BELFAST, Maine — Cold, blustery conditions made for slower than usual times for cross-country runners from Houlton and Greater Houlton Christian Academy Saturday in the state Class C championship.
Held at Troy Howard Middle School, the GHCA boys finished 13th with 110 points, while the Houlton girls placed eighth in the competition with 185 points. The GHCA girls and Houlton boys did not have enough runners to score as a team.
“The cold weather conditions played a factor in Saturday’s performances,” GHCA coach Angie Ewings said. “They were not their top performances for the year, but considering the conditions, they ran well and had a great finish to the season.”
The GHCA boys were awarded the Northern Class C Sportsmanship award. This award is voted on by all other coaches in Class C.
Houlton coach Chris Rines also was happy with the performance of his runners.
“Jeannelle Ross was the last member of our squad who hadn’t hit a new career best this season,” he said. “Despite the slow conditions of the course, she dug deep and set a new [personal record] for herself by running in the 23 minute range for the first time ever.”
Jayden Swimm completed the season hitting a new career best in every single race she ran in after the Presque Isle Invite (early September). She is the only Shire this season to do such a feat.
“I’m really excited for next year,” Rines said. “We are graduating just one (Lauren Swimm, the team’s No.5 scorer in the second half of our season). I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we will return everyone next year and with the additions of some fantastic middle school runners, I think we will certainly rise in the ranks of Class C girls.”
The individual boys results for local runners were: 55, Cole Winslow, GHCA, 19:37; 61, Daniel Ross, Houlton, 19:41.65; 68, Jeremy Stone, GHCA, 20:04.47; 81, Isaac Potter, GHCA, 20:36.45; 93, Joel Carmichael, GHCA, 21:50.38; 101, Silas Graham, GHCA, 22:44.50; and 114, Austin Winslow, GHCA, 26:34.94.
The individual girls results for local runners were: 23, Teagan Ewings, GHCA, 22:03.46; 40, Emmalyne Drake, Houlton, 22:57.97; 46, Ellie Grant, Houlton, 23:16.02; 47, Makenna Cooley, Houlton, 23:20.85; 57, Jeannelle Ross, Houlton, 23:58.09; 76, Lauren Swimm, Houlton, 29:33.65; 77, Elisabeth Donahue, Houlton, 29:33.74; and 80, Jayden Swimm, Houlton, 36:06.14.
