KVAC XC Championship Preview

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KVAC A

Boys Individual

The individual race features 2 of the top 3 harriers in the state this fall. Leading the way is Lewiston senior Osman Doorow, who is the only runner in the state to break 16 minutes for a 5k this fall. Doorow did that when he cruised to a win at the Festival of Champions 3 weeks ago, after not competing last week Osman legs will be fresh as he tackles the tough layout at Cony.

Expect Hampden Academy junior Paul Casavant to put up a challenge. Casavant who was the runner-up at FOC to Doorow ran a lifetime best 16:04.95. He is the fastest returner from last year's race, a race where he placed 3rd. Paul is coming off a course record at the Pendale Invitational last week.

Also look for Jacob Gamache of Edward Little to push the pace at the front, the junior has shown he's not afraid of anyone. He has really improved from a year ago where he placed 30th running 19:32, his fastest time this fall was a 16:32.21 effort placing 11th at FOC.

Messalonskee's Zach Hoyle has had a great 2015 to date, and will contend for a top 5 finish. Hoyle's best effort came at FOC where he ran 16:41.93 finishing one spot behind Gamache. He placed 12th a year ago.

Cony's Andrew Levesque will have the home course advantage, and will be motivated by competing at home a final time. He had a strong showing a year ago finishing 8th.

Others that should be in the mix are freshman Wyatt Lord of Hampden Academy, senior Jason Higginbotham of Brunswick & Will Webb of Hampden Academy.

Boys Team

The 3rd ranked Lewiston Blue Devils are the team favorites, they have 4 runners at 17:32 or better this season. Behind Lewiston look for #8 ranked Hampden Academy to run well and secure the second spot. Bangor, Brewer & Mt Blue are all teams that will compete for the 3rd spot.

Top 10 Individuals in 2015


Girls Individual

Cony's Anne Guadalupi is the individual favorite to repeat her title from a year ago. Guadalupi won the title last fall covering the 5k course in 20:30, 4 weeks ago on the same course Anne ran 20:26, and then followed that up with a huge 19:14.12 effort to finish 11th at Festival of champions. She had the second fastest time at the Mt Blue Relays last week.

Expect Brunswick senior Tessa Cassidy to challenge for the win, she was 3rd a year ago, and placed 4 spots behind Guadalupi at FOC. At FOC though Cassidy had to take the SATs before the race, so she'll be much more rested and focused on Saturday. Tessa had a strong effort a week ago running 19:46 to win the Camden Hills Invitational.

While Guadalupi & Cassidy figured to be battling it out for the top spot, there should be some great competition for the top 5.

Cony freshman Talia Jorgensen is seeded third, she has a 5k best of 20:10.51 from FOC where she placed 4th in the freshman race. She ran a 21:49 on the cony course a month ago, that time would have placed her in the top 5 a year ago.

Looking to run with Jorgensen is Mt. Blue Maggie Hickey, who has a best of 20:14.75 from FOC. Hickey has continued to improve this fall, she placed 15th a year ago. Messalonskee's Avery Brennan will be right there too, she has a best of 20:25 on the year, and placed 13th last year.

Another runner to watch is Tiffany Tanner of Brunswick who finished 5th a year ago and is coming off her fastest 5k of the year a 20:34.91 clocking at the Camden Hills invite. Also don't sleep on Katherine Leckbee of Mt Ararart who has the 8th fastest 5k in the field this fall, she placed 4th a year ago as a freshman.

Girls Team

The Brunswick Dragons enter the meet as the heavy favorites to capture the team title, the Dragons came up 3 points short a year ago, and would like nothing better than to capture the title on Saturday. Right now the 1-5 runner have a 20:57 average for 5k, with a 2:23 split time.

Cony & Mt. Blue are the team most likely to battle it out for the runner-up spot. the Rams may have the edge with home course advantage. The Rams appear to have the edge at 1-2, but the Cougars could have the edge at runners 3-5.

Top 10 Individuals in 2015



KVAC B

Boys Individual

Morse senior Chris Walfield is the overwhelmingly favorite to win the KVAC Class B title. Walfield who has a best of 16:31.77 this fall, a time that is 53 seconds faster than #2 seed Sam Russ of Lincoln Academy. Last year Walfield missed the meet due to a stress fracture, so he'll be looking to go out on top Saturday.

Russ, just a freshman who was the runner-up at FOC has a best of 17:24.26. He should be pushed by Caleb Love-Webb of Camden Hills who placed 3rd last year, and has a best of 17:24.33 this year. Love-Webb ran a 17:54 a month ago on the same course, a time that would have placed him 2nd in the meet a year ago.

Leavitt's Jarod Farrar will be another to watch in the race for the top few spots, Farrar enters with a best of 17:26.58, he didn't compete in the meet a year ago. Freshman Nick Dall of Waterville has made an immediate impact this fall, and is in a position for a top 5 finish as well. Dall's best effort came in the freshman race at FOC where he placed third running 17:31.97

Boys Team

Based on the fastest 5k times of 2015 Waterville & Camden Hills are tied with 77 points, it doesn't get closer than that. Waterville won the only head to head matchup between the two teams at FOC, although #1 runner Caleb Love-Webb didn't finish for the Windjammers.

Don't sleep on Belfast thought, the Lions picked up a win over Brunswick & Camden Hills last weekend, edging Camden Hills 53-60. Camden did pick up a win over Belfast on the Cony course a month ago winning 87-95.

Morse is another team that could figure into the mix, the Shipbuilders are seeded 3rd based on fastest 5k times.


Top 10 Individuals in 2015


Girls Individual

Senior Lauren Brown of Waterville has had a tremendous fall so far in 2015, Brown is the favorite to win the Class B title, and overall crown on Saturday. She comes in with a personal best of 19:00.65 which earned her 6th place at FOC. In that race she beat all of her top competitors, although she didn't get to directly race Augusta Stockman as she was in the freshman race.

Lauren was the runner-up a year ago as she ran 21:44, and has her eyes on the top spot this year. She's not afraid to push the pace, so the rest of the field will have to be ready for that tactic. Brown had the fastest time (12:52) at the Mt. Blue Relays last week.

Freshman Augusta Stockman of Camden Hills was the surprise of FOC, as she won the freshman race with ease and in the process clocked a time of 19:03.57, which was good good for 7th fastest overall time of the day. Last week Stockman rested so her legs should be ready to challenge Brown and the rest of the KVAC.

Cecilia Morin of Waterville had a breakout race at FOC as she ran 19:34.30 a personal best by almost a minute and a half. If Morin repeats that type of effort on Saturday she should be no lower than 3rd, and could challenge for the top 2 as well. She placed 4th a year ago.

Maranacook's Maddie Taylor & Laura Parent along with Belfast's Emily Jolliffe figure to be competing for the top 5, and only 6 seconds separates the trio based on best 5k times. Taylor was 14th last year, with Joliffe finishing 21st. Parent didn't compete in the meet last year. Taylor edged both runners at FOC.

Girls Team

Camden Hills is the team favorite to win the Class B title, the Windjammers based on 5k times this year would score 51 points with Morse & Waterville the next best teams.

Currently for Camden Hills they have 21:25 average for 5k, with a pack time of 3:18.62, which is large due to front runner Augusta Stockman. Morse has the best pack time amongst the three teams of 1:37 but the slowest 5k average of 22:06.

Lincoln Academy & Maranacook are lurking if any of the teams ahead of them slip up a bit.

Top 10 Individuals in 2015