Maranacook girls, Winthrop boys win MVC cross country titles
Dirigo’s William Morris takes MVC cross‑country title; Maranacook freshman Reagan Mattson claims girls crown
Augusta, Oct. 17 — In a crisp, breezy Saturday at the University of Maine at Augusta’s Elvin Fields, the Mountain Valley Conference (MVC) cross‑country championships finished with Dirigo’s senior William Morris leaping to a 5‑kilometre victory and Maranacook’s freshman Reagan Mattson earning the girls’ individual crown. The contest also saw Winthrop secure the boys’ team title and Maranacook capture the girls’ team trophy.
Individual triumphs
Morris crossed the finish line in 16 : 20.26, more than 35 seconds ahead of Winthrop’s Alfie Cognata (16 : 55.68) and Sawyer Wess (16 : 56.00). “It’s not a very fast course, I wasn’t going for any personal records,” he said. “I’m always scared I’m going to get passed. My coach has drilled me to never look back, but I just never seem to lose that fear and push as if someone is going to pass me.” The senior, who swept the MVC, Class C South and Class C state titles last fall, added that the MVC’s “strongest Class C conference” status gives him confidence heading into regionals and state meets.
Marranacook’s Mattson finished 19 : 35.31, beating Dirigo’s McKenzie Boyle (20 : 50.52) by a full minute and a half and Dirigo’s Kira Pelletier (21 : 07.85). “It felt good to win,” she said. “I was kind of cold to start, but I got warmed up and it was fun to run with the girls in the woods. It’s definitely a goal of mine to get out and separate myself from the group, then you just try to take your mind off the race and try to expand the gap.” Mattson, who won the Scot Laliberte Invitational at Cony High on September 17 and set a Winthrop course record, was the top freshman girls runner (18 : 55) at the Festival of Champions in Belfast.
The win also secured the title of MVC Runners of the Year for Morris and Mattson, while Ed Van Tassel (Winthrop) and Casey Spencer (Maranacook) were named MVC Coaches of the Year.
Team results
Winthrop’s boys ran a dominant sweep, posting 30 points to take the MVC team championship. Their five top‑ten finishers — Cognata, Wess, Sam St. Germain (17 : 56.67), Michael Van Tassel (18 : 04.73) and Gianni Haefele (18 : 53.30) — combined for a decisive 30‑point haul. “We had a plan and we executed it,” coach Van Tassel said. “I think next week at regionals we’ll have a similar type of performance.”
Maranacook’s girls, meanwhile, amassed 51 points to claim the team title over Boothbay/Wiscasset (59). The squad’s top three finishers were Reagan Mattson (19 : 35.31), Kira Pelletier (21 : 07.85) and Harper Olmstead (22 : 46.11). Coach Spencer praised the team’s effort: “The team’s worked really hard. We’re feeling pretty good and have our eyes on the next two weekends at regionals and states.”
Winthrop boys trailed Maranacook (72) and Boothbay/Wiscasset (93) in the boys’ standings, while the girls’ team ranks followed the same order.
Beyond the finish line
The MVC has long been a proving ground for Maine’s top high‑school distance runners. Morris’s recent runner‑up finish at the Festival of Champions in Belfast, where he fell 0.15 seconds short of Atticus Merriam of Scarborough, underscores the depth of competition. “I feel like MVC is the strongest Class C conference. If you can place well here, you can place well at states,” Morris added.
Marranacook’s Mattson, who has already set records and earned top‑finisher honors, looks forward to building
