KVAC

The last time Maine hosted the New England cross country championships, Lewiston won the Class A state title in 2007. Twin Brook in Cumberland is slated to host New Englands this year (Nov. 10) and the Blue Devils hope that is an omen for similar success. They certainly have the talent, with seniors Mohamed Barre, the top returning Maine runner from last year’s New Englands, and Mohamed Awil leading the way.

Defending conference champion Mt. Ararat and Eastern A champion Bangor both have enough of their top runners back to serve as significant obstacles for the Devils. Mt. Blue has a dynamic senior duo to match Lewiston’s in Justin Tracy and Sully Jackson. The Cougars will need some of their underclassmen to step up to join the conference elite. Edward Little has similar hopes for its juniors and sophomores to lend support to No. 1 runner Luc Bourget.

Mt. Ararat boasted six of the top 12 girls at last year’s KVAC championship. Only two of those runners graduated. so a fourth consecutive title is probable, if not likely. Mt. Blue graduated 10 seniors, including three of its top five, but the Cougars are usually in the thick of things in October. Lewiston brings back four of its top five, including a strong junior trio of Faith Shaw, Mana Abdi and Taylor True, with hopes of qualifying for states. Edward Little has plenty of senior leadership to help give an influx of freshman talent a good start.

In Class B, KVAC champion Maranacook returns all of its top runners and is once again the favorite. Leavitt’s Tim Enos could contend for individual honors in the conference and leads a rebuilding squad that is hoping to move up the league ladder. Senior Maddie Wiegman leads an otherwise freshman and sophomore-laden Leavitt girls’ team chasing defending champion Camden Hills.

MVC

The Matt McClintock era has faded, leaving the door open for a new champion in the MVC and Class C. Josef Holt-Andrews of Telstar has finished third in Class C each of the last two years and it may finally be his meet to lose this year. For the Rebels to defend their conference championship, they will need some newcomers to fill the void left by the departures of Ben Lewis and Adam Mahar.

With good health, Winthrop should join Boothbay and Hall-Dale in challenging Telstar. Lisbon has a solid roster from top to bottom but needs to stay healthy. Monmouth has only one senior, Tyler Horsford, but also graduated just two seniors, so all signs point towards the Mustangs showing improvement. Dirigo and St. Dom’s are in rebuilding mode.

Dirigo peaked at the right time last year to finish fifth among Class C girls. Any success the Cougars have this year won’t be a surprise with senior Natalie Bolduc, who finished fourth in the state, and sophomore Jessica Conant back in the fold. Madision and Hall-Dale should challenge, as should Monmouth, which returns all four of its state qualifiers. Lisbon graduated state runner-up Meagan Thomas and additional senior talent, but one of the best freshman classes to come through in years promises to keep the Greyhounds in contention. St. Dom’s returns four of its top five and five of its top seven, with junior Ellen Tuttle backed by a solid pack. Winthrop also has a strong freshman class and should be bolstered by the return of junior Molly Kieltyka, who was injured last year after qualifying for states as a freshman.

WMC

Both defending conference and Class B boys’ champion Falmouth and runner-up Greely graduated four of their top five runners. Fear not, however, as the WMC always seems to have someone else poised to step up as the best team in the state. It appears Cape Elizabeth, which had a string of four consecutive state titles broken last year, is poised to reclaim its seat on the throne, with Fryeburg Academy and two-time defending state champion Silas Eastman ready to challenge.

Gray-New Gloucester is hoping junior Will Shafer and some promising young talent can help it secure a qualifying spot for states. Poland has four-year runners Jeremy Doane, Tyler Hemond and Ian Pickett to help it make big strides in its rebuilding process.

Kristina Smith of Poland won the WMC girls’ title going away as a freshman. Many of the same runners will be back to push her this season. Smith leads a talented sophomore class upon which the Knights’ rebuilding hopes rest. Down Route 26, Gray-New Gloucester is also trying to build up its numbers. Yarmouth, Greely, Cape Elizabeth and Falmouth are expected to battle for the title.