LIMESTONE, Maine — Kirk Cote is hoping his Eagle girls’ cross country team can make a little history this weekend.
The squad is attempting to qualify for the Class C state championships in Cumberland Oct. 31 and Cote said the team has not made it that far since the late 1970s or early 80s. In order to get there, the Eagles will have to finish among the top half for all the teams competing in Saturday’s regional meet in Belfast.
“This year’s team is solid if everyone is healthy,” Cote said, “and with only one senior who figures into the scoring, there is a good foundation for the next few years.”
Junior Ally Johnson leads the way and Cote said she loves to run. “I have a hard time getting her to take any time off,” he said with a smile.
Eva Farkas is a senior who has turned into a natural captain. The lone freshman, Lily Verna, is new to the sport but has become a stellar performer. Junior Sadie Allen and sophomores Naomi Kihn and Lasha Butler are the squad’s other top runners.
Also on the 11-member team are senior Kelly Clavet and Haley Taranko, juniors Morganne Emery and Bethany Millette and sophomore Sophie Moore.
Cote is hopeful his Limestone-MSSM squad will put it together this weekend and make it to the states. Individuals placing among the top 30 at the Eastern Maine competition will also earn the right to race in the state meet.
“We’ve had a strong showing in every meet so far, so I am hoping to get [to the state meet],” he said.
The Eagle boys will also be competing this weekend, although Cote admits a majority of the team members are using the sport as a means of staying in shape.
Senior Keith Languet is one of the exceptions and is termed “a natural leader” by Cote who “doesn’t know how to quit.”
James Cyr, a sophomore, is new to running but is a cross country skier who has trimmed three minutes off his five-kilometer time since the beginning of the season.
The other scorers have been Ahmed Beshir, Dalton Canonico, Thomas Dolloff and Alec Cameo.
Rounding out the large Eagle roster are senior Cole Butler, juniors Sean Hale and Harrison Pearce, sophomores Christopher Evans and Kyle Provencal and freshmen Karsen Albert, Alec Comeau, Rodney Johnston, Dalton Kleinert, Matthew Martin and Mason Patten.
“A lot of these guys are new to the sport, but they may surprise me,” Cote said.
