BELFAST, Maine — The Houlton/GHCA Shiretowners continued the team’s postseason championship run on Oct. 24, capturing the Class C North boys cross country championship at Troy Howard Middle School in Belfast. Under some of the best conditions we’ve had for regionals — brilliant blue skies, with crisp autumn air and a refreshing breeze — athletes from across Northern Maine gathered for an outstanding day of championship racing.
The Shires delivered another dominant performance, placing four runners among the top five overall and securing the regional championship with a total team score of just 26 points. George Stevens Academy finished second with 48 points, while Orono High School took third with 71.
Orono junior Brady Cox claimed the individual regional title in 16 minutes, 48.44 seconds, but the Shiretowners claimed the next four positions. Senior Malachi Witmer led Houlton with a runner-up finish in 16:52.80, followed by senior Brayden Drake (3rd, 16:59.00), sophomore Wyatt Quint (4th, 17:01.89) and sophomore Logan Witmer (5th, 17:13.72).
The front pack was complemented by Nathan Brady, who placed 12th overall in 18:07.89, completing Houlton’s championship scoring five. Just 75 seconds separated the team’s first and fifth finishers, demonstrating the exceptional depth and consistency of the squad. Freshman Stephen Cormier (17th, 18:49.57) and freshman Lucas McPhee (35th, 20:29.95) rounded out the seven-member varsity lineup.
Full boys results: 1. Houlton/GHCA 26; 2. George Stevens Academy 48; 3. Orono High School 71; 4. Bucksport High School 131; 5. Washington Academy 143; 6. Maine Central Institute 167; 7. Sumner Memorial High School 170; 8. Calais High School 192; 9. Dexter Regional High School 229; 10. Central High School 271.
The Houlton/GHCA girls also turned in a determined showing against a talented Northern Maine field, finishing fifth overall with 106 points. Although the Lady Shires narrowly missed qualifying as a team, finishing one position outside the four available team berths, two athletes secured individual invitations to the state championship.
Freshman Charlotte Estabrook led the Shires with a 19th-place finish in 24:25.61, earning her first individual state championship bid. Junior Isabella McCarthy followed in 22nd place with a time of 24:57.91, also advancing individually. Both runners finished comfortably within the top 30 required for individual qualification.
Sophomore April Mazur (31st, 25:55.01) and senior Dalylah Mincey (32nd, 26:53.30) finished just outside the individual qualifying positions. Sophomore Alaina Locker (42nd, 29:52.98) completed the team’s scoring five, with junior Kaley Whitman (46th, 30:44.06) and sophomore Sandra Quinlan (52nd, 37:49.79) rounding out the Shiretowners’ lineup.
The girls have demonstrated considerable progress throughout the fall season, steadily closing gaps on competitors and delivering strong performances during the championship stretch. While their team season comes to an end at regionals, the improvement shown throughout the fall provides plenty of reason for optimism moving forward.
The girls championship featured an exceptionally tight battle between George Stevens Academy and Orono. George Stevens claimed the regional team title with 46 points, narrowly defeating Orono’s 48, while Calais finished third with 73 points. George Stevens junior Ripley King-Ofsiany won the individual championship in 20:43.77. Orono senior Ruby Beane (2nd, 20:52.01) followed.
Full girls rsults: 1. George Stevens Academy 46; 2. Orono High School 48; 3. Calais High School 73; 4. Narraguagus High School 77; 5. Houlton/GHCA 106; 6. Maine Central Institute 127; 7. Schenck High School 164
The top four girls teams advance to the state championship, along with individual qualifiers finishing in the top 30.
The Houlton squad will conclude the championship season on Saturday, Oct. 31 at Cony High School in Augusta, where the best teams and individual competitors from Northern and Southern Maine will meet to compete for state titles.
The Houlton/GHCA boys enter the competition as regional champions, looking to build upon a season that has already included both PVC and regional victories. They are the defending Class C state from a year ago with much of the same core of runners that won that title in 2025. Joining them will be individual girls qualifiers Charlotte Estabrook and Isabella McCarthy, representing the Greater Houlton area against the state’s best.
