Southard & Szatkowski win Jack Wilkson Invitational Races

Mary Szatkowski of Bonny Eagle took the girls race at the Jack Wilkinson Invitational, covering the 5k course in 20:43

 

Results

The Wilkinson Memorial Race was held at the new trails at Narragansett School in Gorham this afternoon. This was the first HS race on the new course, Gorham used to run on the trails in the past but construction has drastically changed the layout over the years. Last year the meet was held at Gorham Middle School.

Sophomore Jesse Southard started off the season in dominating fashion as he won the boys race. Southard placed 19th in the Class A state meet last year, and was the top freshman, showed he's on track for a big season. Southard took the pace out hard as he went through the mile in 5:09, he coninued on well in the lead passing 2 miles in 10:44. Jesse would go mon to finish the 5k course in a personal best and course record, 16:51. Parker Montano of Cheverus was the runner-up with a 18:07, with Jeremy Collett of Gorham in 3rd with the same time.

After the crossing the line first, Southard said "it puts pressure on me to run that well for the rest of the season, but it feels good because that was what i was shooting for going into the race."  What did he think about the new course? "It was hot but I like the course. It kind of reminds me of Belfast a bit."

The Gorham boys expected to be one of the top teams in Class A this fall took the team win as they tallied 19 points, Cheverus with 44 was second, while Bonny Eagle 85 finished third.

 On the girls side Bonny Eagle's Mary Szatkowski one of the favorite to win the Class A title this fall, started off in winning fashion 20:43 as she was the only runner in the field to break 21 minutes. Cheverus junior Kaitlyn Dostie as the second harrier across the line as she covered the 5k course in 21:06, holding off Bonny Eagle sophomore Kialeigh Marston by 1 sec. Marston who played soccer a year ago was running in her first xc race of her career.  BE's Kristen Glennie was 4th in 21:08.

With Marston in the lineup for the Scots, Bonny Eagle looked strong as they prepare to defend their Class A title from a year ago. The Scots scored just 17 points as they easily outdistanced Gorham (42), Cheverus didn't have 5 runners so they didn't score.