ? . The Vikings got a huge effort from senior Christian Sleeper (4th), last week Sleeper was 7th running 17:24 and only the #2 runner for his team. Caleb Chapman (13th) & DJ Flynn (17th) provided a strong finish, while freshman Ryan Washington continued his great post season run, finishing 33rd (17:44), while 5th runner Jesse Sandstorm (17:48) sealed the deal. Sandstorm was the top 5 runner for any team. Runner-up Falmouth only 3rd in the Western Maine Regional rebounded well, this despite learning last night that #3 runner John Lake was out with a stress fracture. The Yachtsmen responded to the challenge well, with Tim Follo (2nd) providing the low number up front, then getting a strong race from Conor McGory (21st) and a break out day from Henry Briggs (24th), last weekend Briggs was Falmouth’s #5 runner. Thomas Edmonds (27th) & Azad Jalali (39th) finished strong for the Yachtsmen, who scored 100 points, just 8 points away from the top spot. Cape Elizabeth was the 3rd team, finishing with 109. Pre-meet favorite was dealt a blow when #1 runner Sam Johnston was ruled ineligible to compete. Caribou along with Falmouth & Cape Elizabeth qualified for the New England meet.
Top 5 Teams
Results - Men
1 Caribou High School 92 4 12 15 29 32 49 66
Total Time: 1:26:44.83
Average: 17:20.97
2 Falmouth High School 100 2 18 21 24 35 37 53
Total Time: 1:26:41.59
Average: 17:20.32
3 Cape Elizabeth High Schoo 109 8 10 17 31 43 55 65
Total Time: 1:27:33.63
Average: 17:30.73
4 Hampden Academy 113 6 11 13 20 63 68 84
Total Time: 1:27:32.27
Average: 17:30.46
5 Greely High School 124 9 23 25 26 41 73 81
Total Time: 1:28:03.68
Average: 17:36.74
Class B Girls
For the first time in 2 years there is a new individual state champion in girls Class B, as Old Town’s Dacie Manion powered her way to her first state title. Manion won the Eastern Maine title on the same course last weekend, improved her time by 13 seconds, when she crossed the line first in 18:50. The time was a lifetime best for Manion, and the 4th fastest time on the day. Manion was tagged early on in the race by two time defending champion Abby Mace (Maranacook) but Dacie took over after the climb after the mile and despite muddy conditions during the race especially in the 2nd mile, pulled away with each stride. For Mace, the finish was a bit of a disappointment, but one can hardly fault her for the effort she put out, this despite not being 100% healthwise. The fact that Mace was running, showed the heart of a champion and how competitive she is. Abby has been unable to run for most of the last three weeks, instead she has been in the pool, as she dealt with a stress reaction to her lower left calf. Mace was still 2nd (19:25), holding off a strong challenge from three freshman. Brittany Bowman (Camden Hills) the EM Regional runner-up was 3rd overall (19:31), while fellow classmate Aleta Looker (Ellsworth) was 4th (19:36), with WM regional runner-up Kirsten Sandreuter (Greely) rounding out the top 5 (19:45).
John Bapst (pictured above) the EM regional champion overcame a strong run from WM Champion Cape Elizabeth, the three time defending state champions to claim the top overall spot. Bapst edged Cape 72-76 in the team scoring, behind a 6th place finish from Adrienne Carmack (19:51.88). John Bapst went out hard, they had 4 girls ahead of Cape’s #1 at the mile, but it was 5th runner senior Laura Donovan (37th) that moved up throughout the race who proved to the be the difference. Cape ran very well with two in the top ten, led by seniors Rachel Nichols (8th) & Kelsey Barton (10th), Bapst’s #2 runner Amanda Lalime (11th), gave Bapst a 10-11 lead after two runners, Cape’s Catherine Tierney (13th) had her best race of the year, with Bapst’s Maggie Bryan (15th) right behind. After 3 runners it was Cape back in the lead 20-21. Cape continued to hold the edge through 4 runners with Emma Inhorn (28th), but Bapst’s Mary Carmack (29th) was just a few steps back. The 5th runner proved the difference Donovan was 15 seconds in front of Cape freshman Emily Lobosco (46th), despite Lobosco running a personal best by 46 seconds. MDI rounded out the top 3 with 112 points.