CARIBOU — Even though the Caribou boys cross country team has won the last two Eastern Maine Class B championships and was the state runner-up three years ago, some may peg the Vikings as underdogs this fall.
Top runner and senior Christian Sleeper doesn’t see it that way.
“I think we’re best again this year, to be honest with you,” Sleeper said. “Looking at our alumni race times, we were all way better [than last year].”
Sleeper could have a point, as not only did many of coach Roy Alden’s Vikings improve their times in their annual late-August alumni race, they won their season-opening meet at the MDI Relays last weekend, which suggests the Vikings will be at the head of the Class B pack again this fall.
Two of Caribou’s top returning runners, Sleeper and Jake Michaud, ran on the Vikings’ mixed relay squad at MDI, which consisted of two boys and two girls, while newcomer Caleb Chapman, a junior, posted the top overall time of 9 minutes, 49 seconds for 1.87 miles.
“He’s new to running, he’s been an Nordic skier [but] always kept in shape during the summers,” Sleeper said.
Sleeper and classmates Michaud and D.J. Flynn will be counted upon to be leaders on the varsity squad, while Ryan Washington, Jesse Sandstrom and Nick Dobson all posted strong times at MDI.
“I think it’s a sign of good things to come for the end of the season,” Flynn said. “I think we’re going to do really well this year.”
That could be thanks to a summer training program during which Caribou’s runners focused on building a solid mileage base rather than competing in road races every weekend, which some high school runners tend to do.
“I think most of it is building a base. We don’t want to burn ourselves out,” said Michaud.
Caribou’s biggest goal is to win another Eastern Maine championship.
“That’s obviously the goal [but] I think we can even compete at the state level,” Michaud said. “We don’t want to stop at just that. “
Flynn thinks as long as the Vikings stay healthy and keep focused, their goal could come to fruition.
“We’re going to have a really strong team this year, I think we can make it three in a row for Eastern Maine,” he said.
The Caribou girls, meanwhile, have simpler goals.
The Vikings failed to qualify as a team for the state meet last fall, with senior Dayna Michaud the lone individual qualifier.
“I just didn’t think it was as fun because my whole team didn’t make it,” said Michaud. “It’s more fun if you go as a team.”
Michaud, along with classmates Mary Jo Sheehan and Brianna Randolph, will be counted upon to power coach Thomas Beckum’s pack this fall.
“I think that we’ll be improved this year because our team’s really good this year,” she said.
Rams’ returners set for opener
The Bangor, Brewer and Hampden Academy cross country teams will kick off their seasons Saturday afternoon with a four-way meet at Bangor that also includes Waterville.
The Bangor boys graduated only two scoring seniors in Sam Nesbitt and Will Witham. Coach Ray Cooke’s team will be led by Juergon Pilot and Jonathan Belanger, while freshman Jon Stanhope looks to build off a strong summer in the youth track ranks.
Those three will be followed closely by Joseph Belanger, Jonathan’s brother, and Kevin Smith, Nate Ivey, Nils Wahlstrom and Ben Salinas.
Coach Pattie Craig’s Bangor girls also welcomes back a veteran group led by Mariah Reading and Caroline Hetterman.
Other key runners will be Allie Rowe, Meg Shuman, Katie Laverdiere and newcomers Kristin Robbins, Taylor Bragdon, Johanna Lund, Kiana Yardley and Elizabeth Sturgeon.
