Toussaint, Churchill win season-opening meet

 Fort Kent’s Matt Toussaint broke his own record at the opening varsity Aroostook League Cross-Country Meet held in Houlton at Community Park.
Toussaint ran the 2.7-mile course in 18:08 a year ago and with a strong, steady pace last Thursday, he finished this year in a time of 15:55. The girls’ winner was Washburn’s Emmy Churchill who crossed the finish line in 21:10 flat.
Runners competed from Fort Kent, Washburn, Houlton and Greater Houlton Christian Academy. Fort Kent boys were the overall team winners with 22 points, followed by Washburn with 33. The Washburn girls had the only team score with 15.
Both Houlton and GHCA boys and girls, along with Fort Kent girls, ran as independent runners since they do not have enough numbers to make up a team. It takes five runners to be designated as a team.
Individual running results are as follows:
In the boys, division, the top three spots were filled in the same order as last year’s race, with each runner shaving off time.
Boys: 1. Toussaint, Fort Kent, 15:55; 2. Sam Ouellette, Fort Kent, 18:21 (18.46 last year); 3. Derek Baker, Washburn, 18:43 (20:05); 4. Charles Parham, Fort Kent, 19:31; 5. Michael Ericson, Washburn, 19:33; 6. Dustin Hines, Houlton, 19:47; 7. Jared Michaud, Fort Kent, 20:15; 8. Adam Casillas, Houlton, 20:50; 9. Wesley Ganglfinger, GHCA, 20:51; 10. Devon Maynard, Washburn, 21:00; 11. Cameron Preston, Washburn, 21:08; 12. Jackson Ashby, Fort Kent, 21:45; 13. Alex Walker, GHCA, 23:49; 14. Ethan Butler, Washburn, 23:51; 15. Tre Whitney, Houlton, 26:07; and 16. Isaac Robichaud, Fort Kent, 26:31.
In the girls’ division, Emmy Churchill picked up her pace to open the season, as she finished third a year ago with a time of 23:10.
Girls: 1. Churchill, Washburn, 21:10; 2. MacKenzie Worcester, Washburn, 21:33; 3. Rylee Warman, Houlton, 22:01; 4. Jordan Tanguay, Fort Kent, 22:46; 5. Marianne Helton, Washburn, 22:59; 6. Gentle Prescott, Fort Kent, 25:16; 7. Paige Hebert, Fort Kent, 25:36; 8. Kristen Sarmiento, Washburn, 26:27; 9. Hannah Heald, Washburn, 26:28; 10. Mikayla Churchill, Washburn, 28:12; 11. Jessica Aube, Washburn, 29:35; 12. Kate Easler, Washburn, 30:28; 13. Emily Dickison, Houlton, 31:46; 14. Olivia Winslow, Houlton, 33:16; 15. Marcy Barker, Washburn, 33:47; and 16. Rachel Potter, GHCA, 41:08.
The next Aroostook League Cross-Country Meet is scheduled for today in Fort Kent at 4 p.m.