The Junior Olympic version of the Aroostook County Express heads out of the County on Friday with a group of youngsters who’ve earned the right to compete in the JO’s New England Cross Country Championships to be held in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Sunday.

Competition in this event – from which the top 20 in each age group and the top two teams in each age division qualify for the national championship – begins at 10 a.m.

ACE runners qualified for the New Englands based on their finishes in the state JO meet held last weekend at Maranacook High School in Readfield. ACE runners are coached by Rick Cortiss and Katherine Smith. The Maranacook course, according to Smith “was a very hilly one.”

Leading ACE’s New England qualifiers will be Narraguagus of Harrington freshman Gladys Ganiel, 14, and 12-year-old Danielle Donovan of Caribou.

Both girls were undefeated in school meets during the regular season, and both won their respective age-group events in the state meet at Readfield.

Smith said the ACE runners, especially those in first place, made a big impression at the meet, for more reasons than one.

“None of the people down there had seen these kids before,” Smith said of the state meet, “and everyone was saying, who are these kids in the hot pink shirts? One of the runners overheard a first-aid worker in the woods ask on the radio if `the girl in pink’ was still ahead.”

The ACE’s top team in the New Englands will be the 13-14 girls, running a 4-kilometer course.

Finishing behind Ganiel were Jessica Plourd, Westbrook, fourth; Margaret Randall, Westbrook, fifth; Eleanor Anderson, Houlton, sixth; Martha Randall, Westbrook seventh; Heather Norsworthy, Presque Isle, 12th; Danielle Martin, Presque Isle, 15th; and Kristie Bradbury, Caribou, 16th. Michele Beloungie of Caribou finished 23rd. Since teams are limited to eight runners, all will not be competing Sunday.

Although ACE was created to promote running in the County, Smith said others were invited to join the team after they had finished their regular school seasons.

The 11-12 girls team came in second in the state meet and will compete Sunday. Behind Donovan were Earlene Neureuther, Houlton, fifth; Emelia Chabot, Hodgdon, 12th; Erica Dorsey, Presque Isle, 14th; Rachel Underwood, Presque Isle, 15th; Tanya McGraw, Woodland, 23rd; and Colleen Boyle, Presque Isle, 25th.

One runner, Moira Armen of Hodgdon, qualified individually for the 15-16 girls division after finishing fifth in the state meet. Armen will cover a 5K course. Smith reported also that Rebecca Keenan of Caribou, competing in the 10-and-under division in the state meet, finished 21st, one point shy of qualifying for the New Englands.

Transportation to the New England meet is being provided by parents, but ACE is in the procress of fund raising for this and other events. “We anticipate that some of our kids will qualify for the nationals, so any help we receive would be appreciated,” Smith said.

Contributions may be made by contacting Smith at 762-6531, calling Rene Cloukey at 764-1984, or by writing ACE Running Club, c/o Fleet Bank, Presque Isle, 04769.