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| John Clarke Russ/ bangordailynews.com Caribou runners Ron Lund (260) and Lucas Kinney slosh through the mud while competing in Saturday’s regional meet in Belfast. The Vikings ended up in second place in the event.
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By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
CARIBOU — The Viking boys and girls cross country teams are both experiencing tremendous success once again.
It helps to have a large roster, and both teams can claim that, even though the girls team is down 10 athletes from 2011. The boys have 23 runners and the girls have 20 and both are able to field competitive junior varsity teams as well.
“We have depth and it creates a competitive spirit among our athletes,” said 19th-year boys coach Roy Alden.
The boys team is coming off a second-place finish at the Eastern Maine Class B Championships in Belfast Saturday after placing third in the large school PVC Championships the previous weekend in Ellsworth.
“I have enjoyed watching such a young team develop,” Alden said. “As a team, we have had to compete without our full roster at Ellsworth, Old Town and Belfast, but we were second at the Caribou meet and we won at Presque Isle and Houlton, plus our JV team is undefeated and still rapidly improving.”
Senior Ron Lund has been the team’s most consistent performer and fourth in the PVC meet and was eighth in Eastern Maine. Lucas Kinney, a junior, came in first in the All-Aroostook Selection Meet in Houlton earlier this month.
“Ron is an extremely hard worker and he puts his heart into everything he does and Lucas is very determined — he exemplifies the phrase, ‘never, never, never, give up,’” Alden said.
Junior Ryan Washington is another very talented runner, according to Alden, who has a great perception of pace and is able to get the most he can out of his body during each race. Sophomore Brendan Cyr is coming off of a major injury from last winter, but has seen a jump in his performance as his body has adjusted to training. Junior Tyler Strid has jumped up to become the team’s No. 5 runner, but classmates Alex Losieniecki and Keith Draper have also been in the running for that role.
Other Caribou runners are senior Grahm Freme, juniors Jacob Bither and Derik Michaud, sophomores Dylan Coty, Dustin Coty, Michael Marquis and Kris Michaud; and freshmen Caleb Hunter, David Hunter, Chathu Karunasiri, Lukas Legassie, Tsion McLeod, Riley McDuffie, Elijah Verhoff, Caleb Willett and Chris Adams.
“This team is hungry for success,” Alden said. “They are very competitive, and their confidence is growing with every race.”
The girls team came in fourth at Saturday’s regionals and placed third at the PVCs.
“So far the season has been great,” said Thomas Beckum, in his eighth year as the Viking girls coach. “The girls are more consistent in their racing and their willingness to work hard.”
During most of the regular season PVC meets, Caribou placed second behind defending state champion MDI. The team has also had some competition from within Aroostook County as Washburn boasts a talented squad which has a chance to win the state Class C title.
The Vikings are led by senior Mackenzie Belyea.
“Mackenzie has matured into one of the top runners in the state,” Beckum said. “She has fully committed herself as a runner. Mackenzie’s summer running and participation in a strengthening class have made a huge difference in her success. She has gained mental toughness to stick with the lead runners when it matters most in the race.”
Despite suffering an injury to her hip and lower back, Belyea placed fourth in Saturday’s regional meet.
The Larrabee twins, sophomores Robyn and Nerissa, have also been a huge part of the squad and have run second and third behind Belyea throughout the season.
“They both have been more consistent this year in their training and racing,” Beckum said.
Senior Chelsea Bard and sophomore Kristin Macek are the team’s other top runners.
The rest of the girls team includes sophomore Mackenzie Deveau, sophomore Chelsea Haney, senior Ashley Richards, sophomore Lauren Chapman, freshman Maggie Cyr, freshman Olivia Engstorm, junior Allissa Irving, freshman Anna Soderberg, junior Serena Cyr, freshman Maura Freme, sophomore Elise Gudde, sophomore Kaitlyn Ring, senior Alexis McCrossin, junior Taylor Hartley and senior Rebecca Walker.
Because of their efforts, both teams earned berths into this Saturday’s state meet, to be held once again in Belfast.
