Southern Maine Class A Regional XC Championship Preview



Boys


Expect an excellent team battle in Class A with the top three teams statewide -- and four of the top five -- going at it. The Falmouth Yachstmen, ranked first, are the defending regional champions. Connor Piers and John Auer have switched off being Falmouth's top runner all year, and give the Yachtsmen to legitimate individual title threats. They gave a great mix of front-of-the-pack running and fantastic depth with Alex Kinley, Charlie Henning and Jared Troubh, who've all run 17:20 or better for 5k. They have a great chance to win its second straight title. Hoping to burst Falmouth's changes are the Greely Rangers (ranked second).

Like Falmouth, they also have two individual title threats and great depth. Luke Marsanskis and Matthew Todd have both gone under 16:15 in the 5k this season. Freshmen Sam Wilson has been an excellent addition and has run 17:02 for 5k. Caleb Thurston and Adam Bruder have each run under 17:10 this season. Remember, Greely beat Falmouth at the Southern XC Classic in early September. Connor Piers wasn't running that day, but it still wouldn't be a surprise if Greely won. These teams are very evenly matched.

The Deering Rams were the runner-ups from a year ago and hope to challenge both Falmouth and Greely. It's now redundant, but Deering (ranked third) also has two runners capable of winning this weekend in Alec Troxell and Yahya Nure. Jerry Mixangelo has been very depending as the Rams' third runner and has run 17:00, so they match up well with Greely and Falmouth through three runners. The key for them will be getting good races from Gannon Duckworth and Christian Harmon.

Don't sleep on the fifth ranked Scarborough Red Strom. They were snake bitten earlier in the season with injuries, but is starting to get back to form. Connor and Tristram Coffin are Scarborough's top two and have both dipped under 16:40 for 5k. They expect to challenge for high finishes. Harrison Osborne and Luke Grover give Scarborough a very strong top four, but they'll need a great race from either Erik Losacco or William Ducott to hang with the top teams. Also watch for Massabesic. Each of its top five have run under 18:00 led by Alexander Swett who will challenge for the individual title.

This is going to be the race of the day with at least seven individuals capable of winning. Let's start with the Falmouth duo of John Auer and Conner Piers. They came in with the two fastest times in the region having run 16:02.72 and 16:03.88, respectively. Piers is the second fastest returner from the regional after finishing fourth, while Auer is the third, placing fifth back in 2016. These two have been remarkably consistent in 2017.


The Deering tandem of Alec Troxell and Yayha Nure will challenge as well. Nure is the fastest returner from last year after finishing third, and comes in with a season-best of 16:23. Troxell was eighth in 2016 and has been Deering's top runner. He broke the course record in his home course running 16:20, and has won three races in 2017. Greely's Luke Marsanskis and Matthew Todd will be in consideration as well. Marsanskis was fifth at the regional in Class B last season, and comes into the weekend with a season-best of 16:11.93. He ran to a strong 14th place finish at FOC last month running 16:13.46. Todd has run a personal-best of 16:13.05 in 2017 and finished finished ninth in Class B this year. He's won two races this season. Both Marsanskis and Todd should have fresh legs after opting to skip WMCs last weekend.

Don't sleep on Alexander Swett of Massabesic. He only finished 16th at the regional last year but has been fantastic in 2017. He's run a personal-best of 16:12.05, which ranks fourth in the region, and has dipped under the 17:00 on three occasions. Other runners who will contend for high finishes include Tristram and Connor Coffin of Scarborough, Aiden Willey of Bonny Eagle and Anthony Chase of Gorham.