With the 2008 XC season nearly upon us, it is time to look at the contenders for both team and individual glory this fall in tWestern Maine Class C The season is sure to provide XC fans in Maine with the opportunity to watch several top-notch athletes chase their dreams of a state title come November. The battle for the team title this fall is sure to be a fight with several of the top teams from last fall returning key members of their squads. Waynflete is the defending champion returns 5 runners from their squad that dominated Western Class C last year and went on to capture the state title. Lisbon & Monmouth return strong teams this fall. There are sure to be some great races this fall. Can anyone challenge Waynflete? Who will be the surprise team? Will Adele Espy win the individual crown again? Stay Tuned
Teams
Waynflete: The Flyers are the defending Class C Western Maine champs as well as 2007 state champions. The flyers return 5 girls off of last year's championship squad. They return the reigning Western Maine and State champion in Adele Espy (Sr. 1st in 2007), who had a fantasy fall in 2007. Behind her look for Zoe Sobel (Sr. 11th in 2007), Edith Iyer-Hernandez (Jr. 17th in 2007), Rachel Hamilton ( Jr. 38th in 2007) & Adrienne Pizzo (Jr. 49th in 2007). Waynflete looks like it may have enough to repeat as champions.
Monmouth Academy: Monmouth is coming off a 3rd place showing in 2007, a place they matched at the state meet. They will be led by Kerstin Grenier (Sr. 5th in 2007). Also returning to help out the cause is Kristin Freeman (Sr. 20th in 2007), Maija Robbins (Jr. 37th in 2007), Stephanie Spencer (Sr. 48th in 2007), Abby Szotkowski ( Jr. 54th in 2007) & Vaness Sirois (Sr. 66th in 2007). They wll need to have their pack step it up in order to close the gap to Waynflete.
Other teams to watch
Lisbon
Madison
5 teams from 2007 Western Regional
| 1 Waynflete 35 1 3 8 9 14 32 41 | ||||||||||||
| Total Time: 1:48:57.36 | ||||||||||||
| Average: 21:47.48 | ||||||||||||
| 2 Lisbon High 86 6 11 16 26 27 35 39 | ||||||||||||
| Total Time: 1:57:13.55 | ||||||||||||
| Average: 23:26.71 | ||||||||||||
| 3 Monmouth Academy 99 4 7 17 31 40 46 52 | ||||||||||||
| Total Time: 1:57:12.36 | ||||||||||||
| Average: 23:26.48 | ||||||||||||
| 4 Madison High School 112 13 18 20 25 36 53 55 | ||||||||||||
| Total Time: 2:00:01.72 | ||||||||||||
| Average: 24:00.35 | ||||||||||||
| 5 Hall-Dale High School 132 2 19 30 34 47 50 58 | ||||||||||||
| Total Time: 1:59:41.81 | ||||||||||||
| Average: 23:56.37 |
Top Individuals
Adele Espy (Sr. Waynflete): Espy won just about everything last fall, Western Class C regional title & then the Class C state championship, she's back this fall to defend her titles. She also finished 23rd in the New England XC Championship last fall. Espy has a chance to be the top female runner in Maine this fall.
Kerstin Grenier (Sr. Monmouth Academy): Grenier has a solid fall in 2007, 5th in the Western Maine regional & then an 8th place finish at the state meet. She has a daunting task ahead of her to ctach Espy, but either way she's one of the top runner in Western Maine.
Others to Watch
Jocelyn Lawyerson (So. Valley)
Kayla Moan (Sr. Lisbon)
Zoe Soebel (Sr. Waynflete)
Leeann Reid (Sr. Traip Academy)
Amanda Lamb (Sr. Lisbon)
Ariel Brown (Sr. Wiscasset)
Top 25 Individuals 2007 Western regional (Returners in Red)
| 1 Espy, Adele JR Waynflete 19:39.34 1 | ||||||||||||
| 2 Ellis, Magen SR Hall-Dale 19:50.27 2 | ||||||||||||
| 3 Lundberg, Emma H. Haven/Vinal 20:36.73 | ||||||||||||
| 4 Crain, Tess SR Waynflete 21:20.29 3 | ||||||||||||
| 5 Grenier, Kerstin JR Monmouth Academy 21:32.41 4 | ||||||||||||
| 6 Laweryson, Jocelyn FR Valley High School 21:50.33 5 | ||||||||||||
| 7 Moan, Kayla JR Lisbon High 21:56.18 6 | ||||||||||||
| 8 McInnis, Melanie SR Monmouth Academy 22:04.66 7 | ||||||||||||
| 9 Whitney, Holly SR Waynflete 22:19.50 8 | ||||||||||||
| 10 Bailey, Brianne SR Telstar Regional HS 22:23.90 | ||||||||||||
| 11 Sobel, Zoe JR Waynflete 22:27.01 9 | ||||||||||||
| 12 Earle, Stephanie SR Boothbay 22:52.14 | ||||||||||||
| 13 Reid, Leeann JR Traip Academy 22:56.25 10 | ||||||||||||
| 14 Lamb, Amanda JR Lisbon High 23:01.48 11 | ||||||||||||
| 15 Brown, Ariel JR Wiscasset 23:04.82 12 | ||||||||||||
| 16 Kirkwood, Sarah FR Madison High School 23:07.27 13 | ||||||||||||
| 17 Iyer-Hernandez, Edith SO Waynflete 23:11.22 14 | ||||||||||||
| 18 Miller, Amy 08 North Yarmouth 23:19.57 15 | ||||||||||||
| 19 Caton, Jennifer JR Lisbon High 23:21.47 16 | ||||||||||||
| 20 Freeman, Kristin JR Monmouth Academy 23:21.90 17 | ||||||||||||
| 21 Hebert, Danielle SR Madison High School 23:41.81 18 | ||||||||||||
| 22 Styczynski, Katie-Jo JR Hall-Dale 23:44.74 19 | ||||||||||||
| 23 Savage, Gabby SO Madison High School 23:49.66 20 | ||||||||||||
| 24 Lenzen, Lydia SR Elan School 23:51.04 | ||||||||||||
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25 Knausenberger, Ann JR St. Dominic 23:52.35 21 |
Team Prediction
Waynflete is the defending champion and looks poised for a repeat this fall. Can a team like Monmouth Academy challenge them? Or will Lisbon or Madison step up and surprise everyone?
1. Waynflete
2. Monmouth Academy
3. Madison
Individual Prediction
Espy is the defending state champion and if she stays healthy will be the overhwleming favorite to capture the Western Maine regional crown this fall. Grenier is a top notch runner who may be the best of the rest. Lawyerson & Moan both are talented and could move into the top 3.
1. Espy
2. Grenier
3. Moan
4. Lawyerson
5. Sobel