What a glorious weekend it was in the XC community. There were 15 meets this weekend and each one of them were just as exciting as the other. There were several big time performances this week which made the performance of the week really tough to choose. Some of the top performances were Matt McClintock’s 16:32 5k at Carrebec, Will Lundquist’s 16:44 at Lawrence, and Faisal Noor of Edward Little who ran a time of 16:35 on his home course. The big surprise of the week was freshman Dan Curts of Ellsworth who won the Caribou Invitational with a time of 16:19 which was 14 seconds faster than the 2nd place finisher, Christian Sleeper of Caribou. Here are your updated power rankings:
1. Scarborough
Previous week: 1
Last Meet: at Marshwwod
Finish: 1st
Scarborough had a perfect score on Wednesday as they were led by junior stud Nick Morris. Scarborough will be at Westbrook this Friday.
2. Falmouth
Previous week: 2
Last Meet: at Freeport
Finish: 1st
Falmouth looked very impressive on Saturday as they placed their top three runners within the top four. Falmouth will have a tough test on Friday as they will host Greely, Yarmouth, and Lake Region.
3. Gorham
Previous week: 3
Last Meet: at Sanford
Finish: 1st
Gorham finished first out of four teams on Saturday as they put four runners in the top ten. Gorham will have a tough test on Friday when they will host Cheverus, Massabesic, and Thornton Academy.
4. Cape
Previous week: 6
Last Meet: at Greely
Finish: 1st
Cape beat Greely and York at Twinbrooks last Friday as they were lead by Reid Douty and Tom Bottomley. Cape, along with Gray and Traip, will head to Wells on Friday.
5. Greely
Previous week: 5
Last Meet: Home
Finish: 3rd
Greely didn’t use their home course to their advantage as they were third out of three teams on Friday. Greely will look to rebound when they head to Falmouth on Friday.
6. Massabesic
Previous week: 4
Last meet: at Deering
Finish: 1st
Massabesic won easily at Deering as Peter LePage and Jacob Brooks finished first and second respectively. Massabesic will head to Gorham on Friday.
7. Mt. Ararat
Previous week: 7
Last Meet: at Edward Little
Finish: 2nd
Mt Ararat was lead to a second place finish behind Andy Reifman-Packett who ran to an impressive time of 16:45.48 which was good for second overall. Mt. Ararat will host Morse, Brunswick, Rockland, and Winslow on Thursday.
8. York
Previous week: 8
Last meet: at Greely
Finish: 2nd
York proved why they will be a force in class B west as they finished 2nd to Cape at Greely on Friday. York will head to Poland on Friday.
9. Mt. Blue
Previous week: UR
Last Meet: at Lawrence
Finish: 1st
The Jones’ Brothers lead Mt. Blue to a win at Lawrence as they put their top three runners in the top five. Mt. Blue will be at Leavitt on Friday.
10. Caribou
Previous Week: UR
Last Meet: Caribou Invitational
Finish: 2nd
Caribou finished 2nd on their home course as they were lead by senior Christian Sleeper who had the 2nd fastest time overall. Caribou will be at Presque Isle on Saturday.
Teams knocking on the door: Ellsworth. Fryeburg, Brunswick, Lewiston, Edward Little, Hampden Academy, Yarmouth, Bangor
Team of the Week: Cape Elizabeth Capers
1. Silas Eastman Fryeburg
Previous week: 1
Last meet: Fryeburg
Finish: 1st
Time: 16:58 5k
Eastman got some extra rest as Fryeburg didn’t race last Friday. Eastman will be challenged by Wayneflete’s Abshir Horor on Friday when Fryeburg heads to Merriconeag.
2. Jack Terwilliger Cheverus
Previous week: 2
Last meet: Jack Wilkinson Invite
Finish: 1st
Time: 17:16 5k
Terwilliger hasn’t raced since the first week of the season so he should be ready when Cheverus heads to Gorham. Terwilliger looks like the early favorite to win.
3. Harlow Ladd Messalonske
Previous week: 4
Last meet: at Waterville
Finish: 1st
Time: 17:59.47 5k
Ladd continues to impress as he placed first at Watervile with a time of 17:59.47. He was 45 seconds ahead of the 2nd place finisher. Messalonske will host Skowhegan, Gardiner, Lewiston, and Waterville on Friday, on Ladd looks like the early favorite to come out on top.
4. Nick Morris Scarborough
Previous week: 3
Last meet: at Marshwood
Finish: 1st
Time: 17:15 2.9 miles
Morris easily won at Marshwood running to a respectable time of 17:15 as he won by over 30 seconds. Look for him to be challenged by Kennebunk’s Chris Dunn when he and Scarborough head to Westbrook on Friday.
5. Tim Follo Falmouth
Previous week: 5
Last meet: at Freeport
Finish: 1st
Time: 16:52 5k
Follo went unchallenged on Saturday at Freeport running to a time of 16:52. He will have a tough test on Friday when Falmouth will host Greely, Yarmouth, and Lake Region.
6. Matt McClintock Madison
Previous week: 6
Last meet: at Carrebec
Finish: 1st
Time: 16:32 5k
McClintock dominated the field at Carrebec winning by over a minute with a time of 16:32. He looks like the early favorite on Wednesday when Madison travels to Winthrop
7. Chase Brown Boothbay
Previous week: 9
Last meet: Boothbay
Finish: 1st
Time: 17:46 5k
Brown won by over a minute on his home course on Friday, while also breaking the course record. It looks like he will go unchallenged on Wednesday when Boothbay travels to Hall-Dale.
8. Logan Marshall Gorham
Previous week: 8
Last meet: at Sanford
Finish: 3rd
Time: 17:06 5k
Marshall placed 3rd on Saturday on the rough Sanford course. Look for him to continue his success when Gorham faces off against Cheverus, Massabesic, and Thornton Academy.
9. Faisal Noor Edward Little
Previous week: UR
Last meet: Edward Little
Finish: 1st
Time : 16:35 5k
Noor cracks into the top ten after easily winning on his home course with an impressive time of 16:35 which was ten seconds faster than Mt. Ararat’s Andy Reifman-Packett. Edward Little will head to Medomak Valley on Friday where Noor will be challenged by Erksine’s Eben Hodgkins.
10. Bryant Perkins Sanford
Previous week: UR
Last meet: Sanford
Finish: 1st
Time: 16:55 5k
Perkins cracks into the top ten after he won on his home course with a time of 16:55. He will get a chance to show his stuff against the #4 ranked runner Nick Morris when Kennebunk travels to Westbrook on Friday.
Runner of the Week: Faisal Noor Edward Little
Runners knocking on the door: Will Shafer GNG, Sam Johnston Greely, Eben Hodgkins Erksine, Charlie Jones North Haven, Andy Reifman-Packett Mt. Ararat, Abshir Horor Wayneflete, Will Lundquist Cony, Chris Dunn Kennebunk
It is, quite frankly, a travesty that Dan Curts isn't runner of the week.
ReplyDeleteAlso, awesome blog. You have my eternal gratitude for not putting music on it. I'm sick of having to mute my laptop during study hall because someone thinks their musical taste needs to be shared with the world.