2010 Class B Boys XC Preview
Class B Boys Eastern Maine
There could be a slight changing of the guard in Eastern Maine Class B in 2010. The landscape has been dominated by Ellsworth & Caribou over the past 6 years but coming into the 2010 the Hampden Academy Broncos are the early favorites to claim the title. Last fall Hampden finished 3rd behind the two powerhouse sqauds.
The Broncos despite losing 2 of their top 3 from a year ago return 5 runners from 2009. Leading the way for Hampden will be senior Evan Piccirillo (10th in 2009 pictured left), who should contend for a top 5 spot individually. The supporting cast behind Piccirillo will include senior Ethan Burke (24th in 2009), juniors Travis Bach (37th in 2009), Andrew Closson (40th in 2009) & Mike Wagner along with sophomore Nick Kopf (42nd in 2009). Last year Hampden went on to finish 6th in the state meet. With a front runner and quality depth look for the Broncos to make some noise in Eastern Maine this fall.
As mentioned in the lead in the Ellsworth Eagles have been one of the top team in Eastern Maine Class
B for a long time, and 2010 appears to be no different. The Eagles under the guidance of long time coach Andy Beardsley finished just 3 points behind winner, Caribou last fall. While top runner Ben Chapman has graduated, Ellsworth still returns a strong core led by the duo of juniors Blake Pattengale (16th in 2009 pictured right) & Stephen Kirby (17th in 2009). Additionally look for seniors Lyle Stephenson (26th in 2009), Neal Anderson & sophomore Derek Hawes to be in the top 5. While Hawes & Anderson are new to varsity this fall, Hawes ran under 5 minutes and 11 minutes for 1600m and 320m in the spring, while Anderson qualified for the state meet in the 800m. Don't sleep on the Eagles they'll start off slow and finish with a bang.
Another new team in the mix in 2010 is the Winslow Black Raiders. Winslow finished 7th last fall earning the final spot in the state meet. That post season experience combined with a senior laden team could mean big things in 2010. The Black Raiders return their entire top 7 from 2009, leading the way will be seniors Mike McCann (22nd in 2009) & Shawn Willette (32nd in 2009). Others expected to be in the top 5 are sophomore Nick Shuckrow (38th in 2009) and seniors James Cassidy (41st in 2009) & Colby Levesque who was injured last fall and missed the regional. This team has been gaining experience for 3 years now, they look primed to have a big breakthrough in 2010.
Other Teams
Caribou: The Vikings won the Eastern Maine title last fall. They return two of the top individuals in seniors Christian Sleeper (9th in 2009) & DJ Flynn (14th in 2009), who might make up the best 1-2 in the region.
Medomak Valley: The Panthers finished 6th a year ago earning a spot in the state meet, will be look to duplicate that success this fall. Senior Joe Murphy (31st in 2009) is the top returner in 2010.
Erskine Academy: The Eagles were 9th a year ago, and should improve on that finish this fall despite losing top runner Sam Seekins to graduation. Individual title threat junior Eben Hodgkins (8th in 2009) gives Erskine a solid front runner.
Mt. Desert Island: The Trojans were 8th last fall just one spot away from making the state meet, with a little improvement in 2010 they have a good shot to make it to the big dance. Senior Sam Swann (13th in 2009) is the #1 returner.
Presque Isle: The Wildcats ran to a 4th place finish and berth in the state meet in 2009. They'll compete for a spot in the state meet again this fall. Top returner is Matt Eager (19th in 2009) who was the #1 runner last fall as well
Hermon: The Hawks finished 11th last fall. Senior Nick Byers (33rd in 2009) is expected to be the #1 runner this fall.
Waterville: The Purple Panthers were 13th last fall, and should be able to improve on that finish this fall. Top runner Jeff Hale missed last year's regional due to injury, with Hale back in the mix Waterville gets a big boost
Belfast: The Lions were 5th last fall earning a trip to the state meet. They were hit hard by graduation. Junior Ondrej Slama (50th in 2009) is the top returner this fall.
