Southern Maine Class A Regional XC Preview
Individuals
The Class A Southern Maine regional race should be one of the most competitive races in the state on Saturday. There are a handful of individuals that could win the race. Let's take a look at the contenders.
Gorham's Jesse Southard running with a torn fascia in his shin showed he's one tough athlete. Last week on his home course he clocked the fastest time on the season for the Region with his 16:08, in the process he defeated #2, #3, #4 & #5 runners in the region. Southard finished 11th last year.
Windham's Ben Breton is a threat to win as well, Breton ran a seasonal best of 16:16 at Gorham last week defeating the trio from Scarborough. Breton was just 103rd in the regional last year due to an injury, he came back to finish 18th at states. This fall he's been under 17 minutes 3 times for 5k.
The top returner from a year ago is Colin Tardiff of Scarborough, he placed 6th, and so far this year have a best time of 16:24.99. Tardiff has been anywhere from 1-3 on his own team. Look for teammates Andrew Sholl & Connor Doherty to be right there for the win as well. Doherty clocked a new personal best last week of 16:17, and has had a consistent fall running under 17 4 different times. A year he placed 9th and if all goes well looks primed for a top 5 or better this weekend. Sholl has been just as consistent as Doherty, he won two races and been under 17 minutes 4 times too.
Others that could be in the mix for the title are Jeremiah Sands of Falmouth who ran 16:29.90 at FOC earlier this year within seconds of the Scarborough trio, Sands lost a shoe last week at the WMC Championship so didn't finish where he normally would. Another Falmouth runner to keep an eye on is Sean Soucy who placed 13th a year ago. The senior finished 4th in the WMC Div 1 meet last week.
Westbrook junior Josh Lombardo has run under 17 minutes the last three times out, he was 22nd a year ago, and a top 10 finish is well within his reach.
Teams
The team battle for the Regional title is going to come down to Scarborough & Falmouth once again. The Red Storm have been the top ranked team in the state since October when they won the Festival of Champions. The Red Storm who are the defending Class A champions lost the regional to Falmouth a year ago 49-52.
Scarborough seems to have the advantage with their trio of Sholl, Doherty, & Tardiff, who all finished in front of Falmouth's #1 at FOC. If that happens again the Red Storm are in good shape. Falmouth will need to break up the top 3 for Scarborough then have #4 & #5 finish ahead of Scarborough to repeat as Regional champion.
Scarborough has the best top 5 average in the state with a 16:43 and a split time of 1:03, Falmouth currently has a 17:04 team average with a 1:18 pack time.
With the same teams matching up again at the state meet next week, the coaches may opt not to run all out and then all predictions are out the window.
Windham, Westbrook & Gorham are the next best teams. The Eagles of Windham are seeded third based on 2015 5k results. Westbrook is looking for it's highest finish in a Regional in some time, and Gorham will try to improve on their 4th place finish from a year ago. Each of these teams have a runner that should be in the top 10, it's going come down the quality & depth after that.
Top 10 Individuals in 2015 (Click for all Individuals)
Top 3 Boys Teams (Click for all Team Scores)
Individuals
Defending champion Anna Slager of Gorham is back looking to repeat as champion, and enters the meet coming off her fastest time of the season a 18:45 performance on her home course last week. Last week Slager defeated the #2 ranked Kialeigh Marston of Bonny Eagle by 13 seconds, the two should do battle again on Saturday. Marston won the Regional title in 2013. No one else is within 30 seconds of these two so expect a back and forth battle on the hills of Twin Brook.
Scarborough's Sam Saraceno had a breakthrough race last week at Gorham as the sophomore clocked a 19:33 which has her ranked 3rd in the region, she had a great Regional meet a year ago placing 7th as freshman with a time of 21:02.
Freshman Ami Beaumier of Bonny Eagle finished right behind Saraceno at Gorham as she clocked a new 19:39 for 5k and has vaulted her into top 5 contention.
South Portland's Serena McKenzie is one to watch, the junior has run under 20 minutes twice this fall with a best of 19:42.05 at FOC. McKenzie who finished 15th a year ago will be in contention for a top 5 finish.
Scarborough's Bethany Sholl will be back in the lineup for the Red Storm, she dropped out of FOC with an ankle injury and has been rehabbing it ever since. Sholl is talented, and if she is 100% should contend for a top 5, she has a best time of 19:46 on the season, and finished 6th a year ago.
Others to watch are Falmouth's Mira Wyman. Kayla Raymond & Christina Toy of Bonny Eagle, & Laura Volan of Scarborough.
Teams
The team race is expected to come down to Scarborough & Bonny Eagle. The Red Storm based on 5k times has a slight 66-68 edge over the Scots. Health could play a big factor in the matchup though. Scarborough has been without top runner Bethany Sholl, but according to Coach Ron Kelly she's be on the line this weekend.
Bonny Eagle's Christine Toy has been missing in action after dropping out of FOC with a knee injury, the Scots need her back to be the best they can be, and last two weeks they have been missing Kayla Raymond.
If these teams are less than 100% watch out for WMC Champion Falmouth, who beat both teams at FOC as well. The Yachtsmen rebounded from a loss to Cape two weeks ago at WMCs with a fine performance. Falmouth might lack the front runners but they have a strong pack time of 1:20 based on best 5k times this year. They had a strong 21:19 team average last week on the tough St Joe's class with a pack time of 45 second.
Don't count out defending Regional champions Massabesic. The Mustangs always run well at Twin Brook. and have been getting better and better each week this season.
Westbrook & South Portland are the next best teams, and are expected to contend for a top 5 spot. It also looks like Deering & Windham should advance to the state meet, with Biddeford hoping to make it as well.
Top 10 Individuals in 2015 (Click for all Individuals)
Top 3 Girls Teams (Click for all Team Scores)
