AUGUSTA -- A number of defending champions will be back at the University of Maine at Augusta trails trying to defend cross country titles today.

In the Mountain Valley Conference, Hall-Dale's Wade Davis returns to defend his individual title, while the Monmouth Academy girls and Lisbon High School boys will attempt to continue long runs as team champions.

In the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B championship meet, the Maranacook girls appear to have to contend for another title.

There could be plenty of new champions as well when the two conferences host their championship meets today. The MVC meet kicks off the day with the boys race at 10 a.m. and the girls race at 10:45. The KVAC will hold its Class A and B boys races at 2 p.m. and girls races at 2:45.

Davis won last year's race with a time of 17 minutes, 15 seconds. He has been strong this season, finishing seventh at the prestigious Festival of Champions with a time of 16:43.5, 15 seconds behind winner Alex Mosher.

"(Davis) is a better runner. He is stronger and faster than he was a year ago," Hall-Dale coach Brad Brown said.

Hall-Dale is in the mix for the boys title, but will have a hard time overcoming Boothbay, Winthrop and five-time defending champion Lisbon.

Boothbay is considered the favorite, but Winthrop coach Jay Lindsey said whichever team has the best fifth, sixth and seventh runners will win.

"If my fifth, sixth and seventh runners run great and other teams fifth, sixth and seventh runners run great, we'll give Boothbay a challenge," Lindsey said.

Winthrop is the defending state champ, but graduated it top two runners from last season. They return four seniors -- Kevin Leavitt, Patrick Romar, Alex Cottrell and Jay Gomberg -- but the race could be decided by the finishes of Cameron Souza, Zach Nichols and Ben Doughty.

"Those three are my wild cards," Lindsey said. "If they have great races, who knows."

In the MVC girls meet, Monmouth, which returns top runner Kerstin Grenier, will attempt to win its seventh straight title. The Mustangs will be challenged by Lisbon.

Meanwhile, in the KVAC A race, the Mt. Blue girls should contend for the title, led by Melody Lam. The Cougars are ranked fourth in the latest Maine Track and Cross Country Coaches Association top 10 poll and were the top KVAC A finisher at the Festival of Champions, finishing third. Lam was sixth in that race with a time of 20:14.

The Maranacook girls, led by freshman Abby Mace, should be in contention to defend their girls titles. Mace has only lost one race all season, when she finished third at the Festival of Champions with a time of 19:32.

"I think she'll do great,"Maranacook coachRosalea Kimball said of Mace. "She's been running pretty well and she is up for the challenge. As far as the Class B teams that will be there, Idon't think there is anyone who will give her too much of a challenge."

Maranacook is completely healthy for the first time this season. The BlackBears have had various injuries to their top seven runners, but Kimball expects them all to compete today.

Senior Taylor Burr has been limited by an ankle injury, but Kimball thinks she'll be able to compete without any problems.

In the KVAC A boys race, Cony High School's Luke Fontaine should contend for the individual title.

Scott Martin -- 621-5618

smartin@centralmaine.com