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By GARY HAWKINS
Staff Writer 10/26/2007

Staff Writer

The Mt. Blue boys cross country team would settle for third place Saturday at the State Cross Country championships.

Last week, the Cougars placed second at the Eastern Regionals, but the competition gets tougher this week with Western Maine teams thrown into the mix.

"If Lewiston has a good day, they're untouchable," Mt. Blue coach Kelley Cullenberg said. "We're going to try to do all we can to finish in the top three. Our long-shot goal is to qualify for the New Englands."

The winning team in each Class earns a trip to the New England meet, this year being held Nov. 10 at Twin Brooks Recreation Center in Cumberland. After the winning teams, the three next best teams regardless of Class qualify.

Individual winners in each Class also qualify for the New England meet. After that, the top 22 runners regardless of Class qualify.

"The boys have the potential to qualify for the New Englands," Cullenberg said. "It just depends on who's on."

Another challenge for runners this week will be the course at Leavitt High School, one that features a long, steep hill at the two-mile mark.

Cullenberg's boys and girls team competed there during the regular season and recently practiced there, running the hill eight times.

"It really helps the kids out a lot," she said.

The girls also finished third at the regionals last week, but may have a tougher time with the Western Maine teams added in. Mt. Blue sophomore Silver Hunt won the individual girls race and should contend for the top spot Saturday.

"If she runs a race like she did at regionals, she should be vying for state champ," Cullenberg said.

Hunt ran a lifetime best last week, knocking more than 20 seconds off her average mile time. Teammate Melody Lam finished second behind Hunt and is another strong bet to qualify for the New England meet.

On the boys side, senior Eric Marceau has consistently finished in the top five in meets this season. He was fourth at the regionals while sophomore teammate Kelton Cullenberg placed sixth.

"He's going to give it all he has to try to win," Cullenberg said of Marceau.

The Madison girls will compete in Class C. Last week they placed fourth in the regionals, and coach Bon Hagopian thinks they have a better race in them this week. Sarah Kirkwood led Madison with a 16th-place finish while Danielle Hebert was 21st.

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com

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