Old Town: The Coyotes did not have 5 runners finish in last year's regional meet, so didn't score as a team. Senior Kiowa Vickrey is the fastest returner, he missed the regional meet last fall due to injury.
John Bapst: The Crusaders placed 10th last year. Individual title favorite junior Gabe Stewart (2nd in 2009) will be the top runner for Bapst's this fall
Camden Hills: The Windjammers finished 10th last year. Top returner is junior Davis Saltonstall (65th in 2009)
Teams without 5 returning runners: Rockland
| Five or More Elite Runners | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ME Hampden Academy | 75 | |||
| 1) Piccirillo, Evan | 2011 | 17:40.70 | 6 | ||
| 2) Burke, Ethan | 2011 | 18:08.00 | 10 | ||
| 3) Closson, Andrew | 2012 | 18:20.00 | 13 | ||
| 4) Wagner, Mike | 2011 | 18:33.00 | 19 | ||
| 5) Bach, Travis | 2012 | 19:00.00 | 27 | ||
| Average Time: 18:20.34 -- Total Time: 1:31:41.7 -- 1-5 Split: 1:19.3 | |||||
| 6) Clements, Jonathan | 2012 | 19:22.80 | 39 | ||
| 7) Kopf, Nick | 2013 | 19:36.40 | 43 | ||
| 8) Hanson, Carl | 2011 | 19:37.90 | -- | ||
| 9) Cormier, Stephen | 2011 | 20:07.00 | -- | ||
| 10) Hewes, Collin | 2013 | 20:42.60 | -- | ||
| 2 | ME Ellsworth High School | 91 | |||
| 1) Kirby, Stephen | 2012 | 18:07.00 | 8 | ||
| 2) Pettengale, Blake | 2012 | 18:07.00 | 9 | ||
| 3) Stephenson, Lyle | 2011 | 18:27.00 | 17 | ||
| 4) Hawes, Derek | 2013 | 19:03.60 | 28 | ||
| 5) Anderson, Neal | 2011 | 19:04.00 | 29 | ||
| Average Time: 18:33.72 -- Total Time: 1:32:48.6 -- 1-5 Split: 57.00 | |||||
| 6) Philippon, Michael | 2012 | 19:30.90 | 40 | ||
| 7) Murphy, Dustin | 2012 | 19:56.10 | 51 | ||
| 8) O'grady, Tyler | 2012 | 19:58.00 | -- | ||
| 9) Mora, Caleb | 2012 | 20:05.40 | -- | ||
| 10) Victor, Luc | 2011 | 20:07.20 | -- | ||
| 3 | ME Winslow High School | 91 | |||
| 1) McCann, Mike | 2011 | 18:14.00 | 12 | ||
| 2) Shuckrow, Nick | 2013 | 18:26.00 | 16 | ||
| 3) Levesque, Colby | 2011 | 18:30.57 | 18 | ||
| 4) Willette, Shawn | 2011 | 18:48.00 | 21 | ||
| 5) Cassidy, James | 2011 | 18:54.10 | 24 | ||
| Average Time: 18:34.53 -- Total Time: 1:32:52.67 -- 1-5 Split: 40.10 | |||||
| 6) Colford, Chad | 2013 | 19:05.10 | 30 | ||
| 7) Veilleux, Darren | 2011 | 19:32.90 | 42 | ||
| 8) Salvato, Vinny | 2011 | 19:39.50 | -- | ||
| 9) Davis, Griffin | 2013 | 19:49.00 | -- | ||
| 10) Crosby, Brody | 2011 | 19:50.80 | -- | ||
| 4 | ME Caribou High School Viking Pack | 98 | |||
| 1) Sleeper, Christian | 2011 | 17:13.33 | 3 | ||
| 2) Flynn, Dj | 2011 | 17:35.34 | 5 | ||
| 3) Michaud, Jake | 2011 | 18:34.30 | 20 | ||
| 4) Kiehn, Robbie | 2011 | 18:56.20 | 25 | ||
| 5) Sandstrom, Jessie | 2012 | 19:46.00 | 45 | ||
| Average Time: 18:25.03 -- Total Time: 1:32:05.17 -- 1-5 Split: 2:32.67 | |||||
| 6) Karunsari, Charm | 2012 | 20:47.80 | 65 | ||
| 7) Dobson, Nick | 2012 | 20:53.00 | 69 | ||
| 8) Bither, Levi | 2011 | 21:16.30 | -- | ||
| 9) McEwen, Kyle | 2011 | 21:24.60 | -- | ||
