The Southern Maine Classic is back after the weather canceled the popular cross-country invitational a year ago. This year's boy's meet features six teams from our pre-season top ten list along with nine of the top twelve individuals. On the girl's side, the meet features seven teams from our pre-season top ten list along with five of the top twelve individuals including several others that are knocking on the door. The weather looks like it will cooperate this year and the dry weather as of late should mean the course is dry and fast.
The format at the Southern Maine Classic features a freshman/sophomore race and then a junior/senior race for each gender.
Boys Top 500 Performances
Boys Freshman/Sophomore Race
Scarborough sophomore Atticus Merriam is the class of the field. Merriam ran 16:50 as a freshman last fall and opened with a 16:55 last week on his home course even though he was just wearing his regular training shoes. Expect Merriam to control the pace in this one. There is a good group behind him that has started off the season well including Owen Cummings of Gorham (17:29), Ian Guzman of Freeport (17:43), and freshman Jackie Chalmers of Yarmouth (17:45). Sanford's Isaac Pelletier had a strong freshman campaign (17:45) and expects to be in the mix along with Harrison Crider of Gorham (18:03), Jack Scott of Hampden Academy, Owen Cooper of Greely, and Jon Kearns of Falmouth.
Boys Junior/Senior Race
This race features eight of the top twelve in our pre-season individual rankings. Defending Class B state champion Sam Laverdiere will be making his season debut after dealing with a broken collarbone the last six weeks that has limited his running. It will be interesting to see how sharp Laverdiere is, but no question he was cross-training like an animal to keep his fitness. Marshwood junior Henri Rivard won the freshman/sophomore race the last time was held, he is coming off a strong effort at Kennebunk last week that saw him run a personal best of 16:07. Scarborough's Ethan Keller has a pair of runner-up finishes to open his 2024 season, he clocked 16:12 last time out. Enzo Giampaolo of Lewiston and Alex Gilbert of Freeport have strong credentials, both have won races this fall. Aidan Ring of York had a great debut to his 2024 season with a 16:30 at Wells as he defeated Gilbert in the process. William Coull of Greely is expected to open up his season, while Hampden Academy's Asher Valentine and Tim Collins will make the trip down to compete against some of the top southern Maine runners. Conner Smith of Freeport and Griffin Merrill of John Bapst will look to mix it up in the front of the pack.
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Girls Top 500 Performances
Girls Freshman/Sophomore Race
Boothbay/Wiscasset sophomore Karen Higgins burst onto the scene last week at Brunswick where she lowered her personal best by two minutes and forty seconds when she clocked 18:53 for the victory. Thornton Academy's Mackenzie Shields ran 19:53 at Scarborough last week, her first time under twenty minutes, indicating she's fit. Hampden Academy's Addison Elliott will be one to watch, she finished eighth in the Class A state last fall and opened with a strong 20:23 effort at Bangor last week. Others who expect to be in contention are Georgia Moon of Falmouth and Allie Schmitt of Cheverus.
Girls Junior/Senior Race
Laurel Driscoll of Scarborough showed last week that the 5k distance wouldn't be a problem for the junior who switched from soccer to XC this fall. Driscoll clocked 18:23 in her first XC 5k race last weekend, and figures to push the pace on Saturday from the front. The chase pack should include Lucy Huggett of Freeport who had an excellent opening race at the Falcon 4k, last week at Wells she went off course and didn't finish, so she will be motivated to run a new 5k best on Saturday. Bonny Eagle's Marina Violette has started the year off strong including a 19:50 for 5k last week, Violette won the freshman/sophomore race in 2022. Maya Sanzone of Marshwood is in the best shape of her life, she clocked 19:36 at Kennebunk last week as she defeated another contender Hannah Keene of Kennebunk on her home course. Greely's Rowan Barry figures to be the mix, along with Gretchen Plant of Hampden Academy who opened her season with a 20:20 5k victory at Bangor. Soren Stark-Chessa of Maine Coast Waldorf is another top runner who entered and has the fastest 5k personal best in the field an 18:07 effort from last fall.