Deering’s Alec Troxell heads toward an 18th-place finish at Saturday’s Class A state cross country meet. Troxell helped the Rams finish second as a team.

John Jensenius photos.

Waynflete’s Ellie Chidsey was sixth in the Class C girls’ meet. The Flyers were fourth as a team.

More photos below.

Four city cross country teams made the trip to Belfast for the state championship meet Saturday and Deering’s boys’ squad had the best showing, placing second.

In the Class A boys’ race, Falmouth won the title with 72 points and the Rams were next with 116, their best showing at states since the 2002 and 2003 squads won back-to-back Class A championships.

Deering was paced by Yahya Nure, who came in eighth on the 5,000-meter course with a time of 16 minutes, 23.80 seconds. Also scoring for the Rams were Alec Troxel (18th, 16:51.00), Masho Gebremikael (25th, 17:05.27), Jerry Mixangelo (26th, 17:06.53) and Abdikadir Abdirahman (39th, 17:35.21).

“I’m proud of the way we ran, but give Falmouth all the credit, they just ran better,” said Deering coach Frank Myatt. “We improved off our regional performance and were able to qualify for the New Englands as a team for the first time since 2002. While we weren’t able to achieve our ultimate goal, I’m thrilled to be able to bring an entire team to the New Englands.”

Cheverus and Portland did not qualify for the Class A state meet.

In the Class A girls’ meet, won by Bonny Eagle with 77 points, Cheverus (227) came in 11th.

The Stags were paced by Rosie Train, who came in 15th in 20:13.36. Also scoring were Ashley Turner (34th, 21:22.53), Hannah Galeucia (46th, 21:36.27), Delphi Bourassa (47th, 21:36.36) and Adrienne Willard (85th, 23:57.89). 

Deering and Portland didn’t qualify for states as a team, but the Rams did send Lucy Tumavicus, who had the 43rd-best individual time (21:22.04). 

In the Class C boys’ meet, won by Orono with 56 points, Waynflete (93) was third behind Maine Coast Waldorf (69) for its best showing since 2011. The Flyers had a pair of top 10 finishers, as Henry Spritz came in fourth (16:58.78) and Willson Moore was sixth (17:02.52). Also scoring were John Veroneau (19th, 18:15.25), Peterson Silk (25th, 18:40.51) and John Van Dyke (39th, 19:24.21). 

The Class C girls’ race was won by George Stevens Academy with 52 points, Waynflete (98) came in fourth as for the first time since 2004, the Flyers didn’t finish in the top three. Waynflete was led by Ellie Chidsey, who was sixth in 20:09.25. Also scoring were Abby Pipkin (11th, 20:33.15), Sophia Mayone (18th, 21:01.36), Anna Wildes (28th, 21:58.25) and Leeza Kopaeva (35th, 22:21.26).

Maine Girls’ Academy did not qualify for states.

New Englands

One event remains in the 2016 cross country season, the New England championship meet this coming Saturday. 

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Deering’s Yahya Nure was eighth in the Class A boys’ meet.

Deering’s Masho Gebremikael placed 25th in Class A.

Deering’s Lucy Tumavicus ran as an individual and had the 43rd-best time in the Class A girls’ meet.

Cheverus’ Rosie Train was 15th in the Class A girls’ meet. The Stags finished 11th as a team.

Waynflete’s Willson Moore placed sixth in the Class C boys’ race.

Waynflete’s Abby Pipkin was 11th in the Class C girls’ race.

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