Pierce runs fastest time of the day, Thayer best the girls field. Hall-Dale Boys win title while Merriconeag slips by Waynflete
Merrcioneag's Jack Pierce did the unthinkable he ran the fatest time of the day for boys after the course at Twin Brook had been chewed to shreds. The senior clocked 16:38 to hold off a challenge from Josef Holt Andrews of Telstar (16:46). On the girls side Sophia Thayer used a fast last mile to separate from NYA's Hannah Austin to win in 21:12. Check out the coverage and see who will be running next week in the state meet
Results
Photos: Slowrunningpete | Moosechili
Interviews: Jack Pierce | Sophia Thayer
Boys race video
The expected duel between Josef Holt-Andrews of Telstar & Jack Pierce of Merriconeag turned out to be a good one.
Pierce & Holt-Andrews who are 2 of the best runners in the state of Maine didn't dissapoint despite the conditions behind tough
Pierce set the pace throughout the race with Holt-Andrews seemingly conserving energy a stride behind
The two would run stride for stride over the first 2 3/4 miles of the race but at the Pain Cave Pierce was able to summon some new strength.
At that point "I knew I had something left at the Pain Cave, so I just went hard" Jack would say after the race.
Over the final 600 meters of the race Pierce was able to pull away to finish in the fastest time of the day 16:38
How'd the heck did he run that fast? Good question as the course keep getting slower as the day went on. "It's all mental" Pierce would respond about his fast time today depsite the conditions.
Holt-Andrews ran a strong race to finish as the runner-up, his final time was 16:46, the #2 time on the day.
Interesting tidbit Pierce finished in front of Holt-Andrews during last year's regional final, at the state meet the roles were reversed in 2011.
Winthrop's Marc Hachey had the pleasure of running solo most of the race, he would finish 3rd in 17:53.
Waynflete's Josh Espy used a strong last mile to get by a pack of runners for 4th.
Ben Allen of Winthrop was 5th followed by Alex Owen of Boothbay (18:23)
Hall-Dale's Josh Ringer crossed the line in 7th, he was followed by NYA's Matt Malcom
Freshman Nick Harriman of Lisbon was 9th while Merriconeag's Zach Neveu placed 10th
Hall-Dale the pre-race favorite took the top honors for teams. The Bulldogs scored 92 to win by 14 points over the Flyers of Waynflete
They had 4 runners in the top 21. Running well for Hall-Dale was Ringer in 7th as well as Matt Plourde (17th) & Chris Pomerleau (18th).
Waynflete edged the Seahawks of Boothbay for the runner-up plaque 106-110, the difference being the 5th man as Waynflete's finished 34th while Boothbay's was 49th. Winthrop was just 6 points back in 4th
Other qualifying for states were Monmouth, North Yarmouth Academy, Telstar & Lisbon
Boys Individual State Qualifiers
1 Jack Pierce SR Merriconeag 16:38.28 2 Josef Holt-Andrews JR Telstar 16:46.70 3 Marc Hachey SR Winthrop 17:53.39 4 Josh Espy SR Waynflete 18:19.50 5 Ben Allen SO Winthrop 18:21.23 6 Alex Owen SR Boothbay 18:23.40 7 Josh Ringer SR Hall-Dale 18:25.01 8 Matt Malcom SO NYA 18:29.80 9 Nicholas Harriman FR Lisbon 18:33.98 10 Zach Neveu SO Merriconeag 18:37.57 11 Benn Scully JR Boothbay 18:51.87 12 Tristen Rich SO Madison 18:59.86 13 Robert Campbell JR Boothbay 19:06.76 14 Bronson Dean JR Telstar 19:17.62 15 dylan Kinsbury SR Waynflete 19:22.14 16 Colby Trenten SR Madison 19:23.72 17 Matt Plourde SR Hall-Dale 19:25.12 18 Chris Pomerleau SO Hall-Dale 19:26.35 19 Jake Burns SR NYA 19:31.01 20 Abukar Adan SR Waynflete 19:36.92 21 James McAuliffe JR Hall-Dale 19:42.81 22 Ben Bailey JR Monmouth Academy 19:44.77 23 Cote Brauneis SO Lisbon 19:46.61 24 Travis Robbins SO Richmond 19:52.06 25 Dylan Thombs JR Monmouth Academy 19:53.06 26 Tyler Horsford SR Monmouth Academy 19:54.31 27 Dylan Berney SR Winthrop 19:55.10 28 Stewart Buzzell JR Monmouth Academy 20:03.46 29 Harry Cheung SR Hall-Dale 20:05.47 30 Haley Cunningham SO NYA 20:08.73
Team Qualifiers
Top 8 Teams Qualify for State Meet
1 Hall-Dale High School 92 7 17 18 21 29 36 47
Total Time: 1:37:04.76
Average: 19:24.96
2 Waynflete School 106 4 15 20 33 34 54 61
Total Time: 1:37:53.42
Average: 19:34.69
3 Boothbay Region High Scho 110 6 11 13 31 49 56 58
Total Time: 1:37:18.55
Average: 19:27.71
4 Winthrop High School 116 3 5 27 38 43 51 73
Total Time: 1:37:17.15
Average: 19:27.43
5 Monmouth Academy 136 22 25 26 28 35 50 57
Total Time: 1:39:57.48
Average: 19:59.50
6 North Yarmouth Academy 145 8 19 30 40 48 52 65
Total Time: 1:39:30.94
Average: 19:54.19
7 Telstar Regional High Sch 173 2 14 44 46 67 88 96
Total Time: 1:39:29.23
Average: 19:53.85
8 Lisbon High School 180 9 23 39 45 64 78
Total Time: 1:41:03.25
Average: 20:12.65
Watch the race video
The Class C race girls race didn't come with the headlines as the boys race did but it turned out to be a great race between Boothbay's Sophia Thayer & NYA's Hannah Austin
Thayer took over the lead 400m into the race and set the pace over the first mile. Austin followed about 10 meters back at the mile with Natalie Boldcu of Dirigo on her heels. Behind them was Morgan Crocker & Hannah Morley of Boothbay
Over the next mile Austin would move up to Thayer shoulder and even took the lead right before the 2 mile mark. Thayer covered Austin's move and the two exited the woods right together.
