Saturday’s state cross country meet at Twin Brook Recreation Area in Cumberland was all about history.
Kennebunk’s Abbey Leonardi won an unprecedented fourth Class A state title and Nick Morris of Scarborough edged Messalonskee’s Harlow Ladd by .02 of a second in the closest finish ever in a state meet to win the boys’ Class A title.
Several local runners finished among the top runners in their class. Lisbon senior Meagan Thomas, who won the regional title last week at Twin Brook, was runner-up in Class C to Carsyn Koch of Washburn. Thomas crossed the line in 20:47.77, 30 seconds behind Koch. Dirigo’s Natalie Bolduc (21:17.69) was fifth. Telstar’s Gabi Stone finished 11th and Angelica Bulgin of Lisbon took 18th.
Madison’s Matt McClintock defended his Class C boys’ title with the fastest time of the day, 15:52.97. Josef Holt of Telstar finished third in 16:55.86 and was joined in the top 10 by teammate Ben Lewis (17:43.48), who finished ninth. Winthrop’s Kameron Souza (17:21.51) placed sixth and teammate Marc Hachey finished 16th.
In Class A, Leonardi posted the best girls’ time (18:27.19) to become only the second Maine runner to win four state titles (Maranacook’s Scott Roberts won four Class B titles from 1982 to 1985). Addie Cullenberg of Mt. Blue was the top local runner in 14th.
Morris’ 16:46.81 was just enough to beat Ladd by the slimmest of margins in the boys’ Class A race. Mohamed Barre of Lewiston finished eighth with a time of 17:27.44. Mt. Blue’s Justin Tracy (17:32.41) placed ninth. The top 20 also included Justin LeClair of Edward Little (11th) and Lewiston’s Mohamed Awil (19th).
In Class B, sophomore Brittany Bowman of Camden Hills broke the tape at 19:12.19. Leavitt’s Maddie Wiegman finished 13th and Poland’s Kristina Smith 15th. Silas Eastman of Fryeburg Academy defended his Class B crown in 16:14.15. Ben Shafer of Gray-New Gloucester finished 20th.
Class A saw a pair of team champions defend their crowns. The Cheverus girls won their third straight state title, while the Scarborough boys picked up their second straight and third in the last four years. The Mt. Blue girls finished fifth, Lewiston 12th. Lewiston was eighth in the boys’ standings.
The Class C champions didn’t give up their titles, either. Merriconeag Waldorf defended the girls’ championship and North Yarmouth Academy recaptured the boys’ title. Dirigo placed fifth in the girls’ team competition, while Telstar and Winthrop finished fourth and fifth, respectively, for the boys.
Mount Desert Island took the Class B girls’ championship, while Falmouth won the boys’ title.
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