CUMBERLAND – When Cape Elizabeth and Greely arrived for the Class B Western Regionals boys’ cross country race Saturday, they both figured there was one team to beat:
Falmouth.
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But the two teams ended up battling each other. Greely took the upset win at Twin Brook Recreation Area, followed by Cape Elizabeth and then Falmouth.
Silas Eastman of Fryeburg Academy remained unbeaten, winning the Class B race in 16:20.43.
In Class A, Scarborough’s Nick Morris took individual honors (16:59.30), leading the Red Storm to the team title with 38 points, well ahead of second-place Massabesic (90).
North Yarmouth Academy won the Class C race, with Freeport finishing second. Matt McClintock (16:13.40) of Madison won the individual race, ahead of Boothbay Harbor’s Chase Brown (16:34.30) and Merriconeag’s Jack Pierce (16:47.10).
The top 20 individuals in the Class A and B races (and top 30 in Class C) qualified for next week’s state meet in Belfast. Teams needed to finish in the top 50 percent of their class to qualify.
Falmouth, Greely and Cape Elizabeth were assured berths in the state meet. But there was a question of who would get the hardware Saturday. Mechanical difficulties — a plug kicked loose — delayed the official results of the Class B race.
“It could go either way,” Cape Elizabeth Coach Derek Veilleux said. “We know Falmouth has the most depth in our league. They are the team to beat.”
Greely Coach Dave Dowling said “Falmouth had probably 20 points on us (in previous meets).
“But we are closing that big gap. Everyone pretty much ran their season best.”
Indeed, the Rangers won with 68 points, to Cape’s 71 and Falmouth’s 75. Greely was paced by Sam Johnston’s third place (16:54.00). He was followed by teammates Stefan Sandreuter (eighth), Connor Regan (11th), Nathan Madeira (12th) and Justin Murphy (35th).
Thomas Bottomley (17:22.40) and Reid Douty (17:24.16) finished 4-5 for Cape.
Falmouth was paced by Tim Follo, who placed second (16:37.80).
“I think we had an all right day,” Follo said of the team results, “but not as good as we could have done.”
Eastman followed his plan to perfection: “Go out fast and cruise in, and still get a good time.”
In Class A race, Scarborough’s Morris had a different idea — hang back and wait. Sanford’s Bryant Perkins took the lead in a pack that included Massabesic’s Jakob Brooks, Gorham’s Logan Marshall and Cheverus’ Jack Terwilliger.
“I was in about fifth at the mile,” said Morris, who eventually took the lead.
With 200 yards to go, Brooks surged ahead of Morris.
“He ran an excellent race,” Morris said, “but I was able to respond pretty well.”
Morris surged back to lead. Brooks was second in 17:02.80.
Scarborough’s Tom Hague moved up and took third (17:09.50), just ahead of Perkins (17:11.50) and Marshall (17:12.50).
Terwilliger, who has missed much of the season with Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome, finished ninth (17:24.40).
Scarborough ended up with four runners in the top 10, and five in the top 17 — Morris, Hague, Zach Brown (seventh), Robby Hall (10th) and Wout Moulin (17th).
“They went out very smart — hard, but not out of control,” Scarborough Coach Jim Harmon said. “They all moved up along the way.”
Massabesic, which lost to Gorham in earlier meets this year, finished 22 points ahead of the Rams (112).
In the Class C race, NYA and Freeport showed depth with each getting their top five within the top 24 places. NYA won with 61 points, to Freeport’s 85.
Cam Regan (17:12.80) paced the Panthers with a sixth place, followed by Evan Kendall (seventh), Rudy Guliani (15th), Elliott Daniels (17th), and Grant McPherson (24th).
Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or at:kthomas@pressherald.com
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