City cross country runners stole headlines one final time last Saturday in the state meet at Twin Brook Recreation Center in Cumberland.

There were champions crowned and some near misses as well, but all in all, it was a day to remember.

Here’s how it played out:

Class C

Waynflete’s girls’ cross country team lets everyone know just where it finished as Saturday’s Class C state meet. The Flyers won their first title in 15 seasons. Courtesy Waynflete School.

Waynflete’s girls’ cross country team was runner-up in Class C a year ago, then won the regional title a week ago. Saturday, the Flyers tallied 57 points to edge runner-up Houlton/Greater Houlton Christian Academy by three. Waynflete, which captured its fourth title all-time and its first since 2009, was paced by Paige Alexander, who had the fourth-best individual time, finishing the 5-kilometer course in 19 minutes, 17.34 seconds. Grace Alexander (eighth, 21:21.39) also placed in the top 10. Also scoring were Lucy Olson (11th, 21:37.75), Skylar Harris (16th, 22:27.31) and Emma Vickery (18th, 22:39.46).

“I never like to set quantitative goals at the beginning of the year, as they are inflexible and leave too much room for disappointment, but within the first two weeks of preseason, I knew that we had the potential to challenge Houlton/GHCA for the state title,” said Waynflete coach Steve Withers. “We were going to run on tired legs through our last regular season race, the Western Maine Conference championship, and regionals, in hopes of eking out any final gains before the state meet.  Even on tired legs, we managed to capture the regional championship for the third year in a row. Our runners trusted the process, knowing that they would be rested & primed for the state meet.  Houlton/GHCA has some top-tier runners and across the board, their team ran a fantastic race on Saturday, with many of their runners gaining mere seconds. That’s really impressive. The difference, in my opinion, was the grit and perseverance that our runners displayed, knowing, confidently, the demanding workouts that they tackled all season, that they were rested for the first time all year, and as healthy as they’ve been all year. Four of our runners dropped more than 40 seconds from regionals the previous weekend, with two of them dropping more than one minute.

Regardless of the outcome of yesterday’s race, I’m so incredibly proud of our team and feel privileged to get to interact with a group of such devoted, kind, and hard-working young women. Being recognized as the Class C champion is further validation for our runners that their dedication and daily grind paid off in a big way. This is an entire team accomplishment and our team looks forward to our road trip down to Connecticut to finish the season at New Englands this weekend.”

Indeed, the Flyers qualified for the New England championship meet, which is Saturday in Manchester, Connecticut.

In the boys’ meet, won by Orono with 32 points, Waynflete (215) placed ninth, but featured individual runner-up Pi Crosby (17:05.39). Also scoring were Tahdg Lake (32nd, 19:27.53), Lincoln Clark (53rd, 20:19.94), Soren Southall (61st, 20:46.65) and Dylan Valdmanis (67th, 21:03.05).

The Flyers came in ninth for the second year in a row.

Class A

Portland’s Aran Johnson celebrates as he approaches the finish line on his way to victory in the Class A boys’ meet. Derek Davis / Portland Press Herald

Portland’s boys weren’t able to repeat as Class A state champion, as the Bulldogs’ 70 points left them one agonizing point shy of Scarborough for a second-place finish. Portland did produce the top individual in Aran Johnson, who had a time of 16:18.84. Johnson came in 25th a year ago, but had no peer this time around.

“I just wanted to run strategic and just as we got near the Pain Cave, past the 2-mile mark, we started going and I started sitting on Ellis (Wood of Deering), and then I just went,” said Johnson. “It means so much. It means a lot to me, coming so far.”

“Aran is really the model for what hard work can do,” said Portland coach Frank Myatt. “He reinvented himself as an athlete this summer and earned that victory.”

Also scoring for the Bulldogs were Charlie Jacques (10th, 16:58.31), Cole Smith (15th, 17:19.05), Henry Morrison (21st, 17:26.7) and Owen Blades (23rd, 17:28.22).

The Red Storm placed runners in the second, sixth, 11th, 24th and 26th spots to capture the title by the narrowest possible margin.

“What a heartbreaker,” said Myatt. “Our boys battled for every inch of that course, but came up just short. All the credit belongs to Scarborough. We knew they would be a challenge and their guys raced incredibly well. I’m so proud of how far our guys have come in the last 12 months, from top to bottom, and that’s what makes it sting even more. They put in the work to put themselves in a position to repeat and they should be proud of what they accomplished.”

Portland has gone second-first-second in the past three state meets, the best three-year span in program history, and the Bulldogs will run as a team at New Englands this weekend.

Deering’s Ellis Wood races to a fourth-place finish in Class A. Derek Davis / Portland Press Herald

Deering (244 points) was 10th for the second straight season. The Rams were led by standout Ellis Wood, who was fourth (16:36.12) and qualified for New Englands as an individual.

Also scoring were Peter Rank (28th, 17:48.57), Asa Tussing (46th, 18:16.37), Noah Rasheed (71st, 18:56.36) and Finn Hutchins (95th, 21:22.29).

Cheverus (322) placed 14th. The Stags featured Arman Gurcan (32nd, 18:00.35). Also scoring were Jackson Kayne (63rd, 18:44.52), Cash Kellen (72nd, 18:57.03), Evan Trieu (76th, 19:10.07) and Alan Kalloor (79th, 19:25.34).

On the girls’ side, Portland had 80 points and was second to Falmouth (61), the best finish in Bulldogs’ program history.

Portland’s Samantha Moore cruises to the finish line to win the Class A girls’ race. Derek Davis / Portland Press Herald

Senior standout Samantha Moore won her final cross country race in Maine, posting a time of 18:48.63.

“Last time (at the regional meet), I took it out pretty early and I thought that worked really well and I felt really good coming out, so I did it again,” Moore said. “I really wanted to break 19 (minutes). I did it last year at regionals and I really wanted to do it again.”

“Samantha, yet again, reminded me of how privileged we are to have her on our team,” said Myatt. “She’s cementing her legacy as one of the greatest distance runners to come out of Southern Maine.”

Also scoring for the Bulldogs were Kate Morrison (15th, 21:08.12), Alice Anderson (17th, 21:12.62), Ella Vinkemulder (22nd, 21:24.99) and Maia Endicott (25th, 21:26.91).

Portland qualified for New Englands as a team.

“We had a good day from top to bottom,” Myatt said. “The girls went out and attacked a tough course and great competition for the second straight week.”

Cheverus (185 points) was seventh, the Stags’ best state meet finish in six years. Cheverus was led by Allie Schmitt (fifth, 19:40.58), who qualified for New Englands as an individual. Also scoring were Annabel Kimball (20th, 21:23.79), Caty McCullough (42nd, 22:29.06), Meg Kingsley (58th, 23:16.84) and Grace Beeler (60th, 23:26.83).

Deering didn’t qualify as a team, but Charlotte Pelletier took part as an individual and had the 25th-best time (21:24.07).

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.