NORTH SCITUATE , R.I. — Matt McClintock said the cross country course at Ponagansett High School was a bit more difficult than he expected Saturday.

The Madison senior still impressed in the 5-kilometer race at the 77th annual New England Cross Country Championships.

McClintock, the three-time Class C state champion, earned himself a podium finish by checking in third with a time of 15 minutes, 39 seconds.

“I just didn’t have enough in the last mile,” he said. “They kind of separated from me. We were all together for awhile, but after the two-mile mark they separated. The course was a little more challenging than I thought, but this was the first good race I ran at New Englands. I’m really happy I could close it out the way I did.”

Messalonskee senior Harlow Ladd finished ninth in 16:01.

On the girls side, Bethanie Brown of Waterville finished fifth overall in 18:35 while Maranacook senior Abby Mace was seventh in 18:40.

“I was happy with the race,” Mace said. “With the way my season has been going, I just didn’t know what I’d be able to do (Saturday). But I stayed with the lead pack and it was great. I couldn’t be happier.”