Everyone in Maine’s cross country running community knew how deep the field of young runners was at this year’s state championships.

Unsatisfied, apparently, those runners have added more evidence to the argument.

Led by Mt. Blue’s Kelton Cullenberg, the Maine Lakers earned first place honors at the recent USATF cross country running nationals held in Virginia.

The Lakers defeated the West Coast Gazelle by 43 points.

Cullenberg was the top Maine finisher at the national race, placing second overall behind Dustin Fay of Southern California. Cullenberg’s total time on the 5-kilometer course was 16:08, just three seconds off of Fay’s pace.

Liam Cassidy and Will Goeghegan of Brunswick finished seventh and 10th, respectively, to help the Lakers claim the top spot as a team, too. Five members of the team, led by Cullenberg, earned All-America status.

Also earning All-America honors were Logan Price of Greely and Alex Moser of York.

On the girls’ side, the Maine Lakers’ contingent placed eighth among all team entered. Their top runner on the 5k course was Mt. Blue’s Melody Lam in 33rd place, with a time of 20:02. Taylor Burr of Maranacook was the second Maine runner across in 20:53, while Addie Cullenberg of Mt. Blue crossed the line in a time of 21:56.