The Alex Russo Award

Female Runner of the Year
Previous Winners
2012: Bethanie Brown Waterville
2011: Abbey Leonardi Kennebunk

Kirstin Sandreuter Greely

SB: 17:48.60
Sandreuter was far and away the top female runner in the state this fall, as she won her first state title in dominating fashion. Remember, Sandreuter was sidelined for a few weeks due to injury, so her dominating performances after her comeback are even more impressive. She won the Manchester Invitational small schools race running a fast time of 18:59. Her time that day was the fifth fastest of all races. After her return, she had a spectacular performance at the Western B Regionals running the fastest time of all classes (19:02.02). At the state meet, she took the lead right from the start, and never looked back running an amazing time of 18:37.96 on the tough Twin Brook's course. Last week at New England's, Sandreuter had the race of her life as she placed fourth running a personal best time of 17:48.60 at Manchester. If she chooses to race at Footlocker, she should have an outside shot at a top ten finish, and make a trip to Nationals. Look for her to run some incredibly fast times in the winter and spring this year. 



2. Kialeigh Marston Bonny Eagle
SB: 18:42.94
The sophomore won her first xc state title two weeks ago running a time of 19:34.16. She also won the Festival of Champions running a time of 18:42.94. She will be the favorite to defend her title next fall.

3. Aleta Looker Ellsworth
SB: 18:54.85
Looker placed second at the Class B State meet running a time of 19:49.33. She dominated Eastern Maine this fall. She also placed third in the small schools race at Manchester running 19:23. 

4. Shannon Conley South Portland
SB: 18:59.21
Conley placed second to Kialeigh Marston at the Festival of Champions running a fantastic time of 18:59.21. She also placed second at the Class A state meet running a time of 19:40.75. Expect her to run some big times this winter and spring.

5. Carsyn Koch Washburn
SB: 19:15.15
Koch joined elusive company as she became only the second runner in Maine history to win four xc state individual titles joining Abbey Leonardi. She placed sixth at the Festival of Champions running a season best time of 19:15.15. 

Girls Individual Rankings Week 9

1. Kirstin Sandreuter Greely

Pre: 1 Meet: States Place: 1st Class B Time: 18:37.96
Sandreuter won her first xc state title as she won in dominating fashion running the fastest time of all classes (18:37.96). Look for Sandreuter to challenge for a top five finish at New Englands. 

2. Kaileigh Marston Bonny Eagle

Pre: 3 Meet: States Place: 1st Class A Time: 19:34.16
The sophomore from Bonny Eagle took home her first xc title as she pulled away from Shannon Conley during the final mile to run a time of 19:34.16. Expect Marston to challenge for a top ten finish at New Englands.

3. Aleta Looker Ellsworth

Pre: 2 Meet: States Place: 2nd Class B Time: 19:49.33
Looker held for a strong second place finish in Class B as she ran the third fastest time of all classes stopping the clock at 19:49.33. Expect Looker to challenge for a top ten finish at New Englands.

4. Shannon Conley South Portland
Pre: 10 Meet: States Place: 2nd Class A Time: 19:40.75
Conley capped off a brilliant high school career as she placed second in Class A running a time of 19:40.75. Expect Conley to challenge for a top fifteen finish at New Englands. 

5. Carsyn Koch Washburn
Pre: 7 Meet: States Place: 1st Class C Time: 20:24.79
Koch accomplished something only Abbey Leonardi has done by winning four straight xc titles on Saturday as she cruised to a time of 20:24.79. Look for Koch to challenge for a top twenty finish at New Englands.

6. Kiera Murray Cheverus
Pre: 9 Meet: States Place: 3rd Class A Time: 19:49.80
Murray placed third in Class A as she ran a fast time of 19:49.80. Look for Murray to challenge for a top 25 finish at New Englands.

7. Mary Szatkowski Bonny Eagle
Pre: 5 Meet: States Place: 4th Class A Time: 19:54.44
Szatkowski ran an impressive race as she placed fourth running a time of 19:54.44. Expect her to challenge for a top 25 finish at New Englands.

8. Isabel Erickson MDI
Pre: UR Meet: States Place: 3rd Class B Time: 20:13.38
Erickson ran a very smart race on Saturday as she nabbed third place in Class B running a time of 20:13.38. Look for Erickson to challenge for a top 30 finish at New Englands.

