BELFAST – Dan Suthers of Lisbon High School crossed the finish line in second place with a look of exhaustion. Jared Cloutier stumbled across in third, about to collapse. Troy Clark wore a look of confidence, while younger brother Tyler was in awe.

All four of those Lisbon runners crossed the line in the top 10 on Saturday, and Phil Morlock followed closely in 17th as the Greyhounds capped their unbeaten season with a 33-point victory in the Class C state finals at Troy Howard Middle School, blowing past North Yarmouth Academy, Sumner and Freeport.

“I am so proud of these kids,” said coach Hank Fuller, who was moved nearly to tears as his team gathered near the finish. “All year the kids have been like a band of brothers, and to finish the year, and for four seniors their careers, like this is just really special.”

The Greyhounds’ win came on a course that was sloppy from the week’s rain. Several runners throughout the day slipped and fell on wetter, muddier sections.

“I never would have expected this last year,” said Troy Clark. “The course today was a bit of a surprise, and some of those hills snuck up on you, but we managed to overcome that.”

Troy Clark has been with the team for four years and has seen the program go from the near bottom to near the top.

“We were kind of down ehen they changed the course on us on Thursday,” said Clark. “We’ve met every challenge this season that has been thrown at us, and this was just another one of those challenges.”

Clark has been the team’s captain this season, and according to Fuller is one of the best he’s ever coached.

“He’s close to being one of the most decorated athletes ever at Lisbon,” said Fuller. “Between wrestling, racewalking and now cross country, he’s just an amazing athlete.”

Clark actually finished the race in fifth behind Ryan O’Keefe of Sumner, Suthers, Cloutier and Josh Zolla of Freeport. Freshman Tyler Clark finished in ninth.

“The whole team really helped me out,” said Tyler. “I was just trying to finish solid and help them out, and I am just happy to be in the top 10.”

“We’re in a state somewhere betwen exhilaration and relief,” said Fuller. “I feel fortunate and humble to have beaten the established programs to win this championship. This was an incredible season.”

Freeport captured the girls’ Class B crown with a 57-69 win over George Stevens Academy. Dani O’Rourke-Suchoff finished first for Freeport.

Lisbon’s Narissa Gross climbed steadily through the field throughout the race to finish third behind Chelsea Walsh of Wiscasset.

“She ran a race exactly like we try to teach the kids how to run a race,” said Fuller. “She started steady and just slowly climbed her way up.”

Sumner, Wiscasset and Foxcroft rounded out the top five in girls’ Class B.

jpelletier@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link