Orono’s Ruth White wins New England cross nation championship for third time
Orono senior and future Boise State Bronco Ruth White did it once more on Saturday in Belfast, successful the New England Cross Nation Championships outright for the third consecutive time in her highschool profession.
White accomplished the 5K course at Troy Howard Center College with a time of 17:12.2, 27 seconds sooner than junior Teanne Ewings of Houlton, who got here in second.
“Maine represented itself nicely,” Orono head coach Lin White stated. “We’ve been privileged to have each Ruth and Teanne working at a nationwide stage. The meet was extremely aggressive — it was nice cross nation.”
Sophomore Soren Stark-Chessa of Maine Coast Waldorf (sixth place; 18:07.1) senior Cary Drake of York (eighth place; 18:08.6), senior Abby Thibodeau of Bonny Eagle (twelfth place; 18:22.1) and junior Samantha Moore of Portland (fifteenth place; 18:29.0) all confirmed out for Maine as nicely, in a race that featured 251 of the perfect runners from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
“They’ve been capable of push me, and hopefully I’ve been capable of push them as nicely,” Ruth White stated two weeks in the past. “It’s enjoyable to be part of it.”
A mannequin of consistency, Ruth has received each single New England-based cross nation race she has competed in for the reason that begin of her sophomore yr. Regardless of the sluggish, smooth circumstances, White was nonetheless solely 15 seconds off her private report of 16:57.0 on Saturday.
As a crew, Orono women got here in twentieth of 29. The Purple Riots have been represented by Ruth, her sophomore sister Clara White, sophomore Maya Boyington, sophomore Tilly Puleo, freshman Rube Beane and junior Aenor Adam. They certified by successful their ninth Maine Class C state championship in ten years final week, additionally held at Troy Howard Center College.
White and Ewings can now elect to race within the Foot Locker Nationals qualifiers two weeks from now, in the event that they select to take action. White positioned fourth within the Northeast qualifier final yr, earlier than occurring to complete seventeenth within the nation — all from a state of simply 1.3 million folks.
“Statistically, it’s unimaginable,” Lin White stated. “It’s a must to be a grinder to achieve cross nation. Our children [in Maine] actually embrace that. They really feel pleasure within the face of competitors.”
On the boys’ aspect, Class A champs Portland, Class B champs Freeport, Class C champs Sumner Memorial, Hampden Academy, Bonny Eagle and Scarborough represented the state.
Noble senior Maddox Jordan (sixth place; 15:42.0) and Portland senior Nathan Blades (eleventh place; 15:53.6) led all Mainers. Connecticut-based seniors Steven Hergenrother (15:21.8), Isaac Mahler (15:36.3) and Griffin Mandirola (15:39.3) completed first, second and third, respectively.
“It was nice to have New England’s right here in Belfast,” Lin White stated. “It raises the bar for our athletes’ expectations. It was enjoyable.”
