CUMBERLAND — Meagan Thomas saw no reason to deviate from the formula that had helped her become the best runner in the Mountain Valley Conference this year.

If anything, the muddy conditions at Twin Brook Recreation Complex strengthened Thomas’ resolve to stick with the game plan for Saturday’s Western Maine regional cross country championships.

The Lisbon senior bided her time through the first two-thirds of the 5k race, then passed Dirigo junior Natalie Bolduc in the final 1,500 meters and pulled away to win the Western Class C title in 21:11.

“I just did what I do best,” said Thomas, who won the MVC championship last week. “I started off a little behind, as usual, but I just catch up through it and then put my best foot forward in the second mile.”

“She had a plan not to go out too hard in the first mile, because this kind of start with this kind of footing can take it right out of your legs early,” Lisbon coach Hank Fuller said. “We knew some of the other kids would go out fast. She was to just stay in contact with them and then get very aggressive on the hills because she’s a strong runner, and that’s what she did.”

Thomas, who lists Twin Brook as her favorite course because of the hilly terrain,  kept pace with the top seven runners in the first 500 meters. By the mile mark, she was the first runner in pursuit of the leader, Bolduc.

“(Bolduc) started quite fast, and she held it pretty well,” said Thomas, who will have the opportunity to run her favorite course again next week at states. “She gave me a great run, as did a lot of other girls. It was definitely muddy. It felt like the mud was going to suck your shoe off in a few places.”

Bolduc and her teammates ran in honor of her classmate, Dani Ranger, who died last Sunday from injuries sustained in a car crash.

“I did it for Dani,” said Bolduc, who finished 13 seconds behind Thomas for second place. “Last week at MVCs, I didn’t feel as good and I got third place. This week, I knew I had to push through. Dani was right there with me and the team.”

Boothbay’s Sophia Thayer, Martha Veroneau of Waynflete and Hillary Detert of North Yarmouth Academy rounded out the top five. Other locals who qualified for states were Gabi Stone of Telstar; Tiffany Pease, India Pickett, Jordyn Mann and Becki Bryant of Monmouth Academy; Angelica Bulgin of Lisbon; Ellen Tuttle, Alexis Laliberte and Meagan Ring of St. Dom’s; and Dirigo’s Silvia Ludic and Jessica Conant.

Merriconeag Waldorf won the girls’ team title with five runners in the top 11 for 40 points. Waynflete (90), Dirigo (114) and NYA also qualified for the state meet. NYA tied Monmouth with 119 points, but got the nod over the Mustangs for the fourth and final qualifying spot because its No. 6 runner finished ahead of Monmouth’s.

Madison’s Matt McClintock defended his regional title with the best time of the day (16:00.23), but was disappointed he narrowly missed breaking the 16-minute barrier.

“It’s almost like a club,” he said. “I’ve done it a few times in road races. I’ve never done it out in a big meet in front of everyone.”

McClintock finished 46 seconds in front of his nearest competitor, Boothbay’s Chas Brown. Jack Pierce of Merriconeag placed third, followed by Telstar’s Josef Holt and Abshir Horor of Waynflete.

Holt (17:00.64) ran cautiously through the muck and mire while trying to keep pace with Pierce, which he did until the final half-mile.

“I wasn’t quite as fast as last year here, but it was really muddy,” he said. “My feet got stuck a couple of times in the mud. Around some of the corners you’d find that even with using spikes you’d slip.”

Holt’s teammates maintained a controlled pace as well, and so the MVC champions finished third with 105 points, behind defending champion NYA (59) and Waynflete (92).

“We went into it just to kind of see some of the other schools that we haven’t run against, where they were at. NYA and Waynflete both looked strong,” Telstar coach Dan Crooker said. “We’ve got a little bit of running to do for next week, but definitely the goal is to get on the podium next week.”

Other locals headed to states are Telstar’s Ben Lewis and Adam Mahar; Kameron Souza, Marc Hachey and Dylan Berney of Winthrop; Ben Bailey and Matt Bryant of Monmouth Academy; and Lisbon’s Joe Daigle.

Saturday wasn’t just a learning experience for Telstar. Poland freshman Kristina Smith dominated last week’s Western Maine Conference meet at St. Joseph’s College, turning in a time that would have placed her second in a college meet run on the same course the previous week. But this was her first meet at Twin Brook, and she wasn’t prepared for the hills and mud.

“I think the course got more of me than I thought it would,” she said. “I think I went out too fast. I went out kind of like I did at St. Joe’s, but St. Joe’s at the beginning was easier, not as slick.”

Smith (20:51.26) finished third in the Western B meet, 70 seconds behind winner Abby Mace of Maranacook. She now knows how to prepare for her return to Twin Brook next week.

“This week, I think practice-wise, I’m going to do some more hills and some speed work,” she said.

Heather Evans (second) of York, Madeline Roberts of Falmouth and Leavitt’s Maddie Wiegman (21:15.21) rounded out the top five. Lucy Knowlton of Leavitt also qualified for states.

Greely (79) won the team title, followed by Falmouth (98), York (100) and Cape Elizabeth (101). Leavitt and Poland finished eighth and ninth, respectively.

In Western B boys, Silas Eastman of Fryeburg Academy won his second straight regional with a time of 16:18, followed by Falmouth’s Timothy Follo, Nathan Madeira and Stefan Sandreuter of Greely and York’s Mitchell Finitz. Will Shafer of Gray-New Gloucester was the only local qualifier for states.

Falmouth (50) easily won the team title, followed by Cape Elizabeth, York and Greely.

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