D1 Boys
Defending champion Jack Bassett of Cape Elizabeth enters the race ranked MileSplit50 #11, the junior has had a strong fall that has seen him run a best of 16:31. Freeport sophomore Martin Horne is one of the pre-race favorite based off his victory over Bassett last week at Cape, Horne edged him by two seconds running 16:29 on the new 5k course at Gull Crest Field. Horne ranked MileSplit50 #10 moved up four spots last week finished third in the race a year ago as a freshman.
Greely who has sat there varsity runners at this meet the last couple of years has a coupe of athletes that could contend for individual glory as well in seniors Luke Marsanskis & Matthew Todd. Marsanskis ranks MileSplit50 #15, he has the fastest 5k on the year of anyone in the race with his 15:56 clocking at the Southern Maine XC Classic. He ran third at Cape last week finishing in 16:57. Todd was two seconds behind Luke last week at Cape, and has run 16:00 for 5k this fall.
Cape senior Peter DiNinno has shown he's capable of a top five finish with his success this fall. He ran 17:09 at Cape a week ago finishing just behind the aforementioned favorites, he has a best of 16:49 for 5k this fall. He may also be one of the most improved athletes in the race, he placed 11th running 19:01 a year ago.
Fryeburg Academy senior Alfie Walker has put together a fine season to date. Walker has a best effort of 16:48.20 on the season. He finished finished 4th a year ago.
MileSplit50 #1 Greely is the team favorite if in fact they do decide to run their varsity this fall. The Rangers took over the top spot at the Southern Maine Classic, and have held strong since. The Rangers took down Cape by 9 points last week as they continued to their excellence this fall. Cape Elizabeth moved into the top 10 in the MileSplit50 after their strong performance against Greely last week. Freeport is the defending team champion.
D2 Boys
Milesplit50 #13 Griffin Allaire of Wells is the individual favorite in D2. Allaire a junior has the fastest time in the field for 5k this fall with his 16:20. A year ago Griffin placed third running 17:38.
It won't be a cake walk for Allaire though as defending Class C state champion Henry Spritz of Waynflete is also running. Spritz has a best time of 17:02 on the season, and placed 4th in 2017 just 8 second back of Allaire.
Maine Coast Waldorf has a pair of top five contenders in junior Aiden Kusche & senior Finn Dierks-Brown. Kusche has run 17:36, while Dierks-Brown has a 17:38 best this fall. Kusche has improved significantly from his 20th place 19:40 effort a year ago, while Finn was top 10 a year ago.
Maine Coast Waldorf enters as the team favorite, they are expected to be pushed by defending D2 team champion Wells.
D1 Girls
Defending champion Lily Horne of Freeport is one of the individual favorites. Horne comes in ranked MileSplit50 #3, and had recorded the third fourth fastest 5k in the state with her 18:36. She has been smart about which races she has pushed it and has been content to run with her teammates in several races this fall. Just like last fall Horne should have plenty of juice left in her legs for the championship meets.
It won't be a cakewalk for Horne though as MileSplit50 #8 Lila Gaudrault has been very good in 2018. Gaudrault is coming off a personal best 18:50 on her new home course at Cape last week where she finished in front of Horne, and MileSplit50 #10 Marin Provencher of Greely. A year ago as a freshman Lila was the runner-up in the race finishing 9 second back of Horne.
As mentioned in the opening Greely has opted to rest their varsity runners the past few years but if they do decide to race on Friday there is a pair of Rangers that will contend. The aforementioned Provencher has had a strong fall clocking a personal best of 19:08, while her teammate Carolyn Todd has a best fo 19:04.7.
The race winner should come from one of those four.
On the team side of things it should be a very competitive race with three MileSplit50 teams in the mix. York & Yarmouth were both tied for MileSplit50 #5 team this past week, this despite York edging Yarmouth by a single point last week.
Defending champion MileSplit50 #7 Cape Elizabeth has a strong team and will look to repeat their success from a year ago. Also watch for Freeport who was receiving votes in the poll last week, and is capable of springing an upset
D2 Girls
Last year's runner Olivia Reynolds of Maine Coast Waldorf is the pre-meet favorite, and comes in ranked MileSplit50 #5. Reynolds entered the season with a PR above 20 minutes, she lowered that in the first real meet down to 19:11, then lowered it even further with a 18:47 run at FOC. The defending Class C state champion is diminutive in stature but when it comes time to race she is ferocious.
The Wells duo of Heidi Fortin & Kate Pinette are the next best harriers in the field. Fortin with a best of 20:28, while Pinette has a best of 20:52 on the season.
The team title is up for grabs with Maine Coast Waldorf & Wells expected to go head to head. Based off best 5k times this season Wells holds a narrow three point lead.