Bolduc remained 3rd with Crocker in 4th. Waynflete's Marta Veroneau ran a very patient race moved herself through the field after the mile to get into 5th before the pain cave, while Sam Pierce of Merriconeag tracked her moves.
At the pain Thayer would dig deep and make her break which was good enough to earn her the victory in 21:12. Austin put up a valiant effort finishing 2nd 21:29. Boldcu remained 3rd 22:09
Pierce of Merriconeag moved up to 4th with a strong close moving ahead of Wyanflete's Veroneau who placed 5th. Crocker crossed next in 6th.
Teagan Wu of Merriconeag also ran a string last 800 to move up to 7th just one spot in front of Waynflete's Ella Millard. Lisbon freshman Bree Sauter had a good run finishing 9th.
Early race leader Bronte Elias rounded out the top 10
The team race was very competitive as Merriconeag & Waynflete battled it out. Wyanflete took the better of Merriconeag at last week's WMC championship but the roles would be reversed today.
A strong last mile moved Merriconeag's top 2 runners just ahead of Waynflete's by 1 spot. The difference maker was the #3 runner for Merriconeag Zoe Chace-Donahue who placed 14th overall. Waynflete's Cat Johnson was 7 places back in 21st.
When it was all said and done the margin of victory was just 6 points. Not much separates the two teams and they are sure to be neck and neck at next week's state championship
Dirigo the MVC champions placed 3rd, while Boothbay punched their ticket to the state meet in 4th.
The final spot went to Monmouth. How close was it? They edged Lisbon by 1 point for the final spot
Girls Individual State Qualifiers
1 Sophia Thayer JR Boothbay 21:12.77 2 Hannah Austin SO NYA 21:29.70 3 Natalie Bolduc Dirigo 22:09.80 4 Samantha Pierce SO Merriconeag 22:34.27 5 Martha Veroneau SO Waynflete 22:39.05 6 Morgan Crocker SO Boothbay 22:50.20 7 Wu Teagan SR Merriconeag 22:52.94 8 Ella Millard JR Waynflete 22:54.46 9 Bree Sautter FR Lisbon 22:58.11 10 Bronte Elias SO Madison 23:05.63 11 Gabi Stone SO Telstar 23:09.05 12 Angel Abbott FR Winthrop 23:15.90 13 Hannah Morley FR Boothbay 23:18.47 14 Chace-Donahue Zoe SR Merriconeag 23:32.07 15 Molly Kieltyka JR Winthrop 23:42.52 16 Emma Wilson SO Hall-Dale 23:43.43 17 Jocelyn Lorrey JR Traip 23:50.68 18 Kate Hilscher FR NYA 23:50.86 19 Caitlyn Bundy FR Lisbon 23:51.61 20 Ellen Tuttle JR St. Dominic 23:55.55 21 Johnson Cat SR Waynflete 23:56.84 22 Kaitlin Souza FR Winthrop 23:57.01 23 Jessica Conant Dirigo 23:58.08 24 Gail Johnson FR Waynflete 23:59.84 25 Ashleigh Hartford SO Monmouth Academy 24:09.13 26 Kaitlyn Brown FR Telstar 24:12.57 27 Carey Knowles SO Monmouth Academy 24:13.00 28 Sylvia Lutick Dirigo 24:21.47 29 Abby L'Abbe FR St. Dominic 24:24.74 30 Tiffany Pease JR Monmouth Academy 24:27.64
Team Qualifiers
Top 5 Teams Qualify for State Meet
1 Merriconeag Waldorf High 79 4 7 12 27 29 35 45
Total Time: 1:58:18.54
Average: 23:39.71
2 Waynflete School 85 5 8 18 21 33 34 39
Total Time: 1:58:43.37
Average: 23:44.68
3 Dirigo High School 112 3 20 24 28 37
Total Time: 2:00:48.66
Average: 24:09.74
4 Boothbay Region High Scho 117 1 6 11 47 52 53
Total Time: 2:02:02.65
Average: 24:24.53
5 Monmouth Academy 138 22 23 26 31 36 41 48
Total Time: 2:03:16.32
Average: 24:39.27