With the cross country season officially over it’s time to look at what’s in store for next year. It seems like Falmouth and Scarborough are good every year and that won’t change next fall as both teams bring back at least three runners from their top five. These two teams are very evenly matched and it if they both go to Festival of Champions next year, it should be a very entertaining meet. There is a big gap after those two teams. Greely has the best chance to catch Falmouth. They lack the fire power up front, but they have great depth and they should very dangerous going into the post season. Edward Little is the next best class A team. Expect them to challenge Scarborough next year. NYA will be the top class C team next year as they will look to defend his title. The individual title for class A is up for grabs once again. There are at least five runners who could take the title. The class B title is a little more predictable. Silas Eastman was undefeated in the state of Maine this past fall. He will be the favorite to take the crown next year. The class C race might be the most competitive. We have two of the best runners in the state going against each other in Matt McClintock of Madison and Chase Brown of Boothbay. Don’t sleep on Wayneflete’s Abshir Horor. He had a great first season of XC and he will only get better. Here’s a look at what’s in store for next year:
1. Falmouth
Place at State meet: Runner up Class B
Top Returners: Tim Follo, Connor McGrory, Thomas Edmonds
Falmouth will return four runners from their top five next year which makes them the team to beat in class B for the second year in a row. Look for Tim Follo to have an outstanding senior year as he’ll look to close the gap between him and Fryeburg’s Silas Eastman. They key for Falmouth will be their four and five runners. If Henry Briggs and Azad Jalalia can improve over the summer look for them to push Falmouth over the edge. Falmouth will definitely be a title contender next year.
2. Scarborough
Place at State Meet: 1st Class A
Top Returners: Nick Morris, Robby Hall, Ian Morris
It seems like Scarborough is good every year and next year shouldn’t be any different. Their loss to Tom Hague and Zach Brown will hurt them, but they have the class A winner Nick Morris leading them along with Robby Hall who will look to have a break out year next year. The key for the Red Strom next year will be the improvement of Ian Morris and Wout Moulin. If they improve over the summer Scarborough will be in good shape to defend their state title.
3. Greely
Place at State meet: 5th Class B
Top Returners: Stefan Sandrueter, Nathan Maderia, Issac Emery
This will be the first year in a while where Greely doesn’t have any fire power in front. Stefan Sandrueter is their top returner. He placed 10th at the state meet so expect him to have a great season next year. Nathan Maderia and Isaac Emery will look to improve upon last season. If they can close the gap between them and Sandrueter expect Greely to contend for the title next October.
4. NYA
Place at States: 1st Class C
Top Returners: Cam Regan, Evan Kendall, Nate McPherson
NYA will return one of the best the top 1, 2 combos in the state next year in Cam Regan and Evan Kendall. Expect both of them to have great seasons. If their number three runner Nate McPherson can improve expect NYA to win their second class C title in a row.
5. York
Place at States: 6th Class B
Top Returners: Mitchell Finitz, Alec Jordan, Nick Eaton
York will once again be one of the top teams in class B next year. Expect Mitchell Finitz to have a great season. He placed seventh at the state meet running a time of 16:59.10 which was good enough to qualify him for the New England Championships. If York wants to be the crème of the crop in class B then Alec Jordan and Nick Eaton will have to have huge years.
6. Ellsworth
Place at States: 7th Class B
Top Returners: Dan Curts, Blake Pattengale, Kody Holmes
Ellsworth will be the top B team in the east next year behind the brilliance of Dan Curts who had an amazing freshmen year. If Ellsworth wants to contend with Falmouth, Greely, and York for the state title then Kody Holmes and Blake Pattengale will have to step up next year.
7. Wayneflete
Place at States: Runner Up Class C
Top Returners: Abshir Horor, Abukar Adan, Josh Espy
Wayneflete has arguably the best trio in the state which makes them one of the favorites to take the class C crown in 2011. Abshir Horor had a great first season of cross country and he will only get better. The key for Wayneflete will be there four and five runners. If they can step up they will challenge NYA for the title next year.
8. Edward Little
Place at States: 5th Class A
Top Returners: Justin Leclair, Loucas Bourget, Nathan Mulligan
Edward Little placed fifth at the class A state meet this past fall and with Justin Leclair and Loucas Bourget returning look for them to improve upon their placing next year. Look for Justin Leclair to have a breakout year. He will be one of the top runners in the KVAC.
9. Kennebunk
Place at States: 10th Class A
Top Returners: Chris Dunn, Cameron Weiwil, Robert Ekland
Kennebunk will surprise a lot of teams next year. The bring back Chris Dunn, who is one of the top runners in the state, and Cameron Weiwil who placed 27th at the state fall in October (17:35.98). With that formidable 1, 2 punch look for Kennebunk to make some noise next year in the SMAA.
