Just a little more than a year after the graduation of one of Maine’s most dominant cross country runners, a new young runner has taken the state by storm.

Coming off a strong middle school career, it was anticipated that Nora Schmidt would have a solid start to her career at Portland High School. But Schmidt not only acclimated quickly to her new level of competition, she broke down the door and set the pace for the entire state.

The freshman swept all the postseason races, winning both the Class A South title (18:28.64) and the Class A championship (18:50.60) while helping the Bulldogs claim the first Class A team title in program history.

“I think it went really well,” Schmidt said. “I definitely didn’t expect to do that good. When I run in the front, it gives me a lot of confidence. That’s definitely one of my strengths.”

For her success this fall, Schmidt has been chosen as Varsity Maine Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.

“Coming in, we knew Nora was going to be one of the best,” said Portland coach Frank Myatt. “I think, for us, it took us a week before (the Festival of Champions) where we’re like, ‘OK, she’s one of the best and she can compete for a state title, too.’ We had a meet down at Kennebunk, and the time that she put down (18:01.99) and effort surprised even us. … It was that day where it’s like, ‘OK, she’s made the transition, she’s a threat to win in high school.'”

Schmidt’s breakout performance came at the Festival of Champions in Belfast on Oct. 4. She won the girls race — which included runners from throughout New England and the Canadian Maritimes — and broke the 18-minute mark with a time of 17:47.78, which is 50 seconds off both the course and meet record set in 2023 by Orono’s Ruth White, the aforementioned dominant runner of the early 2020s.

“It gave me confidence that I could compete in other meets, although Georgia Moon (of Falmouth) was really close (as well),” Schmidt said.

Schmidt’s success gave the Bulldogs a quiet confidence throughout the season, a needed anchor for a team that had a roller-coaster season because of injuries.

Portland found its stride at the Class A championships at Cony High School in Augusta. Schmidt held off Moon (19:13.77) for the individual title, and the Bulldogs’ supporting cast clinched the team title with several strong performances, including Kate Morrison (12th), Lucy Harkness (21st), Sylvie Holmes (24th) and Alice Anderson (30th).

“That was really awesome,” Schmidt said. “The team did so well and worked so hard through all the ups and downs this season.”

While setting the pace, Schmidt also set the tone for the Bulldogs.

“The key that Nora did a good job (of) was not making any single meet too big, and there were opportunities for that all over the place,” Myatt said. “There’s just that ability to emotionally regulate and focus. I think that’s the difference, team-wise, and it’s not often when you can point to a freshman and go, ‘Yeah, that freshman really kept us under control.’ Silently, I think the whole team was watching Nora — fair or unfair — as the top runner on the team, and I think her composure is what had a trickle-down effect on the team.”

Schmidt began her running career at age 7, thanks to the Portland Parks and Recreation track program.

“I really enjoy the team aspect (of the sport) and running with my friends,” Schmidt said. “It definitely brings me closer to my friends. I feel like in cross country, everyone congratulates one another. No one is getting mad at other people, like in some other sports.”

Schmidt is already drawing comparisons to White, who dominated the distance running scene in Maine throughout her high school career. White is a sophomore at the University of New Hampshire and earned All-America honors as a freshman while placing ninth in the 10,000 meters (32:20.60) at the NCAA Division I championships, shattering a school record that she first broke earlier in the spring.

Aside from dominance on the course, White and Schmidt also share a soft-spoken demeanor.

“I’m taller, though,” Schmidt said with a laugh.