Dexter boys qualify for state X-C championship

BELFAST — The Dexter Regional High School boys cross country team scored 197 points at the 2019 Class C North championship on Oct. 26 at Troy Howard Middle School. The Tigers finished sixth of 13 teams, earning a berth for the state meet by placing in the top seven.

The Class C championship is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Twin Brook Recreation Area in Cumberland.

Freshman Payson Rienhardt led Dexter by coming in 13th among a field of 104 entrants. Rienhardt ran the 5K in a time of 18 minutes, 25.06 seconds.

Next to cross the finish line was Tiger junior Michael Gadwah, who placed 33rd in 19:35.26. The rest of the five point-scorers were sophomore Nickolas Gallighan, 39th at 20:15.83; sophomore Miles Gadwah, 57th at 21:39.83; and senior Augustus Irwin, 81st at 23:57.81.

Dexter’s sixth and seventh runners were freshmen David Rice and Christian Gallant, 83rd and 96th with respective times of 24:14.74 and 28:41.46.

The Orono High School boys won the regional title with 26 points. Orono sophomore Kyle McClellan won the race in 17:13.85, by 34 seconds.

George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill finished as the runner-up with 46 points and a score of 103 points was good for third for Washburn District High School.

Joining Dexter from the region next Saturday will be fourth place Bucksport High School, 129 points; the Maine School of Science and Mathematics of Limestone, fifth at 181 points; and seventh-place Madawaska High School, 217 points.

The top eight schools from the Class C South championship will be at the state meet, running the same course as the Oct. 26 regional final at the Twin Brook Recreation Area. These eight are first place, the Maine Coast Waldorf School of Freeport with 28 points; second, the Boothbay Region High School/Wiscasset High School cooperative with 94 points; third, Lisbon High School with 132 points; fourth, Winthrop High School with 164 points; fifth, Monmouth Academy with 167 points; sixth, Traip Academy of Kittery with 170 points; seventh, Dirigo High School of Dixfield with 196 points; and eighth, North Yarmouth Academy with 203 points.

Two Dexter freshmen ran in the girls Class C North championship. Annika King and Emma Alexander finished back-to-back in 35th and 36th places — out of 72 — with times of 25:13.93 and 25:15.68.

Orono claimed the girls championship with 36 points, the Houlton High School/Greater Houlton Christian Academy squad was second at 75 points and in third was the Maine School of Science and Mathematics with 80 points.

George Stevens freshman Thea Crowley finished in first place with a time of 19:38.86, by about eight seconds.

Also on Saturday in Belfast, the Foxcroft Academy boys finished 14th of 15 teams in the Class B North championship. The Ponies compiled a score of 382 points.

Junior Joseph Keenan led Foxcroft by placing 45th among a field of 107 entrants with his time 19:33.08. Classmate Caleb Fockens was 87th at 21:19.78.

The other three point-scorers for Foxcroft were sophomore Pablo Delgado, 88th at 21:21.31; junior Krystofer Downing, 90th at 21:33.52; and sophomore AIden Currie, 91st at 21:42.28. Placing 105th was freshman Joseph Nelson in a time of 25:53.38.

Mount Desert Island High School claimed the boys Class B North crown with 39 points. Caribou High School came in second with 67 and close behind in third place was the 70 points for Hermon High School.

Lawrence High School of Fairfield junior Josiah Webber finished in first place, by about eight seconds, with his time of 17:06.36.

Four Foxcroft girls ran in their regional final. Junior Kaylee Durgin finished 67th among 95 competitors with a 25:54.07.

Sophomore Olivia McCorrison was 75th at 27:01.67; sophomore Makayla Landry finished 82nd at 27:25.13; and in 83rd place as Pony senior Liang Leyao at 27:39.02.

MDI won the Class B North team title with its 37 points, far fewer than 107 for runner-up Medomak Valley High School of Waldoboro and 117 for Ellsworth High School.

The Class B North girls winner is Presque Isle High School freshman Anna Jandreau in 20:07.93, by more than 11 seconds.