| 10) Wu, Hongtao | 2012 | 21:32.50 | -- | ||
| 5 | ME Medomak Valley High School | 195 | |||
| 1) Murphy, Joe | 2011 | 18:52.00 | 22 | ||
| 2) Allen, Andrew | 2012 | 19:07.70 | 31 | ||
| 3) Nichols, Stefan | 2012 | 19:31.00 | 41 | ||
| 4) O'Donnell, Brendon | 2012 | 19:49.00 | 47 | ||
| 5) Anderson, Nick | 2013 | 20:06.00 | 54 | ||
| Average Time: 19:29.14 -- Total Time: 1:37:25.7 -- 1-5 Split: 1:14 | |||||
| 6) Vannah, Quinton | 2011 | 20:32.20 | 60 | ||
| 7) Gilman, Mike | 2011 | 20:33.30 | 61 | ||
| 8) Packard, Taylor | 2013 | 21:13.90 | -- | ||
| 9) Vannah, Vinny | 2013 | 21:26.00 | -- | ||
| 10) Rixon, Ian | 2012 | 22:07.90 | -- | ||
Individuals
With 6 of the top 7 individuals from 2009 graduated, there will be several new faces at the front of the pack this fall. The top returner is junior Gabe Stewart (John Bapst ictured left) who ran to a runner-up finish last fall, running 16:38. Stewart's time was 44 seconds faster than the second fastest returner, Eben Hodgkins. Last fall Stewart missed the state meet for an unspecified reason, no doubt he'll be eager for another shot in 2010.
Other contenders for the individual title should be Eben Hodgkins & Christian Sleeper. Hogdkins (pictured below) a junior from Erskine Academy ran to a 8th place finish last fall, a huge improvement from
sophomore to junior, and he'll look to continue that trend this fall. If his indoor and outdoor track season are any indication, Hodgkins has continued to improve. Indoors Hodgkins added a 6th place finish in the 2 mile, and then outdoor took his running to another level. Eben clocked pr's at 1600m and 3200m, while running his lifetime best in the 3200m earning a 3rd place medal at the Class B state meet with his 9:53.05.
Caribou senior Christian Sleeper is another harrier to keep an eye on this fall. Last year Sleeper ran to a 9th place finish at the regional meet and had an even better day at the state meet, finishing 11th overall. Christian had a breakthrough spring on the track clocking 1:59.44 & 4:34.31. Sleeper was 7th in 1600m and 3rd in the 800m at the state meet. This type of speed should benefit him on the flat and fast Belfast course.
Top 15 returning runners from Eastern Maine Regional
1 Gabe Stewart SO John Bapst 16:38.67 2 2 Eben Hodgkins JR Erskine Academy 17:22.84 8 3 Christian Sleeper JR Caribou High School 17:25.07 9 4 Evan Piccirillo JR Hampden Academy 17:31.39 10 5 Samm Swann JR MDI 17:44.59 13 6 DJ Flynn JR Caribou High School 17:45.36 14 7 Blake pattengale SO Ellsworth 17:57.71 16 8 Stephen Kirby SO Ellsworth 17:58.48 17 9 Matt Eager SO Presque Isle 18:00.20 19 10 Mike McCann JR Winslow High School 18:17.61 22 11 Ethan Burke JR Hampden Academy 18:21.61 24 12 Logan Thibeau JR Presque Isle 18:24.05 25 13 Lyle Stephenson JR Ellsworth 18:24.63 26 14 Jake Michaud JR Caribou High School 18:31.27 27 15 Joe Murphy JR Medomak Valley 18:45.47 31Milesplit Prediction
Individual Champ: Eben Hogdkins
Team Champ: Hampden Academy