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

SCOT LALIBERTE INVITATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY MEET

Mace, Ladd cruise to wins at Laliberte

By Travis Lazarczyk tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- Scott Wilson, the Messalonskee High School track and field coach, was driving earlier this summer when he came upon a runner.

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THREE-TIME CHAMP: Abby Mace of Maranacook Community High School crosses the finish line, taking first place for the girls at the Scot Laliberte Invitational cross country meet Friday at Cony High School in Augusta. Mace finished with a time of 15 minutes, 34.04 seconds.

Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans

click image to enlarge

AND THEY’RE OFF: Runners take off at the starting line of the Scot Laliberte Invitational cross country race Friday afternoon at Cony High School in Augusta. Messalonskee runner Harlow Ladd, second from right, won the 2.4-mile race in 13 minutes, 43.87 seconds.

Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans

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Boys
1. Harlow Ladd (Mes) 13:43.87
2. Charlie Jones (FIS) 13:55.28
3. Eben Hodgkins (Ers) 14:04.50
4. Andy Reifman-Packett (MtA) 14:12.14
5. Jaron Jones (MtB) 14:32.02
Girls
1. Abby Mace (Mar) 15:34.04
2. Kathleen McMahon (Bru) 16:23.34
3. Kate Spies (MtA) 17:18.75
4. Emma Wood (MtA) 17:19.30
5. Teresa Murphy (Bru) 17:21.51

At first glance, Wilson thought the runner was a college athlete, out pushing himself on a hot day. As Wilson drove past, he got a good look at the runner.

"It wasn't a college kid," Wilson said. "It was Harlow."

The summer training paid off immediately for Messalonskee junior Harlow Ladd, who took the first steps in what he hopes is a fun cross country season, winning the Scot Laliberte Invitational at Cony High School.

The preseason race, which runs boys and girls together, is held in honor of former Cony cross country runner Scot Laliberte, who was killed in a car accident in 2000.

Maranacook junior Abby Mace was the girls winner for the third year in a row.

Ladd ran the four-kilometer (2.4 miles) course in 13 minutes, 43.87 seconds, and finished 12 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Charlie Jones of Fox Island School. Erskine Academy's Eben Hodkins was third (14:04.50).

Mace led wire-to-wire and finished with a time of 15:34.04. Mace finished almost a minute ahead of her nearest competitor, Brunswick's Kathleen McMahon (16:23.34). Kate Spies of Mt. Ararat (17:18.75) was third.

When the runners emerged from the woods early in the race, Ladd was in third place. About a mile and half in, Ladd took the lead when he sprinted down a hill.

"With about a mile left, I just gave it everything I had," Ladd said.

Mace felt she took control of the race in the first mile.

"I never looked back. I didn't know where the other girls were," Mace said.

Mace won, but it was a milestone for the defending Class B state champion in another way. Her younger brother, Kelby, a Maranacook freshman, was competing in his first race for the Black Bears. He finished 16th -- 22 seconds ahead of his older sister.

"It's the first time he's ever beat me," Abby Mace said.

Ladd, who placed seventh in the 1,600-meter run at the Class A track and field championships last spring, hoped the Laliberte was a sign of things to come this fall.

"Last year, I didn't do well in cross country," Ladd said. "This year I just want to have fun."

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com