Nordic skiing, Class C: Maine Coast Waldorf rules

WATERVILLE — Waynflete School’s Wilson Moore not only won the boys’ individual Nordic Class C freestyle state title, but he also topped Tucker Barber’s Class A-winning time at Quarry Roads on Friday.

Moore turned in a winning time of 14:39.4. Barber’s time in Class A was 15:08.4 for Mt. Blue. The second- and third-place finishers — Tucker Pierce (14:45.4) and Nick Neveu (15:04.4), both of Maine Coast Waldorf High School — also had impressive times. Maine Coast went on to win the Class C Nordic boys’ state title with 52 points during the two-day event. Fort Kent finished in second with 96 points.

“In the past, I have been stronger in classic, but at the end of this season, I have definitely been putting in better performances in skate, which feels really pretty good,” Moore said. “I really didn’t expect it but …”

In the girls’ freestyle, Maine Coast Waldorf dominated the top-four spots in this turf war. Olivia Skillings (23:14.0) took first, followed by teammates Louise Ahearne (23:20.5), Fiona Libby (25:43.8) and Wilson Haimes (26:00.5). Maine Coast won the overall girls’ Nordic title with 34 points, followed by Orono (110) and Madawaska (134).

Despite a grueling race and pain in her legs, Telstar’s Marta Opie finished in seven place with a time of 26:50.0.

“I am in pain,” Opie said. “It was really hot. The first lap was pretty good, and then I started getting calf cramps in the second part. It was pretty painful, but finishing was good.”

Monmouth’s Beatrix Stewart finished in 11th place at 28:03.8.

“It is really hot,” Stewart said. “I wish we were allowed to wear T-shirts or something. It is kind of nice when you are not hot until you are racing.”

Dirigo High School’s Liliana Meehan finished in 15th place with a time of 29:19.0.

The boys’ race also featured a seventh-place performance by Gaelan Boyle-Wight (17:065). Boyle-Wight’s teammate Kellen True (17:40.9) finished 11th and Monmouth Academy’s Ethan Thombs (17:52.2) turned in a 15th-place showing.

“I knew the conditions were going to be a little like mushy bananas today, just because of the weather we had, but we waxed right,” True said. “We really focused on climbing up the hills with a hop skate and I think we sped up on the downhills, too, so we had an overall good race. I felt pretty good.”

“It has been a really great season. And, go Telstar.”

Vincent Scott, the lone Winthrop High School emissary, knew it would be a tough course, especially due to the warm temperatures.

“I was tough, but it was a really fast course,” Scott, who finished 22nd at 18:42.6, said. “One of my teammates from Maranacook told me make it hurt the entire time, so that’s what I did. I put everything I had because I am the only one supporting my team.”

“Really quick course. Pretty warm conditions, but I think it was pretty good overall,” Dirigo’s Jonah Downs, who finished 39th at 21:44.5, said. “I’d like thank all the volunteers who came out to help us for this race. They did wonderful.”