Class A Girls
Nine of the top fifteen ranked girls in the MileSplit50 girls watchlist are entered to compete making this the race of the day.
Defending champion and MileSplit50 #1 Sofie Matson of Falmouth is the favorite to win the individual crown. The sophomore has beaten all-comers so far in 2018, along the way she has run a best of 18:15.50. Impressively Matson has run under 19 minutes for 5k on four different occasions this fall. A year ago she took the title in a time of 19:03.58.
MileSplit50 #5 Kate Tugman of Gorham started the season off on a tear winning six out of seven times including a personal best 18:18. Tugman had her first off day at Festival of Champions and still ran 19:02 to finish 8th. She will look to rebound on Saturday, and should be primed for a big race after not racing for three weeks.
Bonny Eagle senior Ami Beaumier ranks MileSplit50 #6 was fifth a year ago and has had another strong and consistent fall that has seen her clock a best of 18:45. She broken the 19 minute barrier of three occasions this fall.
Beaumier's teammate Delaney Hesler has had a tremendous freshman campaign to date. Expect MileSplit50 #7 Hesler to continue her success on Saturday as she enters with a best of 18:38 on the season which she ran two weeks ago. Impressively in her four 5k efforts she has been faster than 19:28 in all and under 18:40 on two separate races.
Sophomore Karley Piers of Falmouth sits MileSplit50 #9 entering the regional championship. Piers has been doing her best running in the last month running under 19:36 in the last three races with a best of 19:11. A year ago a freshman she ran to a third place finish in this race, so she knows how to run well when it matters.
MileSplit50 #10 Iris Kitchen of Gorham surprised herself in her first race of the season on Monday at the SMAA second seven meet as she ran 18:57. Kitchen who has been sidelined with a knee injury for the last four months returned just in time to compete in her junior season. Who knows what to expect from Kitchen on Saturday but don't be surprised if she in the mix.
Greely junior Marin Provencher has a best of 19:08 on the season. She ranks MileSplit50 #11 and will be running on her home course which will help. Last time our Marin ran 19:38 for 5k her second best effort of the season.
MileSplit50 #12 freshman Megan Randall of Scarborough will tackle Twin Brook for the first time, she has been impressive the last two races running 19:19, and 19:47 respectively.
Rounding out the ranked runners is Falmouth senior & MileSplit50 #13 Malaika Pasch who has a clocked a 5k best of 19:17, along with four races under 19:57.28.
The top two teams in the state will face off as MileSplit50 #1 Bonny Eagle will race MileSplit50 #2 Falmouth. The Scots defeated the Yachtsmen 50-82 at the Southern Maine XC Classic on September 8th. Bonny Eagle is the team to beat and for good reason they have the fire power up front, but have the best depth in the state with six athletes under 19:42 and eight athletes at 20:13 for faster for 5k.
Other teams to watch will be Scarborough, Deering, & Kennebunk are three teams that will make a run at a top five finish. Each has been in the top ten teams or received votes at one point of the season.