State Championship Up Next for Team

Carrie Jones

BELFAST—The Mount Desert Island High School Girls’ Cross Country team zipped to a Northern Maine Championship crown, Saturday at Troy Howard Middle School in Belfast.

The win doesn’t just mean that the team gets the Northern Maine title. It also means that the team races again at the Maine State Championship meet next weekend.

The championship follows the team’s recent runners-up finish at the Penobscot Valley Conference (PVCs).

More than that though, this is the seventh consecutive title for the team. The last time the team didn’t take first? 2018. Even then, the girls were runners-up.

The stat is bigger than that.

The girls have won 15 out of 16 Northern Maine titles in Coach Desiree Sirois’ 16 years as head coach.

That’s right. Since 2007, the girls have been crowned state championships five times, twice they were runners-up and the team has well over nine regional championships. Sirois has been head coach since 2010, but coaching at MDI with cross country since 2006.

“It is a testament to their work ethic, drive, integrity, and sportsmanship as a program since the very first day of practice,” said Sirois of the recent championship.

It’s a legacy. It’s bragging rights. And it’s so many runs and stretches and strength training and learning how to run fast, run smart, run hard.

The fastest runners for MDI High School today were Kulani Granholm (second, girls) and Aidan Humphrey (seventh, boys).

Granholm powered to that finish with an 18:54.88 time. Antonia Burns was right behind her with a third place finish and 19:18.98 time. Christina Mobley came in third for the team earning a top ten overall spot with her time of 20:19.77.

“The team pulled together and showed up when it mattered most. Together, they pushed themselves to achieve individual personal bests and secure the win against strong competition,” said Sirois.

Other MDI girls’ team runners included Adele Barnum, Pierce Holley, Tessa Kane, Erin Murphy, Skyler Onorato, Julia Rose and Poppy Sandin.

Sam Chang, Brody Dowsland, James Goddard, Harper Miller Rushing, Dylan Munger, and Gray Spruce also competed for the boys.

It’s not just the kids who are involved. It’s parents, friends, family, supporters, and the great coaching of Sirois and what she calls her “amazing” assistants Jenn Britz and Katelyn Osborn.

“Throughout the season, they remained positive, trusted the process, and rose once again as the postseason powerhouse the program is known for,” Sirois said. “Next week, they will battle for a state title against tough Southern Maine teams.”

That championship is at Cony High School in Augusta.

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LINKS TO LEARN MORE

Girls’ times

Photos kindly the courtesy of Katherine Emery via Coach Desiree Sirois.

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