AUGUSTA — The central Maine cross country season kicked off in traditional style on Friday afternoon.

Teams hit the trail for the 23rd Scot Laliberte Invitational, hosted by Cony High School. The annual race is considered the unofficial start to the season for area teams. However, the event did not take place last year — the second time in three years it did not take place (the other being 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic) — because of poor weather and poor trail conditions. In fact, Cony did not have a home meet last season.

Henri McCourt of Mt. Blue (13:46.69) won the boys title, while Beckett Cote of Messalonskee (13:48.11) and teammate Pierce Coughlin (13:48.59) finished second and third, respectively.

Nora McCourt (17:00.38), Henri’s sister, won the girls race, while Winni Moreland of Gorham (17:22.12) placed second and Loralie Grady of Cony (18:42.80) was third.

Gorham (426 points) took home the event’s co-ed team award, given to the squad that had the best combined times. Morse (506) finished second, while Mt. Blue (558) finished third.

Both of the McCourt siblings were impressed with the newly conditioned trails.

“The trails were in incredible shape,” Nora McCourt said. “They were so much fun to run on. I’ve always loved this course, but it was especially fun today, just with how good the condition the trails were in. Also, not being able to have this race last year, it’s just such a fun way to open up the season. It was really good to be back here.”

“The course was really nice, really level,” added Henri McCourt. “This is one of my favorite courses in Maine. It’s got a really nice surface, it’s nice and wood chipped. Wood chips (make the surface) not too hard and not too soft, it’s really consistent.”

Cony head coach Shawn Totman said work on the trails began in June, and credited several people responsible for the improvement of the trails, including athletic director T.J. Maines and superintendent Mike Tracy Jr.

“This just shows you the strength of a community,” Totman said. “It took some logistics. It all came together in about three weeks. I can’t tell you the debt of gratitude I have for (Augusta Civic Center Director) Earl Kingsbury, (Augusta Parks and Recreation), (Augusta Schools Director of Buildings and Grounds) Jon Stonier, the support of the (Cony Athletic Boosters). Everyone chipped in and made this happen. It was all just genuine concern for the kids at Cony, making sure they could race at home. It all just kind of came together, almost at a moment’s notice.

“Ever since (the initial meeting to improve the trails in June), if you’ve been out here since that meeting, there’s been people out here working,” Totman continued. “Luc Pepin (of the Augusta Nature Club and Augusta Nature Education Center), he’s been a huge supporter. So many people came together.”

The race was started in 2000 as a tribute to former Cony standout Scot Laliberte, who died in a car accident that spring. Former Cony head coach Tom Wells and Laliberte’s mother, Trudy Ellis, were also on hand to help give out awards.