Two time defending regional champion Olivia Reynolds is a heavy favorite to make it three in a row on Saturday. The Maine Coast Waldorf junior has been unbeatable in the postseason so far in her career. Reynolds enters with a best time of 18:42 for 5k this fall. Last time out she was the runner-up at the WMC Championship overall, and was tops in the D2 race.
Jillian Schmelzer of Winthrop is coming off a runner-up finish at the MVC Championship where she helped her team to the league title. Schmezler a sprinter in her first season of xc has excel so far this fall, and given how well she ran at a tough Augusta course last week she will be in the mix for a top three finish on Saturday.
Monmouth Academy's Kaitlin Hunt was third in the MVC last week just four seconds back of Schmelzer she will challenge for a top three spot. Traip Academy junior Kiara Audette was sixth at WMC Championship last week, and was third a year ago, so expect her to be in mix as well.
Also look for Sophie O'Clair of Maranacook who was third in the KVAC Class B championship last week to be in contention for a top spot.
The team competition should be a good one with Maine Coast Waldorf entering as the favorite with the low stick of Olivia Reynolds. They have a strong supporting cast behind her with Emma Haims, Mamie Whittier, & Ava Teegarden.
Maranacook the defending regional champions were second in the KVAC Class B meet last week as they ran without top runner Molly McGrail. If McGrail is back the race should be close, without her it likely the Black Bears will be racing for the runner-up plaque.
Winthrop would was the MVC champion last week will look to continue their success of Saturday, along with MVC runner-up Monmouth Academy.
Boothbay senior Will Perkins will be the one to beat at the Class C Southern Maine XC Championship. Perkins has a best 5k time this fall of 16:38.87, and is coming off a win at the MVC Championship last week where he won by 23 seconds. Last fall Perkins placed 6th in the regional.
Seamus Woodruff of Maine Coast Waldorf will look to challenge Perkins. Woodruff placed 5th overall in the WMC Championship last week. In his last matchup against Perkins at FOC he finished 30 second behind him, but was only 8 second behind him at the SM Classic.
St Dominic's Mark D'Alessandro finished fourth a year ago but has been hampered by injuries this fall. He has a best of 17:01 on the season but the last time out ran just 18:44 at the WMC Championship. D'Alessandro is a wildcard.
Also look for Aiden Kusche of Maine Coast Waldorf who placed 10th last year, he finished 9th at the WMC Championship. Additionally Aidan Laviolette of Lisbon the MVC runner-up will contend for a top five spot.
Maine Coast Waldorf who is ranked 9th in the latest MileSplit Maine coaches poll is the heavy favorite to win the team title as they did a year ago. MCW with Woodruff & Kusche at the front and Aidan Stark-Chessa & John Miles Muenter not far behind
MVC champion Boothbay/Wiscasett looks to be the best bet to take home the runner-up trophy.