The weather was perfect on Saturday for the State cross country championships, held at Twin Brook Recreation in Cumberland. Four local athletes placed in the top 15 out of a very competitive field, including Lincoln Academy seniors Nikki Leeman and Gary Ward, and Medomak Valley senior Patrick O’Donnell and junior Gwen Moiles.
The top 10 finishers medalled.
Cape Elizabeth was crowned State Class B girls’ champions with 46 points, beating out York 110, MDI 111, John Bapst 141, Ellsworth 181, Maranacook 181, Poland 195, Falmouth 197, Medomak 212, Hampden 214, Presque Isle 237, Greely 250, and Winslow 257.
Maranacook’s Abby Mace was the State Class B winner in 18:48. Medomak girls took ninth while competing in their third straight Class B championship.
Nikki Leeman placed 12th for Lincoln Academy in her second trip to the state meet. Leeman finished in 20:56, nine seconds faster than her Regional time on the same course.
Gwen Moiles led the Medomak Valley Lady Panthers with a 14th place finish in 21:06. Nicole Weaver built on her strong performance at Regionals with a 38th placement in 22:07. Kiana Ocean was 534th in 22:36, Alyssa Griggs 58th in 22:41, Jordan Hopkins 76th in 23:26, Heidi Harris 84th in 23:39, and Jocelyn Thames 88th in 23:57.
Thames ran in place of Lady Panther standout Megan Wyllie who was on an out of state family trip. The State Class B meet was originally scheduled for Oct. 31, but was moved to Nov. 7 after the Regional meet was rained out.
Boys’ results
Greely won the boys’ State Class B championships with 74 points, followed by York 105, Falmouth 108, Hampden 147, Ellsworth 173, Yarmouth 181, Fryeburg 193, Presque Isle 264, Belfast 283, Medomak 299, Winslow 308, and Maranacook 373. York’s Alex Moser was the State B winner in 16:14.
Lincoln Academy senior Gary Ward placed 12th in 17:24.
Medomak boys placed 10th out of 12 teams in their third straight state meet. Patrick O’Donnell led the Panthers with a 14th place finish in 17:27. Josh Parmenter placed 59th in 18:43, Andrew Allen 76th in 19:25, Brendon O’Donnell 84th in 19:49, Joe Murphy 87th in 20:02, Nick Anderson 88th in 20:06, and Stefan Nicholls 90th in 20:11.
Of the 2009 season, coach George Gould said, “I’m very pleased. I can’t say enough about these teams. The girls won 48 meets and the boys 44 this season. They struggled all year with injuries, but they did very, very well.”
