More than 500 of New England’s best high school cross country runners competed at Saturday’s 72nd annual New England Interscholastic Championships at Ponagansett High School in North Scituate, R.I.

The Cape Elizabeth boys team had a very strong showing by placing third out of 30 teams at the 5k event. The Capers qualified for the regional race by winning this year’s Class B state championship.

Danbury, Conn. edged Glastonbury, Conn. to win the team title. Each Connecticut school finished with 108 points, but Danbury won the tie-breaker to claim the six-state crown.

The Capers finished with 180 points thanks to the solid performances of Graham Egan (19th in 16:18), Stanis Moody-Roberts (27th in 16:28), Matt Rand (43rd in 16:44), Curtis Dulac (96th in 17:13), Ryan Gross (104th in 17:17), Brendan Flynn (118th in 17:24), and Tike MacColl (157th in 17:42).

Scarborough’s boys team also participated after winning this year’s Class A state championship. The Red Storm placed 25th with 624 points with the following runners participating at Saturday’s meet: Ben Talbot (89th in 17:11), Travis Griffin (134th in 17:32), Craig Robinson (201st in 18:12), Ben Violette (212th in 18:15), Brecht Moulin (239th in 18:38), Ethan Mc Elwain (241st in 18:39) and Henry Prosack (249th in 18:48).

Maine’s other teams competing in the boys race were Ellsworth (22nd), Lisbon (23rd), Cheverus (28th) and Lewiston (30th).

Maine’s top three individual runners were Tyler Clark of Lisbon (third overall), Nick Williams of Poland (seventh), and Sam Sheehan of Caribou (12th).

The Cape Elizabeth girls team finished 22nd out of the 30 teams who took part in Saturday’s meet. The Capers totaled 498 points.

Cape Elizabeth freshman Emily Atwood led the way by finishing 26th in 19:26. She was followed by Erin Gross (110th in 20:47), Caitlin Pomeroy (181st in 21:35), Marita Stressenger (196th in 21:50), Marissa Turesky (199th in 21:52), Hannah Doss (200th in 21:54), and Amanda Slack (222nd in 22:16).

Hanover, N.H. won the meet with 80 points followed by North Kingstown, R.I. (124) and Champlain Valley, Vt. (142).

Maine’s top finisher was Scarborough senior Erica Jesseman. The Class A state champion finished 17th overall with a time of 19:14.

Kaitlynn Saldanha of Scarborough placed 148th overall with a time of 21:11.

Other teams from Maine at Saturday’s meet were Class B champion Mt. Desert Island (11th), Catherine McAuley (18th), Brunswick (20th), Freeport (21st) and York (29th).

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The South Portland High girls cross country team finished 12th at the Class A state championship meet in Turner on Saturday, Nov. 4. (We inadvertently omitted their results from last week’s Current.)

Olivia Hendry was the first to cross the finish line placing 21st in 21:42. She was followed by Kirsten Bakke (43rd in 22:46), Abbey Cooke (61st in 23:22), Raina Benfatta (83rd in 24:50), Kendall Morong (91st in 25:45), and Stephanie Hem (99th in 27:27).

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