Today was all about great fall running weather, with a crisp breeze in the air and a course that was in great condition despite the rain that fell in the last week. Teams from York, Cape, Waynflete, Fryeburg and host Greely got a chance to preview the Twin Brook Recreation course, the site of the 2009 Maine XC Championships later this month.
On the girls side, top ranked Cape held out their top two harriers (Emily Attwood & Rachel Nichols) to give them some extra rest heading into the championship season, which begins next Thursday with the Western Maine Conference Championship. This provided a great opportunity for Michaela Swiatek (York) to be out front and chase a fast time. Swiatek led the entire race and looked comfortable in the process. Michaela clocked 20:32 for a 22 second victory over Cape's Kelsey Barton and Hannah Doss. Waynflete freshman M. Veroneau ran a strong race to finish 4th, starting off in the middle of the pack and finishing near the front, Veroneau clocked 21:15. The time ranks her one of the top Class C harriers in the Western Maine conference this fall. York's #2 runner Monique Boutin rounded out the top 5, running 21:16
#1 ranked Cape Elizabeth was the top team (35) with York (42) finishing in 2nd, host Greely was 3rd (84), while Waynflete was 4th (93).
With the teams and top notched athletes involved in this meet, this could have been one of the top meets on the WMC schedule, however, with the FOC and the WMC conference meet just 6 days away, some coaches opted to rest their varsity, or top athletes. However, the race still had some of the top harriers, including star freshman Silas Eastman, who served notice to the rest of the league that he is legit.
Boys Recap
Eastman controlled the race from start to finish, running like a seasoned veteran on one of the toguhest 5k course in Maine, and site to the Western Maine and Maine State Championships this fall. Silas hit the first mile in a controlled 5:25, about 5 seconds up on the chase pack that included Mark McCauley and Sam Johnston both of Greely. Fryeburg's Kennedi Hall was just behind in 4th, with a pack of three York runners led by Tristan Palhof.
McCauley and Johnston set off in earnest to chase the freshman down, there plan wouldn't work though as Eastman emerged from the woods after completing the 2 mile with a 10 second lead. Johnston broke away from McCauley, wile Hall was still holding down the 4th position. Greely's Conor Regan and Sam Humphries has a strong 2nd mile, and had moved up into 5th and 6th, with the York pack just behind.
Eastman would maintain his advantage over the tough 3rd mile and have a powerful sprint to the finish, which showed he ran well within himself. His time 16:57, excellent time for anyone let alone a freshman. McCauley (17:11) would rally over the final mile to overtake his teammate Johnston (17:13). Hall wound up 4th (17:42), with Regan (17:48) & Humphries (17:49) in 5th & 6th. York's trio of Palhof (17:54) 7th, Silas Freeman (17:55) 8th & Aaron Waldman (18:04) 9th were next, with Greely's Issac Emery (18:07) rounding out the top 10.
Greely won comfortably despite sitting #1 runner Logan Price (26), York was next with (52), they ran without #1 runner Alex Moser. Fryeburg rounded out the top 3 with (68).