The Festival of Champions has always been Maine's showcase invitational, but this year's girls' race may be one of the most compelling ever. With the state's top-ranked individuals clashing with a deep field of seeded talent, and several top-10 teams looking to make a statement, all the ingredients are in place for a fast and unpredictable showdown.
The Individuals: Rankings vs. Seeds
On paper, Rowan Barry (12, Greely) enters as the top seed thanks to her blazing 18:01.46 victory at the Southern Maine Classic on September 13th. However, she showed some vulnerability last Friday at the WMC meet at Twin Brook, where she placed third after battling illness and struggling with her breathing during the race.
The MileSplit Maine Individual Rankings tell a slightly different story. Freshman Nora Schmidt (9, Portland) has surged to the #1 spot after a sensational start to her career, highlighted by two sub-19 5k's and wins over #5 Georgia Moon and #6 Laurel Driscoll. Close behind is Zoe Carroll (12, York) at #2, the top returning Festival of Champions finisher from 2024, who has raced sparingly due to her being a dual sport athlete (soccer), looks ready to contend for the title.
Top 10 MileSplit Maine Individual Rankings (Pre-Festival):
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Nora Schmidt, Portland
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Zoe Carroll, York
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Rowan Barry, Greely
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Karen Higgins, Lincoln Academy
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Georgia Moon, Falmouth
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Laurel Driscoll, Scarborough
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Lucy Huggett, Freeport
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Paige Alexander, Waynflete
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Gretchen Plant, Hampden Academy
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Marina Violette, Bonny Eagle
Uncertainty in the seeds and rankings sets the stage for a thrilling showdown: will the experienced trio of Barry, Carroll, and Higgins take charge, or are Schmidt and others poised to steal the show?
Title Contenders
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Rowan Barry (Greely) - Fastest seed (18:01) and seasoned senior aiming to reaffirm her #1 seed. Won the Southern Maine Classic in dominating style. She was 10th last fall
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Nora Schmidt (Portland) - The freshman phenom ranked #1 in Maine; Festival will test her against the deepest field yet.
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Zoe Carroll (York) - Underrated in seeding (#11, 19:00), but she is the top returner from last year after a third-place finish. #2 ranking makes her a serious threat.
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Karen Higgins (Lincoln Academy) and Georgia Moon (Falmouth) - Both juniors have shown they can handle fast races and could contend for the win. Higgins is undefeated on the season and was eighth last fall. Moon was 17th a year ago; she was the runner-up at SMC.
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Laurel Driscoll (Scarborough) - The Scarborough senior brings sub-18:30 speed and the poise to thrive in championship-style racing. Driscoll was 3rd at SMC despite being sick. She was 14th last fall in this race.
Key Chase Pack Runners
This deep group could decide both the top 10 and the team standings:
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Lucy Huggett (Freeport) - Ranked #7, she's critical to Freeport's team title hopes.
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Paige Alexander (Waynflete) - Ranked #8 and rounding back into form after returning to racing. She was 18th in this race a year ago.
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Gretchen Plant & Addison Elliott (Hampden Academy) - A dangerous 1-2 punch that could lift Hampden in the standings. They have finished within a blink of an eye of each other in the last few races. Elliott was 12th last fall, while Plant was 12th just .37 apart.
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Marina Violette (Bonny Eagle) - Ranked #10, tough competitor with experience on big stages. Finished 16th last year.
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Allie Schmitt (Cheverus) and Mackenzie Shields (Thornton) - Dark horses who could swing their teams' fortunes with top-15 finishes. Schmitt finished ninth last fall while Shields was 20th.
The Teams: A Battle of Depth vs. Front-Runners
The MileSplit Maine Team Rankings set the stage for a thrilling team race:
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Freeport - Led by Lucy Huggett, the defending Class B champs thrive on depth (Lilah Hall and Ella Oshetsk) and pack running. Festival will test its #1 ranking against big-school challengers. They won the Southern Maine Classic easily a few weeks ago.
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Portland - With freshman Nora Schmidt up front, Portland has the firepower, but their success depends on whether the supporting pack can close the gap. The Bulldogs didn't compete at the Southern Maine Classic, so this will be a true test. They finished ahead of Falmouth last week.
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Falmouth - Georgia Moon leads a balanced squad capable of challenging for the title if their middle scorers deliver, but without Parker Fox in the lineup, it will be tough for the Navigators.
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Cheverus - Powered by Allie Schmitt, this team is built for big-meet settings. They were third in the Southern Maine Classic.
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Hampden Academy - With Plant and Elliott seeded in the top 10, Hampden has front-end strength few can match.
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Thornton Academy - Mackenzie Shields provides leadership for this steadily improving squad. The Trojans might be flying under the radar here.
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York - With Carroll ranked #2, York has a front-runner who can slash their score significantly. The Wildcats are improving each week they need a fifth runner to emerge.
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Waynflete - Paige Alexander gives Waynflete the low stick they need; the question is whether their pack can hold up in such a deep field. The Flyers looked impressive at Twin Brook last week, even without Lucy Olson in the lineup.
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Mt. Desert Island - Consistent and well-coached, MDI always races tough at Festival. The defending champions tend to fly under the radar and then emerge in this race. Can they have a repeat of a year ago?
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Cape Elizabeth - A young team on the rise, looking to break deeper into the top tier.
Storylines to Watch
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Can Nora Schmidt back up her #1 ranking against experienced runners like Barry, Carroll, and Higgins?
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Is Freeport truly the #1 team, or will Portland, Cheverus, or Hampden take control? Cam MDI repeat, or will there be a complete surprise?
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How far can Paige Alexander climb in her return to racing, and could she swing the team title picture for Waynflete?
The 2025 Festival of Champions girls' race has it all: a clash of generations, teams with both star power and depth, and an unpredictable balance between seeds and current form. Whatever the outcome, the race will likely reshape Maine's rankings as the season barrels toward championship season.
The Festival of Champions has always been Maine's showcase invitational, but this year's girls' race may be one of the most compelling ever. With the state's top-ranked individuals clashing with a deep field of seeded talent, and several top-10 teams looking to make a statement, all the ingredients are in place for a fast and unpredictable showdown.
The Individuals: Rankings vs. Seeds
On paper, Rowan Barry (12, Greely) enters as the top seed thanks to her blazing 18:01.46 victory at the Southern Maine Classic on September 13th. However, she showed some vulnerability last Friday at the WMC meet at Twin Brook, where she placed third after battling illness and struggling with her breathing during the race.
The MileSplit Maine Individual Rankings tell a slightly different story. Freshman Nora Schmidt (9, Portland) has surged to the #1 spot after a sensational start to her career, highlighted by two sub-19 5k's and wins over #5 Georgia Moon and #6 Laurel Driscoll. Close behind is Zoe Carroll (12, York) at #2, the top returning Festival of Champions finisher from 2024, who has raced sparingly due to her being a dual sport athlete (soccer), looks ready to contend for the title.
