Prs: 1600:4:10.98 800:1:57.06 3200:9:00.70 5k: 15:43.4
Giddings was a phenomonal runner at South Portland. As a sophomore he won the 2002 class A state meet running an impressive time of 16:07 on the hilly Augusta course. His time was good for 2nd of all classes that day behind Greely's Ben True. A few weeks later at the New England Championships he placed fourth with a time of 15:45.40. He was also the second Maine runner to cross the line that day, again behind Ben True. He defended his state title the following year running a time of 16:24.4 easily defeating second place finisher Sam Fletcher of Edward Little by 15 seconds. A few weeks later at the New England Championships he placed fourth once again running a time of 15:43.4. He was also the second Maine finisher that day. He didn't compete at states or New Englands his senior year due to injury. He continued to improve on the track as well. As a sophomore he outkicked Deering's Donny Drake to win the 1600 at the state championship running a time 4:24.98. He later went on to win the 3200 running a time of 10:01.16. The following year he placed second behind Ayalew Taye in the 1600 running 4:27.20. A few hours later he ran passed Scarborugh's Tim Waterhouse winning the 3200 in 9:46.82. At the New England Championship's a few weeks later, he placed 5th in the 3200 running a fast time of 9:23.96. As a senior, he was the runner up in the 1600 running a time of 4:22.90. He later posted a new state record in the 3200 running a time of 9:24.26. His times continued to drop outsided as well. As a sophomore he posted the fastest time of all classes in the 1600 at the state meet with a time of 4:17.50. The following year, as a junior, Giddings won the 3200 easily winning by 11 seconds running a time of 9:33.29. As a senior he was a part of the single greatest race in Maine history as he came in third in the 1600 running a huge personal record of 4:10.98. It was the first time that Maine has ever seen three runners under 4:11 in the 1600. A few weeks later he set the meet record in the 3200 at the New Englands outkicking Sintayehu Taye 9:00.70 to 9:01.68. He went on to Stanford University where he continued to improve.
2. Ayalew Taye Portland
Prs: 1600:4:10.00 800:1:56.27 5k:15:21
Ayalew Taye's tenure at Portland was short lived, but his accomplishments were nothing short of spectacular. As a sophomore, he placed fourth at the 2003 class A xc state meet running a time of 16:44.8. A few weeks later at the New England Championships he earned All New England status by placing 16th with a time of 16:16.1, and he was also the fifth maine runner to cross the finish line that day. The following year he was the individual state champion running a time of 15:39.60 on the fast Belfast course. A few weeks later at the New England Championships he placed 6th with a time of 16:28 as he was the second Mainer to cross the line. Moving on to indoor, his times continued to improve as he placed first in the 1600 at the state meet running a time of 4:19.27. He then went on to place fourth in the 800 running a time of 2:03.92. At the New England Championships he was the runner up in the 1600 with a time of 4:19.57. The following year as a junior, he defended his 1600 title at the state meet winning with a time of 4:20.65. He later won the 800 with a time of 2:00.20. On the outdoor track, his times continued to lower. As a sophomore, Taye won the 1600 at the state meet with a time of 4:22.11. At the New England Championships, he won the 1600 with a time of 4:16.87. As a junior, he was a part of the greatest mile race in Maine history where he placed second with a time of 4:10.00. He also won the 800 that day, with a time of 1:56.27. He defended his 1600 title at New England's as he ran a time of 4:13.55. Ayalew transferred to Cushing Academy his senior year as he times dropped even lower. He currently attends Georgetown University and he has lowered his mile time to a blistering 4:03.
1. Ben True Greely
Prs: 1600: 4:12.28 800: 1:55.20 3200: 9:19.34 5k: 15:02
True had a remarkable high school running career topped off with a 5th place finish at Footlocker Nationals placing behind the gutsy Matt Withrow, golden boy Galen Rupp, Shadrak Kiptoo and Josh McDougal. He simply dominated Maine during his high school tenure. He won the individual title in cross country three years in a row from 2001 to 2003 along with team championships in 2000, 2001, and 2003. He was the runner up at New England’s his junior and senior year losing to Ahmed Haji. He was 5th in the Footlocker Northeast Regional as a junior qualifying him for the Nationals in San Diego in which he place 9th. He came back his senior year to win the Northeast Regional with relative ease. He never ran indoor because he was an all American Nordic skier. In outdoor, he posted some of the fastest times this state has ever seen. He broke the 3200 in the state meet his junior year running 9:19.34 blowing away the competition. His senior year he posted the fastest time of all classes in the 1600 with a time of 4:17.48 edging out Levi Miller. Later in the day it was déjà vu all over again when he edged out Miller once again in 3200 winning with a time of 9:31.17 despite battling an illness that day. Words can not describe how good True was in high school. After high school he went to Dartmouth University where he broke the 4:00 barrier in the mile his junior year. At the 2009 Beach to Beacon, he was the first Mainer to finish with a blistering time of 29:09 which was good for 10th overall. He was without a doubt the most dominate Maine runner of the past decade.
