Racing Back Across The Country :: Local News and Newspapers

Racing Back Across The Country

November 1, 2008 by Bradley Hart
Filed under: Sports

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Across the country for more cross country.

BELFAST — When junior Frances Blank crossed the finish line at number 21 in Saturday’s Eastern Regional Cross-country Class B Championship, she clinched the team title for the Mount Desert Island Trojan girls.

Led by the second place finish of senior Heather Spurling, the Trojans packed five runners into the top 21 and that was enough to give them a two-point 68-70 edge over the John Bapst Crusaders and their third consecutive Eastern Maine Class B championship trophy.

Sophomore Brianne Dunn of the Ellsworth Eagles posted the best girls’ time of the day, regardless of class, as she took an early lead and never looked back to win the Class B individual title in 19:32.31.

Several other Hancock County teams and individual runners also turned in strong performances on Saturday.

Ellsworth senior Ben Chapman was runner-up in the Class B boys’ race, finishing 12 seconds behind champion Sam Seekins of Erskine Academy with a time of 16:51.88.

In the team competition, Caribou took the Class B title with 57 points, followed by Ellsworth with 89 and the MDI Trojans in third with 128.

In Class C, the George Stevens Academy Eagle girls placed a close third in Class C, finishing just four points behind the champion Orono Red Riots with 65 points.

The Ellsworth American - Ellsworth’s Brianne Dunn, MDI Girls Are EM Champs

Brianne Dunn of the Ellsworth Eagles takes the lead early in the girls’ Class B race on Saturday at Belfast. Dunn never trailed in winning the individual title.—STAFF PHOTO BY HUGH BOWDEN

As was the case a week earlier at the Penobscot Valley Conference championships, it was the tight pack of the Trojan girls that gave them the winning edge in the Class B competition.

Behind Spurling, who finished in 19:50.79, were sophomore Kailyn Russell, ninth in 20:42.36; junior Mackenzie Curtis, 17th in 21:16.94; senior Kymry Brooks, 19th in 21:26.08; and Blank, 21st in 21:28.38.

Not far behind them were junior Lily Madeira, 27th in 21:43.90, and junior Jessica Swanson, 30th in 21:59.23.

In addition to Dunn’s championship run, Ellsworth’s Eagles, who placed fourth in the 13-team field with 96 points, got strong performances from sophomore Hayley White, who was 10th in 20:45.63, and junior Rosie Vachon, who was 11th in 20:47.95.

Behind them were sophomore Sara Lyons, 40th in 22:26.98; freshman Mallory Nightingale, 42nd in 22:33.29; freshman Lauren Barkhouse, 67th in 23:50.94; and freshman Stephanie Phippen, 83rd in 25:27.46.

For the Bucksport Golden Buck girls, who were 11th with 265 points, senior Liz Beeson led the way, placing 26th in 21:39.41. She was followed by freshman Nelly Winship, 39th in 22:20.48; senior Angie Johnson, 57th in 23:22.65; freshman Avalon Langevin, 76th in 24:45.11; and freshman Katie Bridges, 97th in 29:46.03.

In the Class B boys’ race, finishing behind Chapman for Ellsworth were senior Jeremiah Roper, 11th in 17:32.71; senior Brian Batson, 22nd in 18:16.54; junior Dakota Hellum, 26th in 18:27.91; freshman Stephen Kirby, 32nd in 18:37.72; junior John Carlin, 51st in 19:20.24; and junior Kyle Ouelette, 71st in 20:15.76.

Sophomore Sam Swann led the MDI Trojans, placing 19th in 18:07.44. He was followed by freshman True Muzzy, 20th in 18:12.16; senior Gavin Willow, 25th in 18:25.75; junior Peter Logue, 29th in 18:32.51; senior Paul Burnell, 40th in 18:58.46; sophomore Cameron Klausky, 42nd in 19:01.88; and junior Jeremy McQuinn, 50th in 19:19.67.

In Class C:

Senior Allegra Pellerano led the GSA girls, placing seventh in 22:10.35. She was followed by sophomore Mindy Carter, 18th in 24:09.72; freshman Lakota Bowen, 28th in 24:54.85; sophomore Tierney Hally, 35th in 25:11.13; and freshman Ramsay Williamson, 36th in 25:17.94.

For the GSA boys, who placed sixth with 151 points, senior Nikos Christ finished 11th in 18:26.60. He was followed by sophomore Kalle Bailey, 16th in 18:53.97; sophomore Josh Bowden, 43rd in 21:08.67; sophomore Jacob Reiley, 55th in 21:56.00; and freshman Matthew Ahern, 56th in 22:01.28.

For the Sumner Tigers, who were 14th with 348 points, freshman Taylor Lee was 71st in 22:56.86, freshman John Sandiego was 73rd in 23:19.59, freshman Xavier Tracey was 84th in 25:15.61, junior Chris Light was 87th in 26:20.90 and freshman James Singletary was 91st in 29:24.42.

Boys’ and girls’ teams from Ellsworth, MDI and GSA all qualified for the upcoming state championships on Saturday, Nov. 1, which also will be held at Belfast’s Troy Howard Middle School.

Races are scheduled as follows: Class C boys, 11 a.m.; Class C girls, 11:45 a.m.; Class B boys, 2 p.m.; Class B girls, 2:45 p.m.

The Mount Desert Island Trojan girls CROSS COUNTRY TEAM

The Mount Desert Island Trojan girls show off the Eastern Maine Class B championship trophy — their third in as many years. Kneeling (from left) are Kailyn Russell, Tarryn Rourk, Heather Spurling and Lily Madeira. Standing (from left) are Mackenzie Curtis, Jessica Swanson, Frances Blank, Kymry Brooks, Caitie Smith and Addie Maxwell.—PHOTO COURTESY OF KATE GOUPEE

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