9. Gabrielle Johnson Massabesic
Pre: UR Meet: States Place: 5th Class A Time: 20:02.03
Johnson placed fifth in Class A as she ran a fast time of 20:02.03. Look for her to challenge for a top 40 finish at New Englands.

10. Hannah Austin NYA
Pre: UR Meet: States Place: 2nd Class C Time: 20:41.51
The junior from NYA placed second to Carsyn Koch as she ran a solid time of 20:41.51. Expect Austin to contend for a top 40 finish at New Englands.

Runner of the Week: Kirstin Sandreuter Greely

Runners Knocking: Tia Tardy Mattawanacook, Heather Evans York, Maddy Doyle Marshwood, Angel Waters Massabesic, Casey Loring South Portland, Elizabeth Labun Hampden Academy

The Alex Russo Award

The Alex Russo Award is given annually to the top female runner in the state

 

Why is that so important to you? What about living, having fun, doing stuff you tell stories about? Like this, this is going to be a great story to tell.

 

Previous Winners:

2011: Abbey Leonardi Kennebunk

 

And the winner is…

 

Bethanie Brown Waterville

This wasn’t a very hard decision. Bethanie Brown simply dominated every race she ran in this year. It was no surprise to see her burst on to the national scene after we saw her break multiple records on the track. Her highlight of the season came at the Festival of Champions where she ran a time of 17:56.69 setting a meet record despite muddy conditions. She lowered her personal best at Belfast by less than half a second at the state meet running a time of 17:56.32. Her time would have placed her 29^th in the boys race and would have been a scorer on every team besides Cape Elizabeth and Falmouth. She had a rare off race at the New England Championships, but look for her to rebound at the Footlocker Northeast Regional where a top ten finish, and a trip to Nationals, could very well be in store for her.

 

2. Erzsebet Nagy Lawrence 1^st in Class A SB: 18:50.27

3. Kirstin Sandrueter Greely 2^nd Class B SB: 19:01.19

4. Brittany Bowman Camden Hills 3^rd Class B SB:  19:03.83

5. Carsyn Koch Washburn 1^st Class C SB: 19:06.60

Candidates For The Alex Russo Award

The Alex Russo Award is given annually to the top female runner in the state

Bethanie Brown Waterville

Brown comes in as the overwhelming favorite to take this award. After setting multiple state records on the track, look for her to have the same success on the trails this fall. She placed second in Class B last fall running a time of 19:29.7. Look for her to dominate the competition in New England this fall.

Erzsebet Nagy Lawrence

After setting the all time state record in the 800 (2:13.5) Nagy looks poised to make a run at a state title this fall. The runner up from last year threw in some dominant times on the track this spring as she also ran 4:57 and 10:55. She looks like the dominating favorite in Class A this year.

Brittany Bowman Camden Hills

Bowman took many people by surprise last fall as she took home the state title in dominating fashion running a time of 19:12. Bowman showed that her title was no fluke as she backed it up with a 17^th place finish at the New England Championships. Bowman had a fantastic spring season as well as we saw her run 5:15 and 11:16. Expect her to be a huge factor in Class B this fall.

Carsyn Koch Washburn

Koch will be the overwhelming favorite to defend her title in Class C. She proved that she belongs with the crème of the crop as she placed 26^th at the New England Championships just barely missing the last All New England spot. Koch had a great spring season this year as we saw her run 5:11 and 2:23.

Shannon Conley Cheverus

Conley has been one of the top runners in the state ever since she stepped on the big stage and this year should be no different. She placed 5^th in Class A last year running a time 19:59.A few weeks later at the New England Championships Conley placed 19^th overall earning a spot on the All New England team. Look for her to contend for the individual title in Class A.

Girls XC Individual Rankings: 8. Carsyn Koch Washburn

SB: 19:11
Place at Regionals: 1st 20:28.46 Class C East
Place at States: 1st 20:17.74 Class C

Carsyn Koch had a spectacular Sophomore campaign as her season was highlighted by her first place finish at the Class C State meet as she ran a great time of 20:17.74. Koch has displayed a tremendous level of consistency over her high school career as she has continually been in the front of the pack in all of her races. At the Festival of Champions, Koch proved why she belonged with the top runners in the state as she placed seventh overall running a fast time of 19:59.66. Look for Koch to take home another Class C title next year and also make a run at a top 25 finish at the New England Championships.