The Boothbay Region High School cross country team had some big wins at the Regional Championship at Twin Brook Recreational Park in Cumberland on Saturday, Oct. 21.

“It is always rewarding to see a season (or more) of work come to fruition when it matters the most,” said Coach Nick Scott. “Heading into the day (the boys) were seeded third on paper, so it was great to bump up a spot and bring home some hardware.”

The boys’ team took second place, edging Waynflete School by nine points. Senior Kyle Ames and junior Blake Erhard made the top 10 placing fifth and sixth, with times of 18:12 and 18:16, respectively. This is Ames’s third year and Erhard’s second year placing in the top 10 fastest times at regionals. Freshman Mason Erhard placed 33rd in 19:55; junior Bayly Gaughan-Carrasco, 37th in 20:06; freshman Ryan Russell, 47th in 20:30; sophomore Patrick Conlin, 45th in 20:40; and freshman Fox Elder,46th in 20:43.

Scott said 2017 marks the 10th straight year the boys have qualified for the Class C State Championships. “The last five years have been particularly fruitful as the boys have won the race three times, placed second once, and placed third as well.”

Unfortunately, the girls team barely missed making the State Championships, losing the fifth place spot by six points to Monmouth Academy. Junior Faith Blethen placed 11th with a time of 22:18; freshman Glory Blethen, 13th in 22:37; freshman Haley Abbott 20th in 22:59; freshman Zada Smith 7oth in 30:12; and sophomore Delly Clarkson, 76th in 32:11.

Although the girls team did not make it to states as a team, Abbott and the Blethen sisters qualified as individuals, placing in the top 30 runners.

The State Championship is next Saturday, Oct. 28 at Twin Brook Recreational Park in Cumberland.