Nearly 1400 runners competed in the 2012 Maine Cross Country Festival of Champions in Belfast on Sept. 29. Beth Brown (17:56) of Waterville and Mike Tate (15:26) of New Hampshire set new course records at the mega-meet that saw 60 boys’ teams and 50 girls’ teams compete.
“It’s pretty big. The kids look forward to it, and it gives us another chance to run it with Eastern Maine’s being there,” Medomak Valley High School coach George Gould said.
Cumberland 195, edged Lewiston by one point to win the Festival of Champions. There 782 male runners in the races.
Boothbay boys placed 27th and Lincoln Academy 29th. Medomak had only four finishers and did not compile a team score. Senior Nick Anderson has missed all year with an ankle injury, and senior Ivan Johnson pulled out of the race with an injury.
Nick Smelcer paced the LA Eagles with a 67th place finish in 17:37; followed by 93. Will Hadden, 18:01; 182. Alex Tomasello, 18:41; 276. Julian Frink, 19:22; 373. Nathan Osborne, 20:02; 411. Liam Anderson, 20:18; 498. Abe Steinberger, 21:05; and 502. Tim Wells, 21:07.
Gavin Felch led the Panthers, placing 174th in 18:48, followed by 201. Alexander Casas, 18:50; 455. Daniel Bubar, 20:42; and 683. Joshua DeGado, 23:33.
Ben Scully led Boothbay, placing 128th in 18:19. Rounding out the scoring five were 142. Robert Campbell, 18:23; 154. Alex Owen, 18:30; 218. Jack Hasch, 18:58; and 243. Matt Burnham, 19:08.
Boothbay girls placed 27th and Medomak 44th.
Sophia Thayer led the Seahawks with 22nd place finish in 20:03; followed by 51. Hannah Morley, 20:48; 100. Morgan Crocker, 21:52; 431. Genevieve Taylor, 25:39; and 462. Allison Crocker, 26:05.
Lincoln had just two runners. Hannah Fake placed 101st in 21:53, and Teiga Martin 111th in 21:58.
Jill Van der Schaff placed 191st in 22:52 for the Panthers, followed by 212. Rayanne Leach, 22:58; 321. Shannon Staples, 24:08; 406. Krista Hooper, 25:16; 544. Beth Corson, 28:41; and 596. Tricia Cormier, 32:11.