Tia Tardy & John Hassett both broke their own course records at the Bucksport Invitational (photo by Paul Nantkes)
Course records go down at Bucksport
Results: Varsity Boys | Varsity Girls | Boys JV | Girls JV
Interviews: John Hassett | Orono Trio
In the girls race it was clear that Orono had a plan for the team to run together as a pack at least for the first mile or so. Early in the race a large group of girls ran together near the front. Eliza Broughton GSA, Cassidy Osgood Narraguagus, Natasha Clement Bucksport, Hanna Gutow and Zey Lorio of GSA were all in the lead group with the Orono Pack of Hanna Steelman, Kassidy Dill, Camille Kohtala, Olivia Fandel and Tia Tardy.
About a mile into the race the Orono girls had established themselves as the front runners as a group. Eliza Broughton and Zeya Lorio of GSA and Cassidy Osgood of Narraguagus remained within striking distance.
There appeared to be a "go point" for the top Orono girls as Tia Tardy, Hannah Steelman and Kassidy Dill emerged from the woods with a large lead over the others.
Crossing the line first with a large lead was Tia Tardy 18:36. Second was Hannah Steelman 18:45 and following in third was Kassidy Dill 19:00. All three girls broke the 19:01 course record set last year by Tardy.
In the boys varsity race it is clear that John Hassett is in a league of his own right now. It is also clear that GSA and Orono have very strong and deep teams.
The boys all went out strong with several GSA boys pacing the early lead. John Hassett quickly established a large lead over the rest of the field. Matt Keresey, Tristan Butterfield, William O'neil, Will Entwisle, Evan Merchant, Jacob Godfrey, Brendan Penfold, Lowell Ruck and Stephen Nelson ran as a large group most of the race.
John Hassett won the race breaking his own course record with a 15:49 effort. Nearly a minute back finishing second was Matt Keresey of Orono. Second thru seventh place boys all finished within a few seconds of each other. Seventh thru eleventh place runners put on a show. This group all finished within 3 seconds of each other. Everyone was on their feet cheering.
In the JV girls race Lilianna Levitsky of Orono held off a challenge by Rachel Defosses of GSA to win in 22:38. That would have place her 16th in the Varsity race.
Jonathan Steelman won the boys JV race by a large margin in 18:38 which would have placed him 15th in the Varsity race.
Varsity Girls Top 10
1 Tia Tardy Orono 18:36.00 1 2 Hannah Steeman Orono 18:45.00 2 3 Kassidy Dill Orono 19:00.00 3 4 Eliza Broughton GSA 19:51.00 4 5 Camille Kohtala Orono 20:07.00 5 6 Zeya Lorio GSA 20:08.00 6 7 Cassidy Osgood NHS 20:11.00 8 Olivia Fundel Orono 20:27.00 7 9 Hanna Gutous GSA 20:57.00 8 10 Mary Brenna Catus 21:23.00
Varsity Boys Top 10
1 John Hassett GSA 15:49.00 1 2 Matt Keresey Orono 16:42.00 2 3 Tristan Butterfield Orono 16:55.00 3 4 Will O'Neal Orono 17:03.00 4 5 Will Entwisle GSA 17:31.00 5 6 Lowell Ruck Orono 17:38.00 6 7 Sephen Nelson Orono 17:45.00 7 8 Evan Merchant Jonesport-Beals 17:46.00 9 Oliver Broughton GSA 17:47.00 8 10 Jacob Godfrey MMHS 17:48.00
Recap & photos provided by Paul Nantkes