Pair of Ponies run for USM

    GORHAM — Two Foxcroft Academy graduates were members of the women’s cross country team at the University of Southern Maine in the fall, sophomore Emily Panciera of Monson and a 2011 alum and freshman Chelsie Oldfield of Dover-Foxcroft and a 2012 graduate.

    At the New England Alliance Championship in Westfield, Mass. the two helped USM place second out of 13 teams, the Huskies’ 52 points trailed only the 45 picked up by Keene (New Hampshire) State. On the five-kilometer course Panciera ran a time of 20 minutes, 1.31 seconds to finish 32nd out of 155 runners. Oldfield came in 53rd with a time of 20:47.10.

    The meet was also divided into Little East Conference teams, with USM finishing second of five. The Huskies’ 38 points were just behind the 33 for Keene State. Among the 65 Little East runners Panciera was 22nd and Oldfield 31st.

    The two former Ponies helped USM finish 12th out of a field of 41 at the ECAC Championship in Williamstown, Mass.

    On the 6,000-meter course Panciera placed 39th out of 284 with a time of 24:37. Oldfield’s time of 25:20 was good for 82nd place as she and Panciera ended up as USM’s second and third finishers.