The Boothbay Region High School boys cross country team ended a tremendous racing season on a low note for them, placing third at the state championship meet at Belfast on Saturday, Nov. 2.

For the Seahawks, it was their first loss of the season and came on the heels of last week’s upset victory over Merriconeag for the Western Regional Class C title.

The result had to be a difficult one for the spunky team, but by all accounts they handled the unwelcome outcome with grace. So much so, that they were awarded the Class C West Good Sportsmanship Award.

“The race was intense, incredibly fun to watch unfold, and everyone ran really, really well. Sometimes the numbers fall our way, like last week, and sometimes they don't,” Coach Nick Scott wrote in an email.

“In the end though I'm really proud of the way the team approached the race, executed our game plan, and most importantly conducted themselves even when things didn't fall our way. I'm really thankful to be a part of a team that can have such high expectations, dedicate themselves to achieving them, and handle coming up just shy of their goals so maturely.”

Race results show the Seahawks ran extremely well on Saturday. Finish times were uniformly fast and the team was also able to get all seven runners in before Merriconeag’s top five, an accomplishment that secured them the regional title.

But with the crowded, competitive field of top athletes at states, BRHS scorers were themselves pushed back and were unable to compensate enough to make up for Merriconeag’s top scorers. 

With three finishers in the top 10, Merriconeag won the state Class C title with 72 points. Eastern regional champion Orono took second with 78 points, followed by BRHS, 80, Winthrop, 118, George Stevens Academy, 125, Fort Kent, 127, Waynflete, 175, North Yarmouth Academy, 189, Madison, 214 and Central, 226.

Joey Paolillo finished first for BRHS and eighth overall at 17:38. Only six seconds separated Boothbay’s next three scorers, Kyle Ames (15th, 18:02), Kyle Alamo (17th, 18:05) and Matt Burnham (22nd, 18:08). Kyler Carty rounded out the scoring, crossing the finish line 29th at 18:23. Also finishing for BRHS were Dan Drummond (31st, 18:30) and Trystan Mercier (35th, 18:38).

Scott said he wanted everyone to remember how far the boys team had exceeded expectations this season.

“Keep in mind this was supposed to be a rebuilding year. The boys team lost three of their top five to graduation and on paper we were seeded 2nd in the conference, 3rd in the region, and 5th in the state. In the end, we won the MVC title, a Western Maine Regional title, and were oh-so-close to winning a second straight state title.”

The BRHS girls ran well, but with a tiny team in a tough competition, they found themselves at the bottom of the scoring pack.

Orono girls ran away with the state Class C title with 31 points, followed by Waynflete, 71, George Stevens, 86, Merriconeag, 113, NYA, 145, St. Dom’s, 186, Monmouth, 190, Mattanawcook, 199, Washburn, 199, Telstar, 217 and BRHS, 223.

Hannah Morley finished 33rd at 22:15, Morgan Crocker, 40th at 22:29, Lincoln Hamblett, 57th at 23:07, Kate Friant, 73rd at 23:59 and Mays Schwehm, 89th at 26:38.