TURNER – Silver Hunt just wanted to be in shape.

She didn’t have a specific reason or need, but decided she would make sure she improved her physical condition. The Mt. Blue sophomore will proudly tell you that she’s in shape now, and she’s also the Class A state cross country champion.

Hunt won the Class A race at the cross country state championships at Leavitt Area High School on Saturday in convincing fashion, leading much of the way and outdistancing her nearest competitor by about 19 seconds.

Hunt finished with a time of 20:06.23.

“It’s great,” said Hunt. “I’ve never done cross country before. I just went into cross country to get into shape. I had no idea I’d do this.”

Hunt admits she did more biking than running over the summer, but finished fourth in a preseason race. She expected to be within range of four other top runners, but found herself dueling with Massabesic’s Katherine Pierce from start to finish.

Cheverus’ Amelia Lundkvist took third, followed by Bonny Eagle’s Lauren Dudley and Victoria Hewey of Sanford.

Brunswick claimed the team prize, edging Scarborough by four points. Brewer took third followed by Massabesic and McAuley.

Mt. Blue finished eighth and also had Lindsey Keenan in 28th and Marjorie Hardy in 48th.

Hunt was five feet behind Pierce going into the final hill. Her teammates trained previously on the course at Leavitt, but Hunt was unable to make it that day. She said she wasn’t intimidated by the hills and even figured that might be the best time to make her move.

“I knew it was me or her,” said Hunt. “I was hoping it was me, and I got her on the hill. I’m pretty good at hills, so I was hoping.”

In the Class C race, temperatures in the 40s and running conditions worsening with the day’s rains wasn’t what Monmouth’s Kerstin Grenier wanted.

As if the rain and mud wasn’t bad enough, the Mustang junior doesn’t like running in the cold.

“I was really nervous,” said Grenier. “When the weather is really cold like this my asthma is bad, but I just fought through it.”

Grenier managed to finish eighth. She didn’t even know how high she had finished after completing the course. Grenier finished 28th last year.

“I was hoping,” she said of her top-ten finish. “I’ve been training really hard. That was my goal.”

Waynflete’s Adele Espy won the race, while Hall-Dale’s Magen Ellis was second. Vinalhaven’s Emma Lundberg was third followed by Fort Kent’s Grace Boutot and Waynflete’s Tess Crain.

Telstar’s Brianne Bailey was sixth.

Waynflete won the team award. Mattanawcook was second, followed by Monmouth and Lisbon in third and fourth.

“I think our team did very well,” said Grenier. “We had an injured girl (Devon Ayer). She wasn’t going to run today, but she decided to. I’m very proud of her. She was hurting but wanted to help the team out.”

Monmouth also got a 13th-place finish from Melanie McInnis and a 27th from Kristin Freeman.

Kayla Moan (ninth) paced Lisbon. The Greyhounds’ junior battled her way through the race despite not feeling well and suffering a fall late in the race.

“My stomach hurt, and I ate a Powerbar before the race,” said Moan. “I thought I was going to puke the whole race.”

She fought her way through that, but then had to confront the sizable hill after the two-mile mark. The hill wasn’t so bad going up but the descent was a different story.

“On the downhill it is a mud slide and that’s where I fell, face-forward,” she said, displaying a bloody scratch just below her knee.

The fall might have cost her a spot, but still landing in the top 10 was fulfillment enough. Going by the seedings, Moan was looking at 13th.

“That was my goal the whole year,” said Moan. “Last year, I was 17th, and I really wanted to get in the top 10. I didn’t know if it was going to happen.”

The Greyhounds also got finishes from Amanda Lamb in 22nd and Katrina McKay and Jennifer Caton in 39th and 40th respectively.

In Class B, Cape Elizabeth took first with York and Falmouth in second and third respectively. Fryeburg took ninth overall while Leavitt was 12th.

Yarmouth’s Anna Makaretz won the B race. Falmouth’s Madeline Grygiel was second followed by Capes Marita Stressenger. Old Town’s Hilary Maxim was fourth and Heather Spurling of MDI rounded out the top five.

Fryeburg’s top runner was Grace Miller in 16th. Emily Atwood was 31st and Mariah Staires took 39th. Leavitt’s top finisher was Becca Paquette in 20th. Jessie Hinckley was 55th.