CASTINE — Maine-Presque Isle placed the top two runners, but it was Thomas College that captured the 2011 Mariner Cross Country Invitational on Saturday.

The Terriers scoring five all finished in the top ten of the 14-runner field. Sarah Estes (Brewer) was the Terriers top dog, crossing third overall in 24:30. Teammates Chelsie Morris (Livermore Falls) and Jericca Stackpole (Biddeford) were the next two runners to cross with respective times of 25:36 and 26:03. Amadna Dion (Foxboro, Mass.) finished eighth overall in 28:40, while Samantha Felbaum (Saco) placed tenth in 30:01 to wrap up the team title.

UMPI lacked enough runners to secure a team score, but the runners that did compete fared well. First-year, Emily Wright (Mapleton) completed the five-kilometer course in 22:47 for the individual championship. Precisely one minute later, Carly Langley (Truro, N.S.) crossed the line to take second. Sarah Taylor (Industry) placed sixth in 26:51.

Samantha DePlanche (Dover, N.H.) paced the Mariners second-place finish. The team captain clocked a 27:04 for seventh place, while Bridget Duffy (Hallowell) posted a 29:07 for ninth place. Ashley Burnett (Danville, N.H.), Blaire Fontaine (Cheshire, Conn.) and Erica Taylor (Mesquite, Texas) rounded out the Mariners competitors. Burnett clocked 33:25 for 12th place, while Fontaine posted a 35:35 for 13th.

The Mariner Invitational featured its unique traditions of starting with a musket shot and ending with the victorious team cutting cake for the participants and fans on hand. In starting a new tradition, this year's top three finishers were awarded sledgehammers for putting the hammer down on the course.

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