Falmouth’s Jeremiah Sands heads toward a third-place individual finish at Saturday’s Class A state boys’ cross country state meet. Sands helped the Yachtsmen win the team title.

Greely’s Carolyn Todd and Yarmouth’s Anneka Murrin compete in the Class B girls’ meet. Todd placed fourth to help the Rangers win the team title and Murrin came in fifth as an individual as the Clippers were runners-up.

Three local cross country teams finished ahead of the pack at Saturday’s state meet in Belfast as Greely swept Class B and Falmouth made history by winning a Class A boys’ crown for the first time.

Class A

The Yachtsmen boys had 72 points to easily outdistance runner-up Deering (116) and 13 other scoring teams. Falmouth was led by Jeremiah Sands, who finished third individually, completing the course in 15 minutes, 59.32 seconds. Also scoring were John Auer (10th, 16:28.16), Conner Piers (11th, 16:29.76), Ben Wyman (16th, 16:43.31) and Alex Kinley (32nd, 17:18.09).

The title was Falmouth’s first since 2011, its fifth overall and its first since moving up to the state’s highest class in 2013.

In the Class A girls’ meet, won by Bonny Eagle with 77 points, Falmouth (83) was a close second. The Yachtsmen produced the individual winner, Malaika Pasch (18:22.02). Also scoring were Ally Schimelman (16th, 20:17.60), Hannah Berzinis (18th, 20:26.77), Antoinette Lambert (22nd, 20:36.72) and Mira Wyman (26th, 20:57.74).

Falmouth’s runner-up finish was its best since the 2000 team won Class C for the third year in a row.

Class B

Greely’s boys and girls both won the state title in the same year in 2000 and 2001. Fifteen years later, the Rangers did it again.

Greely’s boys had 66 points to finish 15 ahead of runner-up Wells. The Rangers were led by Luke Marsanskis (sixth, 16:53.89). Also scoring were Pat Lyden (13th, 17:16.34), Matthew Todd (14th, 17:16.89), Max Stickney (16th, 17:23.60) and Caleb Thurston (17th, 17:26.33). 

The Rangers won their ninth all-time title and the bad news for the opposition is that Greely wins championships in bunches, having won three in a row between 1999-2001 and again between 2007-09. The Rangers also went back-to-back in 2003-04.

Greely’s girls managed to win Class B for the second time in three seasons as its 71 points were 11 better than runner-up Yarmouth. The Rangers featured two of the top four finishers, as Katherine Leggat-Barr came in third (18:14.61) and Carolyn Todd was fourth (18:39.71). Also scoring were Kate Curran (12th, 19:52.70), Chloe Waldrep (24th, 20:17.56) and Chloe Smith (28th, 20:33.79). 

Greely now has 13 Class B championships.

The Clippers girls were second as a team, but did produce the top individual, Abigail Hamilton (18:05.31). Also scoring for Yarmouth were Anneka Murrin (fifth, 18:46.09), Grace Cowles (11th, 19:48.52), Greta Elder (30th, 20:37.89) and Georgia Giese (35th, 21:01.00). 

The Clippers were unable to repeat as Class B champions, but did produce their third successive top two finish, a program best.

Freeport’s girls had 251 points and came in 10th in Class B. The Falcons were led by Lily Horne (14th, 19:53.81). Also scoring were Emily Sclar (48th, 21:42.92), Laura Pierce (59th, 22:08.51), Olivia Botting (64th, 22:30.42) and Caroline Stairs (66th, 22:37.79). 

Freeport’s boys were third in Class B with 100 points. The Falcons had the second-place individual in Henry Jaques (15:57.73). Also scoring were Ales Les (10th, 17:05.12), Yacob Olins (11th, 17:06.37), Tom Doyle (22nd, 17:34.96) and Heath Cockburn (55th, 18:19.84).

Freeport has now finished fourth or better for four years running.

The Yarmouth boys had 101 points to place fourth. The Clippers were led by individual champion Luke Laverdiere (15:49.59). Also scoring were Sammy Potter (seventh, 16:55.37), Ben Cox-Faxon (27th, 17:42.76), Odeh Rizkallah (31st, 17:49.26) and John Decker (35th, 17:54.92). 

Yarmouth had its best state meet showing this century and its finest since coming in third in 1998.

Class C

Maine Coast Waldorf’s boys’ team was second in Class C, as its 69 points were 13 behind champion Orono. MCW was led by Tucker Pierce, who came in second for scoring purposes (16:45.67). Also scoring were Nick Neveu (fifth, 16:58.79), Dylan Wu (seventh, 17:10.63), Calvin Soule (26th, 18:43.97) and Eli Gunderson (29th, 18:51.19). 

After failing to qualify for states in 2015, North Yarmouth Academy had 185 points and placed seventh this fall. The Panthers featured Brennan Flatt (17th, 18:08.22), Rick Hilscher (20th, 18:22.54), Kieran Rowe (37th, 19:15.26), Jack Kostelnik (42nd, 19:40.83) and Jack Sillin (69th, 21:27.00).

In the girls’ meet, won by George Stevens Academy with 52 points, MCW had 114 points and came in fifth. Olivia Skillings led the way individually with a fourth-place showing (20:00.28). Also scoring were Louise Ahearne (21st, 21:10.38), Ava Teegarden (23rd, 21:15.82), Wilson Haims (29th, 21:59.16) and Eliza Mathis (37th, 22:32.62).

NYA didn’t score as a team, but Megan Alberding (21:35.67) had the 29th-best individual time, Sarah Austin (21:59.12) was 34th and Helen Hamblett (23:18.12) was 56th. 

New Englands

The New England championship meet is Saturday in North Scituate, Rhode Island.

The Falmouth boys and girls, Greely boys and girls and Yarmouth girls all qualified as teams and Jaques, Laverdiere and Pierce all will run as individuals.

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

Falmouth’s Malaika Pasch was the top individual in the girls’ Class A race. The Yachtsmen finished second to Bonny Eagle as a team.

Freeport’s Henry Jaques was second in the Class B boys’ race.

Freeport’s Ales Les, left, came in 10th and Yacob Olins was 11th in the Class B boys’ race. The Falcons’ two-year run as state champion ended, but they placed third.

Freeport’s Emily Sclar runs in the Class B girls’ race. Sclar finished 64th.

Luke Marsanskis’ sixth-place individual showing helped Greely’s boys win Class B for the first time since 2009.

Greely’s Katherine Leggat-Barr was third in Class B, helping the Rangers win their second girls’ title in three seasons.

Tucker Pierce of Maine Coast Waldorf was third in Class C. MCW finished second to Orono as a team.

Olivia Skillings of Maine Coast Waldorf was third in Class C and the MCW girls placed third as a team.

North Yarmouth Academy’s Brennan Flatt came in 17th in the Class C boys’ race. The Panthers were seventh as a team.

North Yarmouth Academy’s Sarah Austin ran as an individual and had the 34th-best time in Class C.

Yarmouth’s Luke Laverdiere won the Class B boys’ individual title. The Clippers were fourth as a team.

Yarmouth’s Abigail Hamilton was the Class B girls’ individual champion. The Clippers were second as a team to Greely.

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