Shaughnessy Sets Course Record At Laliberte Invitational
Results | Videos | Interviews
Brunswick senior Will Shaughnessy seized the opportunity at the Scott Laliberte Invitational held at Cony High School on Friday, with returning champion Lisandro Berry-Gaviria sitting the race out after a college visit, he sat back early then turned it on crossing the finish line in a time of 13:01.25 the fastest time ever recorded in race history.
"The game plan was to win, I wasn't really looking to go to fast" Shaugnhessy told MileSplit after his race.
Shaughnessy entered the woods in second place biding his time, he ended up seizing the lead for good on the big hill just before the mile.
"That's the best I've ever felt going up that hill, and this was my sixth time going up that hill in race." He commented.
He would continue to open up the gap throughout as he winning margin was a robust 50 seconds.
The winning time erased the course record time of 13:10.60 set by Yarmouth's Luke Laverdiere in 2016. Laverdiere a multiple time xc state champion in Class B now runs for Harvard.
"I had a bit more to give." Shaugnhessy said about his effort in the race.
Behind him came a storm on red from Mt Ararat as the Eagles claimed the next four spots led by sophomore Grady Satterfield in 13:51. He was followed by first time xc runner Jace Hollenbach in 14:05.79, next was Lucas Bergeron in 14:07.39, and closing it out was Nate Cohen 14:11.57.
On the girls side it was Kahyrn Cullenberg of Mt Blue crossing the line first in a strong time of 16:38.61
"I came into the race looking to run a time faster than last year." The senior told MileSplit.
And faster she did run improving on her 16:40.98 effort from a year ago.
Throughout her four years she has improved her finishing place starting with an 18th her freshman year, up to ninth as a sophomore, and third as a junior a year ago.
The girls and boys race together in the unique format at the Laliberte Invitational so starting position is key.
"The boys are more aggressive than the girls." Cullenberg stated
Cullenberg in her four year of the race mixed it up well and was the first girl to enter the woods by a large margin.
Edward Little freshman Payton Bell had a strong debut in her first high school race as she clocked 17:14.23 to cross as the second girl. Kayley Bell of Caribou was close behind with her 17:23.59 good for third. Emma Charles of Mt Blue was the fourth girl across in the line with a time of 17:39.72 with Camila Ciembroniewicz of Mt Ararat rounding out the top five in 17:46.18
As with the unique race the team scoring is unique as well as the boys and girls are added together to score as one team.
The Eagles of Mt Ararat claimed top honors with 543, they boys tallied just 24 points to that effort. Brunswick nabbed second in the team race with 615 points while Caribou was third with 752.
Boys Top Ten
1 113 Shaughnessy, Will Brunswick Boys 13:01.25 1
2 391 Satterfield, Grady Mt. A Boys 13:51.73 2
3 382 Hollenbach, Jace Mt. A Boys 14:05.49 3
4 372 Bergeron, Lucas Mt. A Boys 14:07.39 4
5 377 Cohen, Nate Mt. A Boys 14:11.57 5
6 249 Webber, Josiah Lawrence Boys 14:21.97 6
7 360 Thelen, Finn Morse Boys 14:27.70 7
8 102 Chingos, Andrew Brunswick Boys 14:31.31 8
9 170 Gallant, Casey Chs Boys 14:32.65 9
10 375 Chamberland, Andrew Mt. A Boys 14:41.48 1047 437 Cullenberg, Kahryn Mt. Blue Girls 16:38.61 47 60 199 Bell, Payton Elhs Girls 17:14.23 60 66 152 Bell, Kayley Caribou Girls 17:23.59 66 75 434 Charles, Emma Mt. Blue Girls 17:39.72 73 80 399 Ciembroniewicz, Camila Mt. A Girls 17:46.18 78 84 294 McGrail, Molly Maranacook G 17:54.18 82 86 448 Robbins, Brynne Mt. Blue Girls 17:54.88 84 87 299 O'Clair, Sophie Maranacook G 17:55.17 85 89 181 Kirk, Grace Chs Girls 18:01.42 87 91 178 Harriman, Bri Chs Girls 18:08.97 89