Deering’s Alec Troxell runs toward a first-place finish at Saturday’s Class A South regional championship meet. The Rams came in third as a team.

John Jensenius photos.

More photos below.

Local runners performed very well at Saturday’s regional cross country championships at Twin Brook Recreation Center in Cumberland and there’s reason to believe that more excellence will be in store this weekend at the state meet.

Deering’s boys team tallied 96 points to come in third behind Falmouth (48) and Greely (56) in Class A South. The Rams produced individual champion Alec Troxell, who completed the 5,000-meter course in 16 minutes, 51.44 seconds. Also scoring for Deering were Yahya Nure (third, 16:54.79), Gannon Duckworth (21st, 17:52.20), Jerry Mixangelo (31st, 18:09.04) and Abdikadir Abdirahman (40th, 18:30.63). The Rams qualified for states for the seventh year in a row and look to be a serious contender for the title, as they were last fall (second at states).

Portland had 229 points to come in eighth and qualify for the state meet for the first time since 2011. The Bulldogs were led by Will Brewster (27th, 18:01.36). Also scoring were Liam Niles (33rd, 18:14.69), Joe Harrington (36th, 18:26.06), Klein Ngoga (63rd, 19:07.14) and Chanan Herrick (70th, 19:12.45).

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Cheverus had 318 points and placed 13th, but failed to qualify for states. The Stags were led by freshman Donald Mahoney, who was 23rd in 17:56.21. Also scoring were Phineas Underwood (59th, 18:59.70), Ryan Breece (71st, 19:15.23), Jackson Wilson (78th, 19:24.25) and Jack Martin (87th (19:44.57).

In the Class A South girls’ meet, won by Gorham with 72 points, Deering (124) was fifth, Cheverus (193) eighth and Portland (495) 16th.

The Rams qualified for states for the first time since 2009 and were led by freshman Sierra Aponte-Clarke (14th, 21:10.46) and Nicole Whipkey (17th, 21:15.20). Also scoring were Lucy Tumavicus (26th, 21:39.76), Grace Tumavicus (27th, 21:52.41) and Hadley Poirier (40th, 22:48.95).

The Stags qualified as well. They were led by Mackenzie Turner (28th, 21:56.09) and Hannah Galeucia (29th, 21:59.04). Ashley Turner (34th, 22:27.95), Rosie Train (45th, 23:23.89) and Delphi Bourassa (57th, 23:52.21) scored as well.

The Bulldogs’ top finisher was Ella Ferguson (94th, 26:08.31). Also scoring were Elisa Membrano (95th, 26:08.50), Elizabeth Thomas (100th, 26:24.18), Christina Donato (102nd, 26:30.79) and Anna Mitchell (104th, 26:42.98).

In Class C, Waynflete’s boys finished third with 118 points (Maine Coast Waldorf won with 51 points and Boothbay was runner-up with 109) and qualified for states for the fourth straight season. The Flyers were led by individual champion Henry Spritz (17:43.50). Also scoring were Levi Lilienthal (17th, 19:28.97), John Veroneau (18th, 19:29.94), Connor Feeney (35th, 20:09) and Henry Bukowski-Thall (47th, 20:53.57).

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In the Class C girls’ race, won by Maranacook with 37 points, Waynflete (102) placed fourth and punched its ticket to the state meet for the 13th year in a row and Maine Girls’ Academy (231) was ninth and failed to qualify.

The Flyers were paced by Abby Pipkin (fifth, 21:13.43). Also scoring were Anna Wildes (10th, 21:18.31), Leeza Kopaeva (20th, 23:11.79), Ellie Simmons (31st, 24:45.21) and Emily Wagg (36th, 25:12.51).

The Lions were led by Chloe Cott (40th, 25:37.17). Also scoring were Catherine Cornell (45th, 28:47.06), Sam Lavasser (47th, 29:24.42), Felicia Ceesay (49th, 29:32.69) and Bailey Hamm (50th, 29:49.10).

States

Runners return to Twin Brook Saturday for the state championships.

Waynflete and the rest of the Class C girls’ field get things started at 11 a.m. The Class C boys’ race starts at 11:35 a.m. The Class A girls run at 12:30 p.m. The Class A boys’ meet begins at 1:05 p.m.

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

Cheverus’ Daniel Mahoney was 23rd in the Class A South boys’ race.

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Cheverus’ Phineas Underwood was 59th in the Class A South boys’ meet.

Cheverus’ Mackenzie Turner, left, and Hannah Galeucia run together. Turner wound up 28th in the Class A South girls’ race, while Galeucia placed 29th.

Cheverus’ Ashley Turner was 34th in the Class A South girls’ race.

Deering’s Yahya Nure was a solid third in the Class A South boys’ meet.

Cheverus’ Rosie Train and Deering’s Sierra Aponte-Clarke run together in the Class A South girls’ race. Aponte-Clarke wound up 14th and Train dropped to 45th.

Deering’s Nicole Whipkey placed 17th in Class A South.

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Maine Girls’ Academy’s Chloe Cott finished 40th in the Class C South girls’ race.

Portland’s Will Brewster wound up 27th in Class A South, helping the Bulldogs qualify for states for the first time since 2011.

Portland’s Liam Niles was 33rd in Class A South.

Waynflete’s Henry Spritz races to the finish line to place first individually in Class C South.

Waynflete’s Levi Lilienthal was 21st in the Class B boys’ race.

Waynflete’s John Veroneau was 22nd, one spot behind Lilienthal.

Waynflete’s Abby Pipkin had the fifth-best time in the Class C girls’ race.

Waynflete’s Anna Wildes helps the Flyers qualify for the state meet by coming in 10th in the Class C South race. Waynflete was fourth as a team.


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