Throwback Thursday: Nick Morris Out Kicks Harlow Ladd for 2011 Class A XC Title
Today we throw it back to the 2011 Boys Class A cross country championship where we saw an unbelievable come from behind victory by Scarborough's Nick Morris.
Morris won his second straight Class A title with a .02 second victory over Harlow Ladd of Messalonskee as he came from behind using a strong kick over the final 50 meters to snatch the victory.
Ladd got off to a great start as he lead the pack as they headed into the woods at Twin Brook for the first time, by the mile mark Harlow held a seven second lead over Morris.
Ladd continued to lead at 2 mile, but Morris has broken away from the chase pack and was just a few seconds back of the leader with little over a mile to go.
Morris would take the lead during the final loop but when he did he slowed the pace down, Ladd re-passed him going up the pain cave as the two set up for a dramatic kick.
As the runner's emerged at the top of slope coming down to the finish line, Ladd continued to lead with the same gap as he had at two miles over Morris. The duo continued to push to the finish line , and even 30 meters out from the finish it looked as if Ladd had enough.
Morris dug deep over the final meters, and surprised Ladd at the finish line with a timely lean. The finishing results would show just how close it was, 16:46.81 to 16:46.83.
Both athletes showed great class in post race interviews. Morris said that he didn't think he was going to catch Ladd as he was running out of room.
"When we got to line, I leaned, I don't think he thought I was that close." Morris said.
Ladd said he though he had the race however he admitted.
"I know I'm going to regret this for my whole life, I slowed up at the very end." Ladd told us post race.
Harlow would go on to win the 2 mile indoor title setting a Class A record 9:21.87, he would finish fourth at the New England Championship, and then ran 9:16.40 at the New Balance Indoor National meet. Outdoors he would switch focus to the 1600m where he won the Class A title, and was All-New England running a 4:22.32 best.
Ladd would go on to compete for Purdue University, he is now in medical school studying to become a doctor.
Morris unfortunately came down with a nagging injury that curtailed the rest of his senior season, although he was able to run at the state meet and help the Red Storm eek out a win by .01 of a second win in 4x200 that propelled Scarborough to a 1 point team victory.
Nick attended the Naval Academy, and is now a pilot in the Navy.
Results
1 Nick Morris SR Scarborough 16:46.81 1 2 Harlow Ladd SR Messalonskee 16:46.83 2 3 Chris Dunn SR Kennebunk 16:58.01 3 4 Benson Worthington SR Brunswick 16:58.94 4 5 Cameron Nadeau JR Biddeford 17:05.38 6 Andy Reifman-Packett SR Mt. Ararat 17:16.83 5 7 Mohamed Barre JR Lewiston 17:27.44 6 8 Keegan Brennan SR Windham High School 17:30.32 7 9 Justin Tracy JR Mt. Blue 17:32.41 10 Andrew Closson SR Hampden Academy 17:32.63 8 11 Justin LeClair SR Edward Little 17:35.24 12 Jonathan Stanhope SO Bangor High School 17:40.52 9 13 Bryant Perkins SR Sanford High School 17:43.94 14 Darryl Wilkinson SR South Portalnd 17:45.65 10 15 Thomas Salamone SR South Portalnd 17:46.53 11 16 Nathan Mackenzie SO Mt. Ararat 17:46.59 12 17 Thomas Dean SR Deering High School 17:51.13 13 18 Jamie Ross SO Brunswick 17:53.39 14 19 Mohamed Awil JR Lewiston 17:53.99 15 20 Cody Vachon JR Massabesic 17:54.60 16
Morris interview after the race
Ladd's post race interview
