STATE BOUND — The Fryeburg Academy girls’ cross-country team earned a spot in the Class B State Meet this Saturday in Cumberland. Pictured are (left to right) Ella Forbes, Zoe Maguire, Emily Carty, Olivia Thomson, Anna Lastra, Costanza Santarelli, Irina Norkin, Emily Grzyb and Emily McDermith.

CUMBERLAND — Bill Reilly always emphasizes to his cross-country runners, it is not how one starts, but how one finishes.

The Fryeburg Academy girls are finishing strong.

“We had a great regional,” Coach Reilly said after the FA girls landed in the Top 7 at Twin Brooks in Cumberland, earning a team spot at the Class B State Meet this Saturday, again at Twin Brooks.

This will be the Lady Raiders first trip to States since 2007.

“They are very excited and anxious to train hard this week in preparation for the big show,” Coach Reilly said.

The Raiders relied on its tremendous strength up front with Emily Carty and Anna Lastra complimented with a solid performance by the #3, #4 and #5 runner pack consisting of Zoe Maguire, Emily Grzyb and Irina Norkin. The always important insurance #6 and #7 runners, Ella Forbes and Olivia Thomson ran well in case one of the other runners had an off day. The alternate runners — Emily McDermith and Costanza Santarelli — were there to help and cheer the team on but were ready to run just in case FA had an injury or sickness.

“This type of team commitment is what got the girls into the championship run,” Coach Reilly said. “Special thanks to my assistant coach, Dylan Alden, who has worked with the girls all season and has been a tremendous role model to the girls.”

Meanwhile, Lake Region Coach Dan Dors felt a degree of disappointment as his top two runners — sisters Audrey and Addie Blais — saw their hopes of returning to the State Meet dashed due to the injury bug over the final weeks of the season. While both girls ran “with a lot of heart” Saturday, they failed to crack the Top 30.

“It was a rough day,” Coach Dors said. “Audrey and Addie gave it their all, it just wasn’t to be. I can’t be any more proud of them. Audrey is still the best girl I ever coached at Lake Region in 22 years. Addie will be back next year, along with four sophomores, who should be better.”

Class B Regional, 3.1 miles

Twin Brooks, Cumberland

(Top 30 individuals qualify for the State Meet)

GIRLS

1. Katherine Legatt-Barr, Greely, 19:10.12
2. Emily Carty, FA, 20:01.48
3. Anna Lastra, FA, 20:14.46
4. Audrey Blais, LR, 22:13.06
5. Zoe Maguire, FA, 22:20.76
6. Emily Grzyb, FA, 22:21.63
7. Irina Norkin, FA, 22:48.93
8. Olivia Thomson, FA, 24:12.99
9. Ella Forbes, FA, 24:20.85
10. Addie Blais, LR, 25:04.83
11. Emily Colson, LR, 28:38.86

Top 7 teams qualify for the State Meet

#1 Yarmouth, total time 1:42:41.86

#6 Fryeburg Academy, total time 1:47:47.26

Lake Region no score

13 teams competed in the Regionals; 94 finishers

On the boys’ side, it was too close and heartbreak for the Raiders. FA just missed qualifying as a team, finishing eighth with top seven going.

Individually, Patrick Carty and Ryan Hewes qualified for the championships. Christian Bedell, Alfie Walker, Connor Moody, Seth Johnston and Antonin Santarelli “all ran very well and all will be back next year to give it another shot at the State Meet,” Coach Reilly said. Ben Caffrey, Sam Paulding and Reed Wells helped and cheered for the team at the meet for a full team effort.

BOYS

1. Luke Laverdiere, Yarmouth, 16:32.00
2. Patrick Carty, FA, 17:21.04
3. Ryan Hewes, FA, 18:12.45
4. Christian Bedell, FA, 18:51.96
5. Alfie Walker, FA, 19:26.09
6. Connor Moody, FA, 20:14.72
7. Nick Scarlett, LR, 20:16.16
8. Seth Johnston, FA, 21:21.74
9. Devyn Hatch, LR, 22:05.62
10. Antonin Santarelli, FA, 22:18.79
11. Cameron Meserve, LR, 22:56.41
12. Alexander Creaser, LR, 29:01.85
13. Brandon Ross, LR, 29:03.34

Top 7 teams qualify for the State Meet

#1 Freeport, total time of 1:26:25.44

#8 Fryeburg Academy, total time of 1:34:06.26

#14 Lake Region, total tim 2:03:23.38

There were 99 runners and 14 teams competing in the Regionals.