They’ve impressed all year long with strong performances in each and every meet they competed in, so it was no surprise on Saturday when the talented Cape Elizabeth girls cross country team won the Class B state championship.

That’s not to say it was easy. The squad worked hard to get to this point after a runner-up finish in 2006 when they finished just three points behind Mt. Desert Island. This year, they left little doubt as to who was the best Class B girls team in Maine with their convincing win in the rain and mud at Leavitt High School in Turner.

The Cape girls scored 50 points to easily best the runner-up squad from York (98) as well as Falmouth (114), Freeport (139), and Mt. Desert Island (148). Cape’s win also assures them a spot in the upcoming New England Championships that will take place at the Twin Brook Recreation Area in Cumberland on Saturday, Nov. 10.

Cape Elizabeth’s team of winning runs came from Marita Stressenger (3), Emily Attwood (5), Erin Gross (8), Kelsey Barton (15), Hannah Doss (19) Rachael Nichols (26), and Erin Hatton (36).

No other team could match Cape’s three runners in the top 10 or their five runners in the top 20. They’ll be among a strong field of contenders for the New England title.

The Cape Elizabeth boys also did well with a fifth-place finish (146) at the Class B state meet. Cape junior Matt Rand turned in another big effort to finish in fourth place overall. The rest of the Cape contingent included Chris Flathers (12), Davis Backer (17), Reid Douty (52), Bobby Yokabaskas (61), Sean Thomas (64), and Peter Brigham (76).

Greely won the boys title with 85 points.

Class A state meets

The Scarborough girls nearly knocked off the defending champs from Brunswick at Saturday’s Class A cross country state championship meet. But the Dragons narrowly outscored the Red Storm, 107-111, to win their third straight crown.

Brunswick took advantage of two disqualifications on the Massabesic team (a rules infraction at the finish line); otherwise the Mustangs would have edged the Dragons in what would have been an upset. The Mustangs dropped to fourth behind third place Brewer.

Scarborough’s top two runners Melissa Dellatore (6) and Whitney Chamberlain (9) once again set the pace for the rest of the squad. Not far behind were Sarah Dugas (25), Libby Davis (28), Meghan Summerson (43), Katrijn Moulin (49), and Courtney Robinson (57).

South Portland freshman Annelise Donahue ran a super race and finished 17th in her first time at the state meet.

The Scarborough boys did their best to defend their Class A championship as the young Red Storm team placed fourth (164) behind Lewiston (79), Cheverus (86) and Portland (108).

The Red Storm runners included Craig Robinson (17), Sam Chick (19), Joe Prosack (35), Duncan Scott (46), Nick Violette (47), Ben Violette (51), and Sean Griffin (98).