Almost 1,500 runners competed in the Festival of Champions cross country race in Belfast Oct. 4. Boothbay Region High School athletes ran alongside over 600 girls and 800 boys in one of the largest races of the season.  

“It’s just a river of athletes running on the course,” coach Nick Scott said. "That's something that, if you’re not prepared for mentally, can be really, really daunting and almost overwhelming the first time a kid does it.” 

The Belfast course is also one of the fastest the Seahawks compete on, and a perfect place to set a personal record. Because of this year’s drought, the course was dry and hard, which made for excellent running conditions. However, an unusually hot day, with a high of 79F, added extra difficulties.  

Despite the challenges, Scott said most of the team ran personal records, and the Seahawks gave a strong showing.  

AJ Crocker led the Seahawks with a 74th place finish in 17:51.81 minutes. Other boys results were: Louie Caidoc, 224th, 19:28.20; Jackson Zehm, 244th, 19:37.42; John Cooper, 431st, 21:16.96; Ben Gapski (Wiscasset), 433rd, 21:18.93; Nathan Percival, 626th, 23:17.34; and Carson MacKusick, 794th, 28:07.25. 

Maddie Andreasen led the girls in 171st place in 23:30.03 minutes. Other girls results were: Audrey Robinson, 323rd, 25:37.79; Maggie McCarthy, 341st, 25:58.66; Lexi Hughes, 432, 27:43.54; Rose Campbell, 476th, 28:37.84; and Abby Orchard, 520th, 30:14.85.   

The girls team placed 50th out of 59 and the boys team placed 48th out of 69.  

“I felt like our team performed really well,” Scott said. “Race to race, not only have most of our athletes' performances increased but, (also) year over year ... a lot of the kids on the team really subscribed to the summer training. And the hard work has really come to fruition.” 

The team’s next race, the last of the regular season, is scheduled for Oct. 10 at Lisbon.