The George Stevens Academy boys cross-country team finished third as a team at the Class C State championship on November 2. Pictured is the team at the start of the Class C North finals on October 26, where they finished second. By Monique Labbe
Blue Hill—The George Stevens Academy cross-country team wrapped up its 2019 season with a third place team finish for the boys and a second place overall finish for freshman Thea Crowley at the Class C state championship on November 2 in Cumberland.
Freshman Sol Lorio posted the best finish for the boys team, coming in eighth with a time of 18:02. Sophomore Clark Morrison also cracked the top-20 with a 14th-place finishing time of 18:15.
Also competing for the boys team were senior Caden Mattson (24th), junior Ian Renwick (29th) and freshmen Andrew Hipsky (46th), Micah Bryan (63rd), and Oliver Wilson (65th).
Maine Coast Waldorf High School took first place in the team standings, with Orono coming in second.
While the girls team did not compete for team points, Crowley and juniors Grace Broughton (33rd) and Josie Czuj (59th) all crossed the finish line for the Eagles.
The race followed a heavy rainstorm the day before, making the conditions of the course muddy and wet, according to coach Todd Eckenfelder.
“The course is hilly, so typically kids run it a minute or so slower than they do the Belfast course. It is challenging from a change in elevation standpoint,” he said. “Overall the kids said it was a well-groomed course.”
With the season over, Eckenfelder said he is already looking forward to the 2020 season. The success of the freshmen class this year, on both the girls and boys teams, was a good omen for the future of the team.
“We expect great things from both teams next year, too. I think the sky is the limit. We have already challenged the team to think ‘state champs or bust’ for next year,” he said.