Deering’s Sierra Aponte-Clarke takes part in the Class A girls’ cross country state meet. Aponte-Clarke finished 16th.

Five city teams took part in the state cross country championships Saturday in Belfast.

With bad weather in the forecast, the meet was moved up to an earlier start and for the most part, runners competed in dry conditions.

The highlight of the day was Waynflete standout Henry Spritz repeating as the individual champion in the Class C boys’ meet, as he completed the five-kilometer course in 17 minutes, 3.81 seconds.

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“By no means was it an easy race,” Spritz said. “There were some strong competitors out there today. I really had to push myself. I’m glad they moved the race up, because it would have been ugly. It was already muddy enough. If there had been rain, it would have been really brutal.”

The Flyers finished with 152 points to place sixth as a team (Maine Coast Waldorf won the crown with 72 points). Also scoring for Waynflete were Levi Lilienthal (19th, 18:37.60), Nick Werner (36th, 19:34.44), Henry Bukowski-Thall (47th, 19:43.78) and Ethan Armstrong (49th, 19;50.28).

Waynflete’s girls scored 141 points and came in fourth (Orono won the title with 41 points). The Flyers were led by Anna Wildes (18th, 22:05.74) and Blythe Thompson (19th, 22:09.99), Hannah Babcock (27th, 22:53.23), Ellie Simmons (36th, 23:48.11) and Maddie Landry (41st, 24:10.71) also scored.

In Class A boys’ action, Portland (311 points) finished 13th. Scarborough (69 points) won yet another championship. The Bulldogs were led by Liam Niles (41st, 17;23.90). Also scoring were Wyatt Dana (47th, 17:35.20), Will Brewster (61st, 18:00.15), Joe Harrington (80th, 18:22.14) and Nathaniel Brewster (82nd, 18:27.06).

In the Class A girls’ meet, won by Bonny Eagle with 63 points, Cheverus (193) was fifth and Deering (227) came in ninth.

The Stags were led by Rosie Train, who placed 34th (20:47.63). Also scoring were Mackenzie Turner (35th, 20:50.06), Grace Turner (36th, 20:53.89), Hannah Galeucia (42nd, 21:14.93) and Leska Whitmarsh (46th, 21:22.74).

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The Rams’ top finisher was Sierra Aponte-Clarke, who placed 16th in 19:50.70. Also scoring were Megan Cunningham (38th, 20:55.18), Hadley Poirier (41st, 21:11.15), Olivia Pfaff (63rd, 22:19.07) and Claire Christopher (69th, 22:32.82).

One race left

The New England championships will end the cross country season Saturday, Nov. 10 in Manchester, New Hampshire.

The championship teams from each class and the top 22 finishers from the combined Class A, B and C field are eligible to take part.

That group will include Deering’s Troxell and Aponte-Clarke and Waynflete’s Spritz.

Press Herald staff writer Glenn Jordan contributed to this story.

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


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