WMHS cross country

Wolverines seventh overall at mid-season meet

Mon, 09/25/2017 - 1:15pm

Gage Varian of Wiscasset Middle High School placed fourth at last week’s Mountain Valley Conference Mid-Season Race ran on the University of Maine at Augusta course, where 77 runners competed.

Boothbay Region’s Blake Erhard and Kyle Ames finished first and second. Erhard’s winning time was 18:25.3, followed closely by Ames, in 18:49.5. Telstar’s Gaelan Boyle-Wight placed third, in 19:09.3 with Varien at his heels crossing the finish line in 19:26.2.

Wiscasset’s Sam Strozier placed 30th in 22:17. He was followed by teammates Nate Gilliam (22:46.7), Matt Chapman (23:30.6) and Caleb Gabrielle (24:22.2). 

Other high schools competing were Madison, Dirigo, Richmond, Monmouth, Carrabec, Winthrop, Hall-Dale, Lisbon, Oak Hill and Spruce Mountain. The Wolverines finished seventh in team points, which is kind of remarkable because no cross country team existed at the start of the school year. SPA rules require five runners to figure into the scoring.

Boothbay Region won the meet, followed by Madison, Carrabec, Dirigo, Monmouth, Lisbon, Wiscasset, Hall-Dale and Oak Hill. No score was recorded for Richmond, Telstar, or Spruce Mountain. The course was dry and well-packed under sunny skies.

In the girls’ race, Wiscasset’s Lily Yeaton placed 33rd (30:20) and Maria West was 35th (31:00). They were the only Wiscasset runners competing. Boothbay Region swept the top three spots. Faith and Glory Blethen ran one and two in 21:24.6 and 21:58.1, respectively. Haley Abbott was third in 22:24. Monmouth was the overall meet winner, Boothbay Region second and Winthrop third; 53 runners competed.

The Wolverine cross country team is coached by Warren Cossette. WMHS’s next meet is Oct. 6 at Lisbon. The MVC Championship meet is Oct. 14.