Defending Class A champion Samantha Moore of Portland had some doubts she would be able to toe the starting line to defend her title earlier this season.
"Starting off cross-country my doctor told me that it wouldn't be possible for me to race this season," Moore told us post-race.
Moore racing for only the fourth time all season took the lead early on and led by ten seconds after the mile. The chase pack was led by junior Laurel Driscoll of Scarborough and sophomore Allie Schmitt of Cheverus,
Class A Girls Race Video
Behind them, sophomore Georgia Moon of Falmouth and Mackenzie Shields of Thornton Academy had a few strides on Marina Violette of Bonny Eagle, Hannah Keene of Kennebunk, and Parker Fox of Falmouth.
Moore exited the woods still in first place and her lead was maintained during the second mile. Driscoll had broken away for second place.
Addison Elliott a sophomore from Hampden Academy moved up through the pack during mile two into third place about twenty-one back of Moore. She was followed closely by Moon and Schmitt.
The defending champion exited the pain cave still in the lead, as she hit the downhill section she took a peek back and saw Elliott closing hard. Moore pushed hard to finish to earn her second consecutive Class A state title with her 18:48.63 effort. Elliott kicked her way to a runner-up finish as she erased fifteen seconds from Moore's lead in the final 1.1 miles with her 18:54.82.
Girls Class A Photos
Driscoll finished with a big course personal best of 19:12 for third, she was followed by Moon (19:21.05) while Schmitt rounded out the top five (19:40.58). Shields placed sixth (19:48.77) as she held off Fox (19:49.26). Gretchen Plant of Hampden Academy moved up throughout the race to finish eighth (19:56.09), Violette was ninth (19:58.27) followed by Keene (19:58.78).
Falmouth entered the meet as the favorite and the Southern Maine Regional Champion Navigators had four finishers in the top thirteen overall to score 61 points to outdistance runner-up Portland by 19 points. Northern Maine Regional champ Camden Hills finished third with 92, followed by Hampden Academy 130 and Thornton Academy 137.