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The Class B Girls' race brought together some of Maine's best, featuring three of the state's top nine-ranked runners. Lincoln Academy junior Karen Higgins set a fast tone from the start, with Greely senior Rowan Barry and Freeport senior Lucy Huggett right on her heels.
The trio quickly distanced themselves from the rest of the field. After the opening mile, Higgins continued to press the pace, but midway through the race, Barry made her move - surging ahead and steadily widening the gap with each stride.
As the runners emerged from the woods for the final stretch, Barry's lead was decisive. The Greely senior powered through the finish to capture the Class B individual state title in 19:10. Higgins claimed runner-up honors in 19:29, with Huggett holding strong for third in 19:38.
The chase pack came through 27 seconds later, led by MDI sophomore Kulani Granholm in 20:05, edging York senior Madelyn Hutchins (20:06.1) and MDI's Rebecca Rand (20:06.3) in a tight finish.
In the team competition, the title came down to the fifth runners between #1-ranked Freeport and #3-ranked Mt. Desert Island. Huggett's third-place finish gave Freeport a strong start, but MDI answered with top-six efforts from Granholm (4th) and Rand (6th). Freeport junior Ella Oshetski (8th) and seniors Lilah Hall (13th) and Hope Werner (19th) kept the Falcons close. When Maddy York crossed in 22nd, Freeport sealed the championship with a narrow 60-67 victory.
York finished third with 89 points, while Greely edged Cape Elizabeth by a single point, 135-136, to take fourth.
It was a fittingly dramatic conclusion to a season that showcased both individual brilliance and team depth across Class B.
The Class B boys' race unfolded much as predicted, with Freeport senior Alex Gilbert delivering a commanding performance to capture his first individual state title. Gilbert took control early and methodically stretched his lead with each loop of the Cony High School course. The top-ranked runner in Class B crossed the finish line in style, arms outstretched, stopping the clock at 16:35.
His victory margin of 17 seconds separated him from Levi Riggs of Morse, who impressed with a runner-up finish in 16:52. Yarmouth sophomore Jackie Chalmers ran a smart, patient race - moving up steadily through the field to take third in 17:04. Lincoln Academy senior Owen Card (17:22) and Freeport's Ian Guzman (17:23) battled to the line for fourth and fifth, respectively.
In the team competition, Yarmouth - the state's top-ranked squad over the past month - lived up to the billing. The Clippers delivered a dominant, all-around effort to win the program's first-ever Class B team title, and their first state championship since 1995. Behind Chalmers' third-place finish, Bowen Mitchell placed sixth (17:26), Eli Chalmers took ninth (17:40), and teammates Xander Gordon (13th, 17:56) and Jesse Canfield (14th, 18:04) sealed the victory.
Yarmouth's five scorers all finished within the top 14 - a statement of depth and consistency - as they ended Freeport's four-year championship streak, 38-69. Caribou finished third with 114 points, followed by York (118) and Lincoln Academy (131) to round out the top five.
It was a milestone day for the Clippers, reclaiming statewide supremacy after three decades and capping their season with a long-awaited championship celebration.