MVC XC Championship Preview
Virtual Meets
The best of the Mountain Valley Conference will take their talents to the University of Maine at Augusta on Saturday morning.
On the boys side defending team champion Boothbay is the heavy favorite to win another conference title. The Seahawks were easily the best team a month ago at the MVC Preview meet where they tallied 26 points in a 37 point victory over Lisbon. The defending Class C champs are lead by sophomore Joey Paolillo plus some strong depth were also the top Class C team at the Festival of Champions.
Winthrop finished second in the preview meet, and based on the virtual meet is seeded to finish in that same position. The Ramblers are led by Ben Allen the individual favorite. The Greyhounds of Lisbon will be looking to cut the gap down and catch Winthrop on Saturday, they were 15 points back a month ago at the preview. Lisbon is led by Nick Harriman.
Individually senior Ben Allen of Winthrop is the runner to beat running undefeated against MVC competitors during the regular season. Allen who finished as the runner-up a year ago won the preview meet by 6 seconds. At FOC, Allen had his best effort of the fall running 16:31 good for 16th overall, and top MVC & Class C runner.
Challengers for Allen, should come from the trio of Nick Harriman of Lisbon, Luke Thombs of Monmouth Academy & Joey Paolillo of Boothbay. At the preview meet Harriman was just 6 seconds behind Allen, running his best time of the year 17:29. Harriman had an off day at FOC, and will be looking to rebound with a stong performance this weekend. Thombs was 4th at the preview meet, then had his best effort of the year 17:08 to finish 41st at FOC where he was the second best MVC athlete. Palillo was 3rd at the preview meet just ahead of Thombs, but finished 2 second back of him at FOC.
The St. Dominic girls are the team favorite heading into the conference championship this weekend. St Dom's was the best team at the MVC preview a month ago winning with 38, good for a 21 point edge over Monmouth Academy. At the preview meet they had 4 runners in the top 9. They are lead by the sophomore duo of Ella Brown & Sydney Sirios. Just last week they finished 14th points up on Boothbay.
Monmouth Academy & Boothbay are the next best team, they finished second & third respectively at the MVC preview meet.
Individually Hall-Dale senior Emma Wilson is the favorite, Wilson won the MVC preview meet a month ago by 13 seconds over Hannah Morley of Boothbay. Wilson who finished as the runner-up a year ago has a best 5k of 21:15 this fall. She has run undefeated in the mvc this year.
The previously mentioned Morley is hoping to challenge for the individual win. Morley the preview meet runner-up has a best of 21:25 on the season, and was just 10 seconds back of Wilson at FOC two weeks ago.
The St Dom's duo of Brown & Sirios should contend for top 5 spots and higher if they have a big day. Gabbi Stone of Telstar & Olivia Demchak of Madison are the other runners in the field that have broken 22 minutes for 5k this season.
