It’s been about two weeks since Messalonskee senior Harlow Ladd lost the Class A boys cross country state championship in a photo finish to Nick Morris of Scarborough.

“I think about it every day,” Ladd said. “That race will always bother me, but I feel like I walked away a better runner. Races don’t make a runner, but they can change one. I’m a lot more motivated now. I know what I want to do. It was a big wake-up call. I can’t wait to go back out there.”

That opportunity comes Saturday at Ponaganset High School in North Scituate, R.I., site of the 77th New England Cross Country Championships.

“I really have nothing to live up to,” Ladd said. “I am going to run my own race, my own plan. It’s my last race for cross country in high school and I want to make it count.”

So, too, does Madison senior Matt McClintock, the three-time Class C state champ.

McClintock ran the Class C race in a state-best time of 15 minutes, 52.97 seconds on Oct. 30.

He may be Maine’s best hope for a podium finish Saturday.

“I’d like to be under 15:20 but my major goal is to be under 15,” he said. “I’m going to go out and run to win and let that carry over, and see what happens. It was good to get that extra week of rest between the races. A lot of the aches and pains are gone now. I’ll be ready.”

Mt. Blue junior Justin Tracy and Winthrop senior Kameron Souza also qualified for the race.

On the girls side, Maranacook senior Abby Mace hopes to rebound from what she called a “disappointing season.” Mace finished third at the Class B state meet behind Bethanie Brown of Waterville and Camden Hills sophomore Brittany Bowman.

Mace missed the New England race last season because of injury but finished sixth in 2008 and 10th in 2009.

She earned all-New England honors in those years.

“I’m looking forward to it because I want another chance to run a good race,” she said. “I’m hoping I can be a little bit better this year. I want to walk away satisfied. I’m excited to go some place new.”

Mace added she’d like to finish in the top 25.

“Physically, I’m capable of running faster than I have,” she said. “I had some mental setbacks, but I’m over them now. I need to teach myself to push my absolute hardest. It’s been a disappointing season. I didn’t improve as much as I wanted to.”

Lawrence junior Erzsie Nagy qualified for the race but won’t attend. Neither is Maine’s top runner, Kennebunk senior Abbey Leonardi, who is focusing on the Footlocker Northeast Regionals on Nov. 26 in Long Island, N.Y.

Other top runners expected to compete for the girls title are 2009 champ Molly Keating, of LaSalle Academy in Rhode Island, and Emily Durgin of Cheverus, who finished second last year.

On the boys side, Mike Marsella of Chariho High School in Rhode Island is considered among the favorites to win the title. McClintock should also be in the mix.

Bill Stewart — 621-5640

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