10. South Portland
Place at States: 13th Class A
Top Returners: Ryan Tuttle, Ben Allen, Austin Gotts
South Portland was very young this year so look for them to comeback a more experienced and successful next year. Ryan Tuttle, Ben Allen, and Austin Gotts all placed in the top 40 at the state meet so they should defientely be able to move up next year.
Predictions
Class A Top Three
1. Scarborough
2. Edward Little
3. Kennebunk
Class B Top Three
1. Falmouth
2. Greely
3. York
Class C Top Three
1. NYA
2. Wayneflete
3. Boothbay
Individual Rankings
1. Silas Eastman Fryeburg JR
Place at States: 1st Class B
Fastest Time: 16:02.44
He didn’t lose in the state Maine this year. What makes you think next year will be any different? The kid is a stud. Look for Eastman to go to a whole new level next year. He will be the heavy favorite to defend his individual title next year.
2. Matt McClintock Madison SR
Place at States: 1st Class C
Fastest Time: 16:00.91
McClintock had a breakout year this fall as we saw him run the fastest time of all classes at the state meet in October (16:00.91). Look for him to continue to improve next year. He will be looking to defend his title next year, but he will be challenged by Boothbay’s Chase Brown.
3. Harlow Ladd Messalonksee SR
Place at States: 8th Class A
Fastest Time: 16:08
Ladd had a very impressive season this fall topped off with a second place finish at the Festival of Champions (16:11.5). An early stumble at the state meet caused Ladd to run in pain for the rest of the race. Expect him to contend for the individual title at the state meet next October.
4. Tim Follo Falmouth SR
Place at States: Runner Up Class B
Fastest Time: 16:21.44
Follo took his talents to the next level in the post season. He was the runner up at the class B state meet running a time of 16:21.44 and he was the second Maine finisher at the New England Championships placing 33rd. Expect Follo to continue to get better as he looks to close the gap between himself and Silas Eastman.
5. Chase Brown Boothbay SR
Place at States: Runner up Class C
Fastest Time: 16:12.05
Brown had a fantastic fall as we saw him place second to Matt McClintock at the class C state meet running a time of 16:14.97 which was good enough for the third fastest time of all classes. Expect Brown to have another great season next fall as he hopes to track down Matt McClintock.
6. Dan Curts Ellsworth SO
Place at States: 3rd Class B
Fastest Time: 16:26.45
Curts had a ridiculous freshmen year topped off with a third place finish at the state meet (16:28). Expect him to continue to excel now that he has a year of XC under his belt. Look for him to chase down Silas Eastman and Tim Follo next year.
7. Nick Morris Scarborough SR
Place at States: 1st Class A
Fastest Time: 16:25.15
Morris had a terrific fall as he won the class A state title running a time of 16:25. Look for him to be at the top of the pack next year as he looks to defend his title.
8. Andy Reifman-Packett Mt Ararat SR
Place at States: Runner up Class A
Fastest Time: 16:28.85
Reifman-Packett was the runner up at the class A state meet running a time of 16:28.85. Expect him to be with the crème of the crop next year as he looks to improve upon his finish at the state meet.
9. Eben Hodgkins Erksine SR
Place at States: 5th
Fastest Time: 16:32
Hodgkins had a breakout year this fall as we saw him place fifth at the class B state meet (16:41.15). Expect him to contend for a top three finish next fall.
10. Abshir Horor Wayneflete SR
Place at States: 10th
Fastest Time: 16:38
Horor had a brilliant first season of XC and he will only get better next year. He had an off day at the state meet as he placed 10th in class C running a time 17:20.38. Look for him to contend with McClintock and Brown for the class C title next year.
Predictions
Class A Top Five
1. Harlow Ladd Messalonskee SR
2. Nick Morris Scarborough SR
3. Andy Reifman Packett Mt Ararat SR
4. Bryant Perkins Sanford SR
5. Chris Dunn Kennebunk SR
Class B Top Five
1. Silas Eastman Fryeburg JR
2. Tim Follo Falmouth SR
3. Dan Curts Ellsworth SO
4. Eben Hodgkins Erksine SR
5. Thomas Bottomley Cape SR
Class C Top Five
1. Matt McClintcok Madison SR
2. Chase Brown Boothbay SR
3. Abshir Horor Wayneflete SR
4. Joseph Holt Andrews SO
5. Jack Pierce Merriconeag JR
Runners Knocking on the Door: Joseph Holt Andrews Telstar, Jack Pierce Merriconeag, Thomas Bottomley Cape, Mitchell Finitz York, Chris Dunn Kennebunk, Stefan Sandrueter Greely, Jonah Jones Mt Blue, Will Shafer GNG, Alex Bulteel Orono, Cam Regan NYA
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