By Meridith Paterson
Staff Writer
Senior Wildcat Corey Park left the rest of Eastern Maine behind to win the regional cross country meet at Belfast on Saturday. He kicked across the line four seconds in front of Leavitt’s Justin Fereshetian at 16:58.34.
Park chose to join the cross country team, after competing his first three years of high school in soccer, due to a repeat injury and fast track season. He trained over the summer to reach racing condition for the fall meets.
“I usually pace myself off the leader,” said Park about his race plan. “When I feel he’s at a vulnerable point strength-wise, I make a move on him. It’s really exciting to bring the title to Presque Isle and help lead the team to states.”
Park’s main competition comes from Western Maine Class B on Falmouth’s, Ethan Shaw who could not run in the Regional meet due to an ankle sprain. Park has yet to experience a hilly course like Leavitt High School’s, but coach Mike Waugh believes he has a chance to do well.
The Presque Isle boys also qualified for state competition with a team time of 1:32:04.43 in sixth-place; the first eight teams will travel to Turner this coming Saturday. After Park, Matt Howe crossed the finish for the Wildcats in 28th with a time of 18:33.35. Jason Johnson (18:38.41) and Alex Carter (18:40.11) pulled in close to each other at 32nd and 34th. Brandon Hafford (43rd, 19:14.22) and Jeremy Fuller (44th, 19:14.40) also ran in a pack, with times less than a second apart. Freshman Locke Robbins completed the varsity 5K in 22:18.99 for 90th-place.
“I think we’ve got a shot at making it into the top 10,” said Waugh. “That’s my goal for the meet, and I think it’s possible.”
Young and fast, freshman Alecia Palmer qualified as an individual for states in seventh with a time of 20:35.77 for the Wildcat girls varsity. Palmer has recovered from an injury sustained at the Fort Kent meet, to lead the Wildcats.
“Alecia stands a really good chance of qualifying for the New England meet,” noted coach Lori Googins. Despite the loss of training time after her injury, she has outdone herself as a Freshman, and looks to have a fast future for Presque Isle in the remainder of her high school career.
The Presque Isle girls will also compete at the state meet as a team with a combined time of 1:51:24.49, good enough for sixth.
Erin Thomas (16th) clocked in at 21:46.33 after Palmer. Krista Buck (24th, 22:08.09) and Jerica Fox (40th, 23:04.75) sprinted to the white line for the Wildcats, followed by the last scoring teammate Julia Brown (23:49.55) in 52nd. Caroline Freeman (62nd, 24:47.93) and Arielle Googins (74th, 25:22.97) also chipped into the varsity race.
The teams will travel to Leavitt the night before the race to walk loops of the notably elevated course.
Contributed photo/Rick O’Malley, The Republican Journal
WILDCATS IN A PACK- the girls’ varsity makes a start at theEastern Maine Regional meet.
