CUMBERLAND, Maine — After competing on the quite familiar cross-country course at the Troy A. Howard Middle School in Belfast last weekend, qualifying teams and runners from the North regional races face a different blend of fields and forests Saturday.
The 2015 high school state championship meet is set for the Twin Brook Recreation Area, a 3.1-mile route described as more hilly than the Belfast course, which not only is home to the North regionals each year but also the high-profile Maine High School Cross Country Festival of Champions.
One Eastern/North team that has experience on the course is the Orono girls team, which won the first of its two straight Class C state championships in 2013 at Twin Brook — which also hosted last week’s South regional meet.
“We ran it once freshman year, so we’re not that familiar with it,” said Orono junior Hannah Steelman. “I hardly remember it. All I know is we’re going to be up against the southern Maine teams and they’ve run it quite a few times.
“I think not running it that many times makes it fun because it’s something new.”
Orono is favored to win a third straight crown after scoring just 19 points while winning the North regional.
Five Orono runners were among the top seven finishers in that race, led by juniors Tia Tardy — who had the fastest girls time of the day regardless of class — Steelman and Kassidy Dill, who placed 1-2-3.
North runner-up George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill also should contend, as should South regional winner Waynflete of Portland and runner-up Maine Coast Waldorf of Freeport.
Faith Blethen of Boothbay was the C South region individual winner in 20.20.2 on the Twin Brook course.
Orono also is a contender for the Class C boys title after winning its regional last week behind the 2-3 finishes of Tristan Butterfield and Matt Keresey. The Red Riots were a 3-point (29-32) winner over George Stevens, which featured individual race winner John Hassett (16:20.1) and fourth-place Ollie Dillon.
Boothbay, which edged Orono by two points to win the 2013 state title, is in contention for its second crown in three years after defeating runner-up Lisbon by six points at the South regional.
In Class A, Hampden Academy and Bangor lead the North boys teams after 1-2 finishes at both the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference and North regional meets. Hampden is led by junior Paul Casavant, who finished second to state-meet individual favorite Osman Doorow (15.40.4) of Lewiston last weekend.
Defending state champion Scarborough is likely the meet favorite after using 1-2-3 finishes from Colin Tardiff, Connor Doherty and Andrew Sholl to win the South regional.
Bonny Eagle of Standish will seek its third Class A girls state title in four years after defeating Scarborough 44-60 in the South regional. North champion Brunswick and KVAC winner Mt. Blue of Farmington also could contend.
In Class B, Caribou’s pack mentality already has produced a Penobscot Valley Conference crown and a second straight regional title. Now the Vikings hope to cap it off with their first state title since 2010. Coach Roy Alden’s club dominated the North regional, defeating second-place Waterville 28-85, but defending state champion Freeport leads the South pack after defeating York and host Greely High School to win its regional.
Waterville tops the Class B North girls qualifiers, paced by individual race champion Lauren Brown. Greely, featuring South individual winner Katherine Leggat-Barr, is the defending state champion but was second to Yarmouth at its regional.
Races begin at 11 a.m. with the Class A girls, followed by the Class A boys at 11:35, the Class B girls at 12:30 p.m., the Class B boys at 1:05, the Class C girls at 2 and the Class C boys at 2:35.
