In the Class A boys five kilometer race, Tucker Barber took first place with a sharp 15:47.33. In a competitive race, Massabesic’s Alexander Swett shadowed 32 seconds behind Barber and earned eighth place. Four seconds behind Swett, Deering’s Yahya Nure earned ninth place in a tough top-ten pack.
Malaika Pasch of Falmouth led and won in the girls 5K run. Chasing less than half a second (0:00.48) behind her was Kennebunk’s Louise Holway, second place in state.
In addition to top individual in girls cross country, Falmouth would also take first prize in boys team score and second place in the girls team score. Of their cleanup, Falmouth head cross country coach John Long, said, “It was a lot of fun. It was obviously a goal for us from the beginning of the season and we were excited to finish it off. When you set a goal you don’t always get it, so this is really satisfying. It’s been a really hard working group from top to bottom.”
In girls team score, Falmouth would take second place to Bonny Eagle, 77 points to 83. After leading the girls team to successfully defend its title for the second year in a row, Bonny Eagle coach Andrea Johnson said, “It’s pretty amazing. I’m so proud of those girls they did an amazing job. They brought it. They ran with heart. They all had their plans and they all went for it.”
Both the Massabesic boys and girls would take third in team score, the girls with a 20:59 average 5K time. Only a minute behind Bonny Eagle in average time, Biddeford girls earned sixth place, Westbrook seventh, and Kennebunk eighth.
Only eleven seconds behind Deering’s average, the Massabesic boys team grit their way into third place. In some of the closest timed races in recent memory, fans and coaches were heard to remark how well cross country was moving into the future.
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