CUMBERLAND — It was an unusual sight for Emily Durgin Saturday morning at Twin Brook Recreation Area.

She could see the finish area, and didnīt have to look past Abbey Leonardiīs shoulder to do so.

"Since fifth grade Iīd never beaten her," said Durgin, a sophomore at Cheverus who was runner-up to Leonardi at both the state and New England championships a year ago. "I really thought she was going to catch me on that (last) sprint."

Instead, it was Durgin who pulled away for a six-second victory in the Western Class A cross country championship, recording a time of 18 minutes, 25.38 seconds.

"I guess everyone has to lose sometime," said Leonardi, a Kennebunk sophomore. "I tried to do the best I could."

Durginīs teammates, Fiona Hendry and Liana Rubinoff, finished third and fourth, helping Cheverus run away with the team title, 43 points to 83 for runner-up Massabesic. Gorham was third at 102, followed by five more teams that qualified for next Saturdayīs state meet: Thornton Academy (118), Scarborough (134), Windham (137), South Portland (180) and Deering (224).

In other girlsī races, Cape Elizabeth claimed half of the first 10 spots in Class B for a decisive victory, and Freeport edged Waynflete and North Yarmouth Academy for the Class C crown.

Abby Mace of Maranacook won the Class B race in 18:54.16 -- joining Durgin and Leonardi as the only girls to break 19 minutes on the hilly Twin Brook course -- and Waynflete senior Amy Allen, in her first season of cross country, took the Class C title by more than half a minute in 21:31.87.

The top 20 individuals in A and B and the top 30 in C, as well as teams finishing in the top half of their meets, advanced to the state meet, also scheduled at Twin Brook. Nasty weather caused the regional meets to be postponed last Saturday, and Durgin said the delay allowed a problematic hip more time to heal.

"This was the first week Iīve actually felt normal," Durgin said. "We had a few people who had some minor injuries, so we all just got stronger last week."

Leonardi set a blazing pace, completing the first mile in 5:32, with Durgin five seconds behind.

"I definitely didnīt want to take it out in front of her, because she goes out really fast," Durgin said. "I thought, maybe if I could keep (close to Leonardi), if I felt better the last mile I could just go for it."

Durgin pulled even on a downhill stretch near Mile 2 of the 3.1-mile course, then surged ahead. Leonardi said she thought she could catch Durgin on uphill sections in the final mile, but she wasnīt successful.

"Thatīs usually where Iīm strong," Leonardi said. "But I just couldnīt catch her."

McAuley senior Lauren Fecteau, whose 19th-place finish earned the penultimate individual berth from Class A, collapsed in the finish chute and remained on the ground for more than 20 minutes, wrapped in blankets. She was transported by ambulance to Maine Medical Center, where she was treated and released.

In Class B, Mace finished more than a minute ahead of runner-up Emily Attwood of Cape Elizabeth, with Poland junior Kendra Lobley in third. Cape Elizabeth grabbed three of the next four spots, with Rachel Nichols fourth, Kelsey Barton sixth and Hannah Doss seventh.

The biggest surprise was Cape freshman Emma Inhorn placing 10th in a time (21:10) that would have won the Class C meet. A year ago, Inhorn wasnīt even among the top seven for her middle school team.

"She was amazing," said Cape Elizabeth Coach Mary Ann Doss. "Our goal was to put five girls in the top 15, and we got five in the top 10."

Only five schools fielded full teams in Class C, with illness and injuries blamed for the scratches.

Led by Lindsey Merrill (third), Ellie Soule (fourth) and Kiera Berkemeyer (10th), Freeport finished with 46 points, and NYA and Waynflete each had 49.

Staff Writer Glenn Jordan can be contacted at 791-6425 or at:
gjordan@pressherald.com