Boys

Alfie Cognata, Winthrop junior: Cognata finished fifth at the Class C championships (17:38.24) last year. He also placed third at the Class C South regional and was the Mountain Valley Conference runner-up. He’ll be battling with Dirigo’s William Morris all season to be the region’s top male runner.

Evan Crockett, Messalonskee junior: Crockett is one of many returners for a strong Eagles squad. He finished 16th at the Class A North regional (17:16.37) last year, and his time at regionals was over a minute faster than his time at the KVAC championships.

Gage Mattson, Maranacook freshman: Mattson has already had a couple of impressive runs to start his high school career. He finished sixth (14:20.83) at the Laliberte Invitational at Cony High School last month. He then finished as the runner-up to Cognata (17:29.30) at Maranacook’s home meet on Sept. 4. By the postseason, with a full regular season under his belt, Mattson could become a Class C contender.

Noah Oliver, Messalonskee junior: Like Crockett, Oliver also made a major improvement in time last fall from the KVAC championships to finish 18th (17:21.51) at the Class A North regional. The pair will be pacing each other again, looking to shoot up the rankings in the region.

Craig Paine, Madison sophomore: The top runner for the Bulldogs, Paine finished sixth (18:32.98) at the Class C South regional and 17th at the Class C championships. He started the new season off on his home course with a win at the Weston, Woods and Water race on Sept. 5.

Girls

Hallie Coots, Nokomis junior: As a sophomore, Coots finished 13th (21:43.97) at the Class B North regional. She could be in line to make a jump into the top 10 in the region this year.

Bryanna Hagopian, Madison senior: Hagopian finished eighth (21:44.95) at the Class C South regional and fifth at the MVC championships in 2024. She could be primed for top-five results in the region this fall.

Leah Harper, Madison junior: Harper had an outstanding sophomore season, finishing eighth (21:03.13) at the Class C championships and fourth at the South regional. She was the runner-up to Boothbay/Wiscasset’s Karen Higgins for the MVC championship.

Harper Olmstead, Maranacook junior: Olmstead placed 10th at the MVC championships last year and is already off to a hot start in 2025, finishing second to teammate Caroline Harper at a home meet on Sept. 4.

Kira Pelletier, Maranacook junior: Pelletier is one of the leaders of what could be a strong squad in Class C South. Last year, she finished sixth at the MVC championships and 15th at the South regional.