Both Waynflete cross country teams, along with the Cheverus girls and Deering boys, qualified for the state championship meet after solid performances at the regional championships Saturday at Twin Brook Recreation Center in Cumberland.

Both Flyers squads came in second.

The boys had 106 points and were 14 behind Hall-Dale. Josh Espy led the way with a fourth-place individual finish, posting a time of 18 minutes, 19.5 seconds on the 5-kilometer course. Other scorers included Dylan Kingsbury (15th, 19:22.14), Abukar Adan (20th, 19:36.92), Cam Thompson (33rd, 20:15.68) and Colin Laurence (34th, 20:19.18).

The girls’ team tallied 85 points and qualified for states for the eighth year in a row, but were six shy of Merriconeag. Martha Veroneau (fifth, 22:39.05) and Ella Millard (eighth, 22:54.46) both had top-10 finishes. Also scoring were Cat Johnson (18th, 23:56.84), Gail Johnson (21st, 23:59.84) and Helen Gray-Bauer (33rd, 25:13.18).

In the Class A boys’ meet, won by a very impressive Massabesic squad with 31 points, Deering (217) was the last team to qualify, coming in eighth. Cheverus (238) was ninth and fell just short. Portland (293) placed 12th.

The Rams, who qualified for states for the second year in a row, were paced by Yahye Hussein, who finished 17th in 18:25.88. Also scoring were Jordan Stebbins (33rd, 18:58.14), Alex Hebert (44th, 19:17.87), Dakota Hiott (61st, 20:06.78) and Kerry Randazzo (62nd, 20:10.16).

For the Stags, Parker Montano was 19th (18:35.14) and Zeb Tarasevich 20th (18:36.45). Chandler Dundas (40th, 19:06.38), Adam Macaluso (79th, 21:00.21) and Michael Macaluso (80th, 21:01.75) also scored. Cheverus failed to qualify for states for the first time since 1969.

The Bulldogs were once again paced by standout Ben Allen, who finished seventh (17:55.7) and qualified for states as an individual. Also scoring were Jake Morrow-Spitzer (55th, 19:52.23), Matt Bliss (74th, 20:53.46), Patrick Sheils (76th, 20:55.04) and Charles Winkleman (81st, 21:05.18). Portland hoped to make it to states for a second straight season, but it wasn’t to be.

The girls’ Class A meet was won by Bonny Eagle with 58 points. Massabesic was second with 69 and Cheverus placed third with 72. Portland (226) was ninth and just missed out. McAuley (326) finished 12th and Deering (401) placed 14th and both fell short of states.

The Stags featured the third fastest female in Class A, Shannon Conley, whose time of 20:07.14 left her behind only South Portland’s Nyajock Pan (19:52.15) and Thornton Academy’s Katie LeBlanc (20:01.46). Also scoring were Kiera Murray (eighth, 20:45.84), Emily Perry (19th, 22:01.54), Kaitlyn Dostie (20th, 22:05.34) and Georgia Cason (22nd, 22:19.37). Cheverus will seek its fourth straight state championship in its 11th straight state meet appearance.

The Bulldogs featured Abby Popenoe, who was 33rd in 23:19.01. Also scoring were Laura Frank (41st, 23:39.72), Darcy Hinck (48th, 23:59.58), Meghan Suslovic (50th, 24:04.43) and Rosalind Elin (54th, 24:25.87). Portland’s quest for a back-to-back trip to the state meet was denied.

The Lions fell short of the state meet for the second straight season. At regionals, Adele Werner led the way, placing 28th with a time of 22:52.78. Also scoring were Samantha Libby (66th, 25:37.85), Nellie Bloch (71st, 25:57.23), Anna Dube (74th, 26:06.87) and Katherine Possiel (87th, 26:57.53).

For the Rams, who missed states for third straight year, Eleanor McClure-Chute was the top finisher, 30th (22:57.73). Also scoring were Katherine Reynolds (90th, 27:43.26), Kathy Chu (91st, 27:53.79), Alexis Porter-Fitzsimmons (94th, 28:22.76) and Isabel Handanos (96th, 28:56.43).

States schedule

Belfast will host the state championship meets Saturday.

Deering’s boys run in the Class A meet at 11 a.m. The Cheverus girls look to win another title in the Class A girls’ race at 11:45 a.m. Waynflete’s boys begin at 2 p.m. in the Class C title meet. The Waynflete girls look for glory in the Class C girls’ meet at 2:45 p.m.

The New England championships are scheduled for Nov. 10, at Twin Brook.

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

Waynflete’s Josh Espy finished fourth in the Western C boys’ race.

Abby Popenoe paced Portland with a 33rd-place finish.

Deering’s Eleanor McClure-Chute was 30th in Western A.

Deering’s Yahye Hussein placed 17th in Western A and was his team’s top finisher.

Cheverus’ Kiera Murray was eighth in Western A.

Shannon Conley was the fastest Cheverus runner Saturday, placing third in Class A.

Cheverus’ Parker Montano was 19th in the Western A boys’ race.

Martha Veroneau once again paced the Waynflete girls by coming in fifth overall in the Western C race.

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McAuley’s Adele Werner was 28th in Western A on the girls’ side.

Portland’s Ben Allen was seventh at Saturday’s Western Clas A regional championship meet and qualified for states as an individual.