Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY: Runners bring varied goals to conference meets

By Bill Stewart bstewart@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

Harlow Ladd hopes his once-fresh legs will return. The Messalonskee High School senior says a cross country season of over-training has taken a bit of a toll.

“I want to get my confidence back,” he said.

Abby Mace knows things are a bit different this year, with increased competition pushing her at every turn.

“It does make it a bit more nerve-racking but also more exciting,” the Maranacook senior said. “It’s going to be a tough race.”

And Madison senior Matt McClintock says he’s eager to race because nothing compares to championship season.

“We’re sort of focusing on New Englands, to peak there,” he said. “This race will help get us ready.”
Ladd, Mace and McClintock, as well as hundreds of other runners, will compete in the cross country conference championship races today.

The University of Maine at Augusta will host the Mountain Valley Conference championships, beginning with the girls race at 10 a.m. The boys will race at 10:45. Cony High School will host the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference class A and B races. The girls go out at 11 a.m. with the boys following about 11:45. 

The Mt. Blue girls, led by Addie Cullenberg and Louisa Stancioff, should contend for the KVAC A title with Mt. Ararat and Brunswick.

The Cougars, said coach Kelley Cullenberg, are healthy and poised for a strong race.

“We’ll see,” she said. “Everybody in my top seven is healthy. I’m hoping they can all put it together. The course is, for us, a good one. It favors a lot of my girls.”

Lawrence junior Erzsie Nagy could also contend for the individual title.

“I’m not really sure what to expect,” she said. “It’s a hard course, and I know we’re running class A and B together. I’ll have some competition. I think it will depend on how everybody races that day. Anything can happen. I just want to go out and run my race and run it as fast as I can.”

Ladd hopes to bounce back after struggling with what he called “the hardest season I’ve ever had.” He finished ninth at the Festival of Champions.

“After the Festival, I realized I was over-training,” he said. “I went out there and my legs felt shot. I want to get my confidence back. I want to run a race and feel good.”

Mace hopes to defend her KVAC B title but acknowledges it won’t be easy. Bethanie Brown of Waterville also should contend.

“This year will be different,” Mace said. “I’m definitely going to have a lot of competition. Of course I’d like to win, but I want to run a tough race, a mentally tough race. Bethanie is still my top competition. It’ll be exciting to have competition. It’ll push me, and I’ll do better. It’s always nice to defend your title; it’s the ultimate goal. However, I don’t want to stress myself out. I’ll focus on running a good race and not giving up.”

At the MVC meet, McClintock will look to avenge his lone defeat in two years when he races against Chase Brown of Boothbay. Brown, a senior, edged McClintock by 10 seconds at the MVC meet last season.

The MVC race will feature 10 teams, which Monmouth coach Tom Menendez said is the deepest field in at least seven years.

“Almost anyone who races will be a scorer,” he said. “It’s going to be real interesting. If the boys live up to their potential, we could be third or fourth. The girls race will be a dog fight.”

Telstar and Boothbay are the frontunners to win the boys title. The Monmouth, Madison, Lisbon and St. Dominic girls teams should contend for a title as well.

Sophomore Tiffany Pease leads the Monmouth girls, while senior Matt Bryant anchors the boys team.

“If somebody shows up and isn’t ready to run, it’ll make it wide open for the rest of us,” Menendez said. “It’s going to be fun to watch.”

Bill Stewart — 621-5640
bstewart@centralmaine.com