Runners about to emerge from the woods for the final time at Twin Brook Recreation Area on Saturday were greeted by a large hand-painted sign with dripping red letters clearly meant to resemble blood: Welcome to the Pain Cave.

Indeed, before emerging into the sunlight (or light mist, depending on when one competed in Saturday morning´s Western Maine cross country championships), runners had to take a sharp right into what seemed a shadowy pit, then turn left and climb a steep hill.

Even though she hated running it, Cape Elizabeth senior Emily Attwood loves the Pain Cave.

She likened it to Satan´s Inferno on the Leavitt High course, or High School Hill on the Black Mountain Nordic ski course in Rumford, an intimidating feature of the trail that can inspire awe, respect and dread.

"It´s like a landmark," said Attwood, the Western Class B runner-up.

THE WESTERN CLASS B winner was Maranacook sophomore Abby Mace. Among the first to offer Mace congratulations was Western Class A runner-up Abbey Leonardi of Kennebunk.

Not only did Leonardi not shrink from questions about her disappointing loss to Cheverus sophomore Emily Durgin -- the first high school cross country race in New England in which Leonardi finished anywhere but first -- but she also lingered to cheer on Mace.

"She is not only a great runner," Mace said, "she´s also a great person."

If the photo in the Maine Sunday Telegram of Durgin looking skyward at the finish line appears as if she´s giving thanks to a higher power, well, maybe she was.

"I just prayed to God she wasn´t going to catch me," Durgin said, knowing Leonardi was behind her in the final stretch. "It was unbelievable at first, but I´ve been working really hard and that´s been a huge goal of mine."

They will have a chance to race again Saturday at Twin Brook in the state championship meet, then again with Mace in the mix the following Saturday at the New England championships. Assuming, of course, they all stay healthy and avoid such hazards as roots, rocks, gopher holes and hemp bracelets.

TWO IMPRESSIVE newcomers on the Maine high school running scene emerged Saturday at the Western Maine regionals Cumberland.

First, Fryeburg Academy freshman Silas Eastman ran a 16:20 to finish a second behind York senior Alex Moser´s fastest time of the day. Second, Merriconeag-Waldorf School (enrollment: 35) won the Western Class C runner-up plaque over 10 other schools.

Merriconeag (pronounced Mer-eh-cuh-NEEG) is a 3-year-old school with campuses in Freeport and New Gloucester. Freshmen Jack Pierce (fifth) and Juan Mesones (ninth) led the effort, with junior Phineas Samuelson, sophomore Tyler O´Brien and junior Jacob Kolda all finishing among the top 35.

Merriconeag is coached by Tom Ryan, a nationally competitive masters runner.

GIRLS´ VOLLEYBALL

The Greely-Falmouth volleyball rivalry brought together friends and neighbors who have connections to both teams. Plus, players from both schools play together on a club team.

And one of Falmouth´s best players got her start in the Greely gym. Years ago, a young Emma Wilberg would be hitting a volleyball against the wall while her dad, Dr. James Wilberg, helped out with the Greely team.

When the Yachtsmen began volleyball three years ago, Wilberg signed up, and she has developed into the state´s best setter.

Falmouth Coach Gary Powers used to be an assistant at Greely. Watching the Rangers celebrate their seventh consecutive state championship was bittersweet.

"It´s hard," he said. "I still wanted us to take it ... but they´re all good kids."

BEST HOMEMADE poster hanging at the state championship match: "Yeah, you wish you hit like a girl."

FIELD HOCKEY

Scarborough´s 2-1 overtime victory over Skowhegan in the Class A state championship game, which ended the Indians´ astounding eight-year reign as state champions, was worth every bit of anticipation.

Sometimes, games of this hype don´t live up to the billing. This one did, as both teams played intense, skilled field hockey.

Even though the Indians scored first, early in the second half, the Red Storm players were confident they could pull through.

"More than anything, we were angry that they scored that first goal," said midfielder Heather Carrier.

Brittany Ross pulled Scar-borough even late in regulation, then Ellie Morin´s tip-in goal early in overtime settled it. The fact that the championship came against Skowhegan, which beat Scarborough in double overtime last year, made the win even more sweet. And not simply because of the revenge factor.

As Coach Kerry Mariello said in the days leading up the game, "It´s not that you don´t like them, it´s that you admire them. You want to be like them. They have an unbelievable program and every coach strives for that."

The folks in Skowhegan may feel disappointed that the championship streak is over, but they should also realize just how impressive it was.

"We knew we had to lose sometime," said Coach Paula Doughty. "It wasn´t going to last forever. Just to be here again was amazing."

North Yarmouth Academy´s 1-0 loss to Dexter was stunning, given that the Panthers had scored 110 goals in winning their first 17 games. Coach Julia Sterling was asked if NYA´s relatively easy regular-season schedule contributed to the loss. The Panthers were seldom challenged during the lead-up to the title game.

"It probably did, but what are you going to do about it?" she said. "That´s our schedule. But the girls should be proud of what they accomplished. We had a tremendous season and it was fabulous to see how well we did. We just didn´t have our best game."

The same could be said of York, which wasn´t shut out all season until Gardiner beat the Wildcats in the Class B title game, 2-0.

York was off its game and didn´t really show how good it was until the final 12 minutes. That was when the Wildcats went at the Tigers hard. But they couldn´t get anything, especially off penalty corners, which accounted for most of York´s goals this year.

York Coach Barb Marois had praise for Gardiner´s defense, saying, "They handled the situations well. We had our chances."

FIELD HOCKEY officials have always been fashionable when it comes to their uniforms. They´re some of the few sports officials who can wear different colors each game.

Saturday, they showed their diversity.

In the Class B game, officials wore a fuchsia jersey. In the C game, it was a salmon color.

And in the Class A game, they wore a blue long-sleeve jersey that prompted memories of Star Trek. All that was missing was the Star Fleet insignia.