Maine runners make a run at New Englands

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Ben True of Greely in Cumberland Center and Elise Moody Roberts of Cape Elizabeth sure sent a message to the rest of New England at Saturday’s New England Cross Country Championships: Maine is for real.

True, a senior and Moody-Roberts, a freshman, proved just that with second-place finishes on a cold, windy day at Derryfield Park in Manchester, N.H.

True toured the wind-battered 5-kilometer loop in 15 minutes, 22 seconds, just four seconds behind winner Ahmed Haji of West Hartford, Connecticut’s Conrad High School. Holy Cross of Waterbury, Conn.’s Amie Schumacher took the girls’ crown in 18:12. Moody-Roberts finished in 18:46.

Levi Miller of Belfast was the top Eastern Maine runner in ninth while Jessie and Beth Wilcox from Mount Ararat in Topsham finished eighth and ninth, respectively. Hampden Academy’s Molly Balentine finished 23rd.

In the boys meet, True, who finished second to Haji last year at Riverside Golf Course in Portland, knew just how to attack the course.

“It’s good to be able to know where things were,” said True, who ran the course in the Manchester Invitational earlier this year. “It’s helpful to have been there before.”

It’s not a very hilly course, according to True.

“There’s a slight hill you do twice in the first mile, a big hill in the second mile, then it’s all downhill,” he said.

The wind was a non-factor, but the temperatures were.

“The wind wasn’t really a factor as much as the cold,” True said.

Temperatures hovered around 40 degrees with wind chills in the mid 20s, about 30 degrees colder than last week’s state meet.

True also acknowledged that Maine was well-represented, but wishes the Maine Principals’ Association could change the rules disallowing team competition.

“I wish teams could go so we could show how teams could do against other states,” he said.

Deering of Portland sent a full team last year when five runners qualified.

True’s next big meet is Thanksgiving weekend, when he’ll head down to New York City’s Van Cortlandt Park for the Foot Locker East Regional.

“It’ll be a friendly race,” he said. “I’m looking for top eight.”

The top eight runners advance to the National Championships in San Diego.

Other top Maine finishers included South Portland’s Eric Giddings in fourth, Brandon Bonsey of Falmouth in 12th, Ayalew Taye from Portland in 16th, Mt. Blue of Farmington’s Matt Dunlap in 30th, Ryan O’Keefe from Sumner in East Sullivan 32nd and Ellsworth’s Joey DeWitt 37th. Ben DeMerchant of Fort Fairfield finished 40th.

In the girls meet, coach Dick Balentine’s Hampden Academy team was well-represented as three girls (Balentine, Amanda Gervasi and Molly Peverada) ran for the Class B state champs.

“The girls had a good day,” said Dick Balentine. “It was a real strong showing for Maine.”

Balentine’s runners weren’t really affected by the cold conditions.

“We’ve practiced in snow before. The wind didn’t really affect us,” he said.

Balentine’s daughter Molly, a senior, will join True at the Footlocker Regionals in New York, a meet in which she ran last year.

“She enjoys running in a high-caliber meet,” said Dick Balentine.

Molly Balentine’s 23rd-place finish was good enough to earn her all-New England honors.

“She was ecstatic,” said Balentine. “She peaked at just the right time.”

Gervasi and Peverada, who finished 58th and 103rd, respectively, also had strong days.

“[New Englands] is like no other race,” said Balentine. “For [Molly] Peverada and [Amanda] Gervasi to run that well is great. You don’t see that competition in states. It’s more mental than physical.”

Other top Mainers included Bangor’s Jolene Belanger and Casey Dunn in 35th and 37th, Mt. Blue’s Lily Hanstein in 39th, Shead of Eastport’s Helen Pottle was 104th, John Bapst of Bangor’s Nicole Lavertu in 135th and Sharon Fuller of Old Town in 146th.