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HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY

Laliberte offers early test for cross country teams

Early meet sometimes foreshadows success

By Travis Lazarczyk tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

When the final results of the Scot Laliberte Invitational cross country meet are posted this afternoon, take note. There's a good chance you'll see many of the same names at the top of the results of the state championship meets later this fall.

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TWO-TIME CHAMP: Maranacook Community High School junior Abby Mace has won the Scot Laliberte Invitational cross country meet each of the last two seasons. As a freshman she finished with a time of 20 minutes, 2.4 seconds, and as a sophomore she finished in 20:00.87.

Staff photo by Joe Phelan

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Scot Laliberte Invitational cross country meet

What: Preseason cross country meet

When: 3 p.m. today

Where: Cony High School, Augusta

2009 winners

Girls: Abby Mace, Maranacook

Boys: Luke Fontaine, Cony

"You look back the last few years, it's a good barometer of who the talent is," Cony cross country coach Shawn Totman said.

Last year's girls winner, Abby Mace of Maranacook, went on the win the Class B state championship in dominating fashion, finishing more than a minute ahead of her nearest competition. Former Cony runner Luke Fontaine placed sixth in the boys Class A meet after winning the Laliberte last year.

Mace, a junior, will be on hand at Cony High School in Augusta to try to defend her title in the race she's already won twice.

The Scot Laliberte Invitational is a preseason meet named in honor of a former Cony runner who was killed in a car accident in 2000. The race is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. with the varsity race. The junior varsity race will follow.

The Laliberte race combines girls and boys scores to determine one overall team winner. Falmouth High School won the team title last year.

Tom Wells, the former Cony cross country coach who founded the race, said this year there is no clear-cut favorite among the teams.

"I have no idea. It's anybody's race," Wells said. "It's a good preview (of the season), and it's a fun race. The kids are excited to see each other."

Twenty-four teams are signed up for this year's Laliberte Invitational, including some that have never participated before.

"Hall-Dale is coming for the first time," Wells said.

The course will be slightly different than last season. The sewer-line portion of the trail was taken out, and this year's course is basically a big loop through the woods between Cony High School and Hodgkins School, Wells said.

Wednesday's heavy rain didn't damage the trails, Wells said. The new course will make more of the finish accessible to spectators.

"They're in pretty good shape," he said. "There will be about a half-mile at the finish that is spectator-friendly."

The change in the course also shortened the race to a 4K, or approximately 2.4 miles. It's still a challenging, hilly course, Totman said.

"It's a pretty good test, I think. Almost every team has been here before, so they know what to expect," Totman said.

While the Laliberte Invitational has become a good preview of the upcoming season, Totman said he considers it the most fun meet of the season.

"I could tell, looking at the kids at practice (Thursday), they're very excited," Totman said.

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com