Boys Preview
Defending champion Henry Spritz of Waynflete started off a bit slower than a year ago, but the senior showed last weekend at the Southern Maine Class C Regional Championship at Twin Brook that he is the one to beat on Saturday.
Spritz who repeated as Southern Regional Champion last weekend, ran three seconds faster than his winning time from a year ago, and he did it all alone as he took over the lead shortly after 400m, and pushed himself to a 23 second victory running 17:40.
At the regional meet he avenged an earlier season loss to Maranacook's Luke Bartol. Bartol finished ahead of Spritz at the Festival of Champions at the end of September by 24 seconds on the state meet course.
After a close regional race a year ago, he dominated the Class C state meet a year ago running 42 seconds faster than regionals on the same course to win the state title to win by seven seconds.
Spritz who usually doesn't push the pace from the front tried something new last week, and it worked to perfection, and given him additional confidence heading into the state meet.
Outside of Bartol who has beaten Spritz once this season, Northern Maine Regional Champion Evan Merchant of Jonesport Beals is one to watch. He won the title running 17:30, which was faster than Spritz ran at FOC.
Whatever strategy Henry opts for on Saturday, you can be sure he'll be near the front of the pack either way, and most likely will be on top of the podium once against as the best runner in Class C.
The team title is expected to come down to Maine Coast Waldorf the Southern Maine champion and Orono the Northern Maine champion. Based on seasonal best 5k times Maine Coast has the edge, but if you look at average 5k times for 2018 Orono grades our better.
In there one head to head matchup at Festival of Champions, Maine Coast edged out Orono 718-731. Orono is the two time defending state champion.
Maine Coast appears to have the edge at the front with the expected low sticks of Matinicus Neveu & Aiden Kusche but Orono counters with a pack time under a minute.
George Stevens Academy the Northern Maine runner-up & Maranacook the Southern Maine runner-up should contend for the third spot.