How Maine’s premier cross country teams plot out top finishes

Maine high‑school cross country: A season of diverse training philosophies

As the fall wind cools the fields of Maine’s high‑school track and field facilities, coaches across the state are laying out the plans that will shape this year’s racing calendars. From the base‑running focus of Hampden Academy’s girls team to Yarmouth’s aggressive taper for New England, each program’s strategy reflects a balance of talent, depth, and the particular demands of their respective conferences.

Different paths to victory

When the season‑opening meet in Bangor drew runners from every corner of the state, it also served as a gathering of ideas. Coaches shared their offseason regimens and, in the process, highlighted the lack of a single “right” approach.

Hampden Academy’s head coach, Danielle Johnson, came into the meet with a starkly different plan from her peers. “We haven’t even done any workouts yet,” she told reporters. “We’ll do our first one this week, but right now, we’re focused on base running. I want to prevent injuries, and I feel like if you focus on just workouts, kids are just going to get injured.” Johnson’s approach has already paid dividends. The Broncos swept the top six spots at the Bangor meet, proving that a cautious, injury‑free start can produce solid early‑season results.

Orono, meanwhile, remains a benchmark for program consistency. Coach Lin White, who has helmed the Red Riots for nine seasons, credits a focus on training over meet performance: “As much as I can limit meets, I do, because I think it’s the training that actually inspires them to get the results.” With 10 of the last 12 Class C girls titles and four of nine boys titles under his belt, White’s strategy of controlled competition has become a standard in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference.

In the north, Chris Rines of the Houlton/Greater Houlton Christian Academy (GHCA) tested a new tactic a week before the state meet. “I wanted them to feel the difference between how they had been racing and what it’s like to come in with a more strategic plan,” Rines explained. He had the Shire owners start the first two miles at a slower pace and then “let them have at it” for the third mile. “It was kind of like a glorified practice that got us ready,” he said, even as some of his coaching counterparts worried about the early slow times.

Yarmouth, fresh from a Class B state championship last year, is looking beyond state borders. Junior Eli Chalmers set the tone for the Clippers’ ambitions. “We’re going to taper for New Englands this year instead of states; we’re trying to go beyond states, because we’re the clear favorites for that,” he told reporters. The team’s plan is to time its taper to peak at the New England meet, a strategy that has been successfully employed by the Portland Bulldogs and will be the focus of this season’s discussion.

Training philosophies: base running versus early workouts

Coaches in Maine have long debated the merits of early‑season workouts. While some, like Johnson, prioritize injury prevention and a slow buildup, others argue for a hard start that conditions runners for the intensity of championship races.

Hampden’s transition into a more demanding training regime is slated for October. Johnson said the Broncos will start a “Michigan” workout, comprising four 1‑mile tempo runs (slightly slower than race pace) followed by a series of 1,600‑, 1,200‑, 800‑, and 400‑meter runs. “It provides a push that my runners feel they need as championship season nears,” she noted.

Orono’s strategy, on the other hand, involves limiting meets to keep the focus on training. “I think the training inspires them to get the results,” White reiterated. His program’s long‑term depth has kept the Red Riots at the top of the Class C boys and girls rankings.

The Houlton/Greater Houlton Christian Academy team’s experiment with a slower first two miles before a hard third mile underscores the tactical variety across schools. “It was kind of like a glorified practice,” Rines added. The move was designed to simulate the pacing differences that will be encountered in championship races.

Pack running: the heart of team success

Beyond individual speed, Maine teams are placing increasing emphasis on pack running—a coordinated effort where teammates keep close together to share pace and strategy. The Portland Bulldogs have mastered this craft under coach Frank Myatt, who praised the team’s cohesion after a recent meet in Scarborough. “We’re all really close, and we kind of knew we were going to be close in our times,” said Maren Krovel, one of the Bulldogs’ top runners. “I said I was going to stick onto Eleanor, and she said she was going to stick onto Eloise and Lucy, and we were all pushing each other to the finish.”

Hampden’s girls team is also working on the mental aspect of pack running. “We actually had a meeting Tuesday to kind of address that, kind of to say, ‘Hey, it’s OK if you have a bad race or if a teammate beats you,’” Johnson said. The aim is to keep the competitive edge while fostering a supportive environment where teammates can rely on one another.

Pack running has proven to be a decisive factor in state and regional championships. Houlton/Greater Houlton Christian Academy’s boys squad, for instance, returned five of the six runners who won last season’s state title, positioning them as strong contenders for a repeat victory.

Winning: talent, depth, and timing

When the conversation turns to championship success