Top-ranked Class C runner Ben Arsenault of Orono cruised to an easy victory as the senior covered the 5k layout at the Troy Howard Middle School in a time of 16:40.75 to lead a 1-2 finish for the Red Riots. Teammate Owen Beane nabbed runner-up honors with his 17:03.11 effort.
Houlton/GHCA sophomores Malachi Witmer and Brayden Drake gave us a glimpse of the future as they finished third and fourth respectively, clocking 17:16.37 and 17:25.59. Orono's Andrew Barrett rounded out the top five individuals.
As expected, Orono was the clear team winner. They left little doubt with five of the top eight finishers. The Red Riots tallied 23 points to win over Houlton/GHCA, who posted 77 points. George Stevens Academy/Blue Hill finished third, just two points back, with 79.
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The senior duo of Teanne Ewings and Natalie Johnson of Houlton/GHCA successfully lived up to the pre-meet rankings as they went 1-2 in the Northern Maine Class C Regional. Ewings who has been the top-ranked runner in the state for most of the season earned her first regional title after three of running behind standout Ruth White of Orono as she established the fastest time of the day with her 18:17.30 effort, while Johnson also cracked the 19 minute barrier with a fine 18:52.37 effort.
The Orono duo of juniors Clara White and Maya Boyington had strong days, finishing third and fourth with 19:28.45 and 19:40.71 respectively. Bailey Townsend of George Stevens Academy/Blue Hill rounded out the top five as she clocked 21:33.84.
In the team race, only four teams managed to start with five athletes. Surprisingly, Orono-winner of the last six Class C state titles and nine of the last ten-fielded only three runners. Houlton/GHCA took the title that had previously eluded them, scoring 23 points, while George Stevens Academy/Blue Hill earned the runner-up trophy with 47 points. Narraguagus and Maine Central Institute also advanced to the state meet.
In a rematch of the previous week's KVAC Championship Enzo Giampaolo of Lewiston improved upon his runner-up finish a week ago to capture the Northern Maine A Regional title in a time of 16:02.72. Hamden Academy's Asher Valentine took runner-up honors with his 16:13.06 effort while KVAC Champion Tim Collins had to settle for third in a time of 16:15.66. Mt. Blue senior Henri McCourt had a strong race with his fourth-place effort of 16:21.30 and Edward Little's Calvin Vincent rounded out the top five finishers with his 16:25.90.
As expected, Hampden Academy took the top team honors. The Broncos had five of the first twenty-one finishers, and they tallied 54 points, one less than they had in winning the KVAC Championship. Messalonskee put together their best race of the season to nab runner-up honors with 82. Camden Hills, Bangor, Mt. Blue, and Brunswick followed, all advancing to the state meet.
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The Northern Maine A Girls Regional finished as expected as sophomore Addison Elliott and junior Gretchen Plant of Hampden Academy ran together until the finish with Elliott pulling ahead for the victory. Elliott clocked 19:26.15 while Plant had a 19:27.38 effort. A year ago Plant won the race with Elliott finishing second.
Mt. Blue senior Nora McCourt crossed the line in third with her 19:51.87. Camden Hills took the next four spots led by seniors Cassie Middleton and Isabella Anderson who clocked 19:52.18 and 20:11.39 respectively.
Camden Hills who lost to Hampden Academy by twenty-four points at KVAC had a complete lineup on Saturday and that made the difference for the Windjammers as they won another Northern Maine A Regional title with thirty-five points to edge runner-up Hampden Academy by four points. Camden Hills placed all seven scoring runners in the top fifteen finishers. Bangor, Mt. Blue, and Mt. Ararat advanced to the state meet as teams.
John Bapst senior Griffin Merrill cruised to the win in the Northern Maine B Rgeional as he clocked 16:40.95 to win by sixteen seconds over Belfast senior Tristan Hughes. Henry Milan of John Bapst placed third with his 17:13.04 effort, he was followed by Tewolde Stewart of Caribou (17:16.68). Rounding out the top five was Aedyn Hughes of Ellsworth in 17:21.94.
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The team race was a close one with John Bapst edging Caribou for the team title 49-55. Bapst's placed four runners within the top thirteen and edged the Vikings in their first four runners. Mt Desert Island, Ellsworth, Waterville, Presque Isle, and Hermon also advanced to the state meet.
Mt. Desert Island Amelia Vandongen ran away with her third straight Northern Maine Class B Regional title. Vandongen clocked 18:36.43 to win over her freshman teammate Rebecca Rand by one minute and eleven seconds. Medomak Valley junior Ava Collamore finished third with her 19:55.65 effort. Another MDI Freshman Kulani Granholm was next at 20:08.77 while Presque Isle freshman Aleah Rideout placed fifth (20:09.50)
Top-ranked MDI was impressive as the Trojans finished 1-2, and had 5 of the first seven finishers in the race as they scored 20 to outdistance runner-up Old Town by 75 points. MDI averaged an impressive 19:51 for the top five. Also advancing to the state meet were John Bapst, Presque Isle, and Medomak Valley.
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