Windham cross country has good showing at tough South Portland course

By Matt Pascarella

Windham High School’s Cross Country teams ran a hard course in South Portland against Bonny Eagle, Cheverus, Marshwood and South Portland on Friday, Sept. 25. The Eagles left it all on the course and the Eagle boys finished fifth with a score of 91. Windham’s girls finished fifth with a score of 104.

Windham senior Mason Bragdon give his all against an
opposing runner during a prep cross country meet with
Cheverus, Bonny Eagle, Marshwood and South Portland
at South Poirtland High School on Friday, Sept. 25.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

“We were talking about really pushing it during the meets and staying healthy; just making sure we’re on track for where we want to be,” said Windham cross country coach Paula Pock. “I think a lot of them saw some pretty significant personal records, so we’re hoping to carry that momentum as we move forward. A lot of them are now running with one of their teammates, so that has really been a positive ... to see that they can run a little bit faster than they thought they could. That coming together and working together which is helping them all across the board. Staying healthy, being smart and pacing (need work). A lot of them go out too quick and then they are not able to sustain so that is something we are working on and trying to learn more about while trying to maintain.”

BOYS

Freshman Miles Moreau finished first for Windham and first overall, with a time of 17:36.00 minutes.

Senior Mason Bragdon finished second for Windham and 12th overall with an 18:57.00 time.

“I’ve been working hard at practice,” said Bragdon. “I needed to leave it out all on the course, give it everything I could. I think I left everything I possibly could out on that course. It’s a tough, mental course – a lot of long open fields and long distances between people, you can see half a mile down. I went out as fast as I could and kept going as hard as I could until the very end. Holding that last final stretch (needs work). Keeping the legs moving when they don’t want to and pushing when it really counts.”

In third place for Windham and 24th overall was freshman Sam Jaynes with a time of 20:18.00.

Chase VanDerburgh, a sophomore, finished 12th for Windham with a time of 35:24.00.

GIRLS

In first place for Windham and 10th overall was senior Grace Lee who crossed the finish line with a time of 22:32.00. 

“For this course I decided to take each mile separately,” said Lee. “I wanted to come out strong and get near the front for the duration of the first mile. The second mile was lots of pavement so I really engaged and tried to pursue a more aggressive pace than I’ve been taking. And then that last mile was just opening my stride and trying not to tense up. I was able to maintain pretty even splits during this race, which is something I’ve been struggling with, so I'm happy with my race. My biggest room for improvement is definitely in the second mile of the race where it’s easy to get discouraged. This race was just a good reminder that bad days don’t define you. I’ve had kind of a slower season until today, so it was a good reminder not to give up during a rough patch.”

Second for the Eagles and 21st overall was senior Alanna Lewis who finished with a 24:31.00 time.

Junior Virginia Pampaloni finished third for Windham and 23rd overall with a time of 24:39.00.

Eva Vancelette, a senior, finished 28th overall and sixth for the team in a 25:26.00 time. <