Barber surprises, Leckbee dominates while Mt Blue Boys & Brunswick girls win KVAC titles


Barber surprises, Leckbee dominates while Mt Blue Boys & Brunswick girls win KVAC titles

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Mt Ararat's Katherine Leckbee took the pace out right from the gun, and never relinquished her lead as she crossed the finish line first in 19:44.20. Her time was the 4th fastest time in Championship history on the Cony course.

Leckbee said "I started out really strong, and felt really good, the race was what I was hoping for today."

Leckbee who finished as the runner-up a year ago improved her time by 44 seconds from a year ago.

Today's race was a good indication that Leckbee can contend for the Class A title in two weeks.

"It helps alot" Leckbee said about the confidence she gained from breaking 20 minutes.  "I think it really shows I can do whatever I put my mind too, and so can;t anyone else."

Cony senior Anne Guadalupi had a strong run as she set a course personal best of 20:09.70 placing second overall. Her time was faster than her winning effort from a year ago.

Guadalupi talked about setting a new PR,  "It feels great because I've had a couple of small injuries."

The senior almost mentioned she has verbally committed to Assumption College next fall to compete in swimming, but hopes to run be able to run XC as well.

Edward Little's Jillian Richardson a sophomore had a strong race as she finished third in a time of 21:02.60, her time was a 39 second improvement from a year ago when she placed 10th.

Freshman Micaela Ashby of Brunswick ran a strong 21:13 to finish 4th while Lawrence senior Jaden Gray rounded out the top 5 with a 21:20.50.

Brunswick behind Ashby's 4th place finish took the team title with 74 points as they were 15 points better than runner-up Mt Blue. Cony was third with 96 points.

The Dragons also got strong runs from junior Isabella Pols in 11th & freshman Caitlin Kelly in 12th. Other scoring runners for the champions were Emma Slocum in 23rd & Elina Woolever in 24th.

Girls top 10 Individuals

  1 Katherine Leckbee         JR Mt. Ararat              6:21.2    19:44.2    1
  2 Anne Guadalupi            SR Cony High School        6:29.4    20:09.7    2
  3 Jillian Richardson           Edward Little           6:46.4    21:02.6    3
  4 Micaela Ashby             FR Brunswick               6:49.8    21:13.0    4
  5 Jaden Gray                SR Lawrence                6:52.2    21:20.5    5
  6 Peyton Arbour             SO Messalonskee            6:56.2    21:32.9    6
  7 Simone Withers            SR Hampden Academy         6:59.0    21:41.7    7
  8 Cecilia Guadalupi         FR Cony High School        7:00.0    21:44.9    8
  9 Maeve Hickey              SO Mt. Blue                7:01.4    21:49.0    9
 10 Maggie Hickey             SR Mt. Blue                7:01.4    21:49.0   10



The beginning of the race was like any other race Tucker Barber has been in this fall.

"I stuck with what I usually do, which is to hang back a bit." Barber said post race.

But something clicked for the senior in the middle of the race.

Barber took the field by surprise with his mid race surge "I was feeling pretty good, so when we came to the hill, i figure I might as well make a move." 

The move proved to be the decisive one as Barber ran away from a talented field en route to victory. His 16:43.2 winning time was a new Mt Blue record, and the second fastest time ever on the Cony course.

"I was surprised by the move, I thought he was going to die." Second place finisher Jacob Gamache commented about Barber's bold mid race move.

Gamache had a strong race as he ran 16:55.1 to place second, that time is the third fastest in course history. The time was a 39 second improvement from one year ago when he placed 4th.

The senior who has been known to take things out hard, has changed up his strategy this fall, and with the results of Saturday show they are paying off.

Hampden Academy's Paul Casavant racing for just the second time this fall showed his fitness is coming around. Casavant was able to sprint past his teammate Wyatt Lord in the final strides 16:55.9 to 16:56.1.

Casavant was pleased with his effort, and said he felt better this week.

Lord the pre-meet favorite slipped to fourth place but still ran under 17 minutes.

"I went out too hard," Lord said of his race "Next week will be a different race."

Freshman Lisandro Berry-Gaviria showed the hamstring that had been bothering him early in the year is healthy. The freshman ran 16:59.8 to place 5th, that time 8th fastest in course history.

Behind Barber's first place finish the Cougars of Mt Blue took the top spot with 74. Hampden Academy placed second with 88, while Mt Ararat finished third with 98.

Besides Barber's efforts, Mt Blue got a 12th place finish from junior Zeke Robinson (17:58) while senior Isaiah Reid was 16th. Other scorers for the Cougars were Emmett Trafton in 20th & Sam Stinson 25th.

Boys top 10 Individuals

  1 Tucker Barber             SR Mt. Blue                5:22.9    16:43.2    1
  2 Jacob Gamache                Edward Little           5:26.8    16:55.1    2
  3 Paul Casavant             SR Hampden Academy         5:27.0    16:55.9    3
  4 Wyatt Lord                SO Hampden Academy         5:27.1    16:56.1    4
  5 Lisandro Berry-Gaviria    FR Mt. Ararat              5:28.3    16:59.8    5
  6 Zachariah Hoyle           SR Messalonskee            5:31.5    17:10.0    6
  7 Gabe Coffey               SO Bangor High School      5:38.8    17:32.4    7
  8 William Webb              SR Hampden Academy         5:40.1    17:36.5    8
  9 Cameron Ashby             SO Brunswick               5:45.6    17:53.7    9
 10 Isse Tawane               JR Lewiston                5:46.9    17:57.7   10