Thank you, MPA

Thank you to the Maine Principals’ Association for voting in favor of Maine cross country teams participating in the New England Meet for the first time in 22 years!

Held last Saturday [Nov. 12] at Thetford Academy in beautiful Thetford, Vt., this was an unforgettable experience for all those who participated as well as for those who cheered them on. It was great to see our Maine athletes compete with their peers from all over New England in this exciting race.

The course was muddy and very challenging, but the weather was perfect and the meet was extremely well organized. Many local volunteers were on hand to make it run smoothly. The energetic dancing and the spontaneous conga line that was formed by the very muddy athletes as they awaited the results was an indication of the high spirits of all the participants.

I would like to commend all the Penobscot Valley Conference runners who participated. The female runners who placed in the top 25 (out of a total of 265 runners) were: Hilary Maxim of Old Town High School (25th), Maddie Glover of John Bapst High School, (18th), and Molly Peverada of Hampden Academy, (15th). Congratulations also to male PVC runners Sam Sheehan (54th) of Caribou, and Corey Dewitt (65th) and Loudon Jellison (104th) of Ellsworth for their inspiring efforts. The Old Town girls and Mount Desert Island girls teams also had a great run, the first teams from the PVC to compete at the New Englands in 22 years.

It was an appropriate finale to fall cross country for these exceptional local athletes to be able to compete at this level. Good luck to Molly Peverada at the Foot Locker Northeast Regionals Saturday in New York City.

Long may you all run!

Kathy Lena

Orono