BELFAST – The sloppy trail at the Eastern Maine cross country championships Saturday had an effect on every runner, some more than others.

But the several inches of rain that fell overnight on the 5-kilometer course at Troy Howard Middle School barely fazed Waterville senior Bethanie Brown, who coasted to the Class B title in 18:46.11. The next fastest runner in any of the girls’ races was Lawrence’s Erzsebet Nagy, who won Class A in 20:10.33.

By the time Class C girls took to the course for the sixth and final race of the day, mud was ankle deep in many areas on the trail and there were large puddles of standing water.

“I’ve never seen a course in worse condition,” Brown said. “It was crazy sloppy. I ran through some water spots.”

Brown led a strong effort by the Waterville girls, who placed second behind Camden Hills. She ran 50 seconds faster three weeks ago on the same course at the Festival of Champions, where she set a meet record. She had her sights set on the course record of 17:48.

“If it had been really nice conditions I think I could have (had) that,” Brown said. “Maybe (next week). We’ll see how the weather holds out.”

Like Brown, Nagy led from start to finish, but she went faster than necessary.

“I think I underestimated the course conditions,” said Nagy, who is recovering from a hip injury that has cut down significantly on her training this fall.

“I went out in a 5:40. I wasn’t planning on going that fast at all. I told myself I would go out conservatively, but I don’t know, it didn’t happen.”

Lewiston won Class A boys, and Mt. Ararat’s Sam Wood was the individual winner in 17:00.81. Hampden won the girls title.

Ellsworth’s Dan Curts ran the fastest time of the day, 16:49.68, to lead his team to the Class B boys’ title. Washburn won Class C girls behind individual winner Carsyn Koch, and Tyler White finished first to lead his Orono team to the Class C boys’ title.