Sports Reporter
CARIBOU – In what has become a very popular event in the community, the sixth annual Under the Lights Community/Alumni X-Country Race took place Saturday on the high school’s 2.75-mile course.
This year’s event featured 116 participants. It is a handicapped race, with those 50 years and older or in middle school starting first, followed a minute later by those in the 40-49 bracket and then starts in one-minute increments by the 30-39, 20-29 and finally elite and high school-age runners. Elite runners are males who can run a five-kilometer race in less than 18 minutes and females who can run it in less than 21 minutes.
Individual winners were 12-year-old Dillon Beckum for males and Kim Wright of Presque Isle for females.
The race also featured team scores. The first-place team for males was the Has Beens and Wannabees, consisting of Dillon Beckum, Leo Kashian, Thomas Beckum, Carl Soderberg and Gabe Massey. In second was Maine Winter Sports Center, made up of Fred Bailey, Joey Bard, Will Sweetser, Adam Fissette and Derek Rowe. Placing third was Gumby, which included Spencer McElwain, Tim Freme, Finn Bondeson and Chris Rines.
For females, the winning team was Victorious Secret, which included Rene Gorneault, Susan Plissey and Marie Strouse. In second was the MWSC Women, made up of Sarah Dominick, Melinda McAlesese, Danni Anderson, Vicky Bernard and Lauren Olsen. Walk It Out placed third and consisted of Dayna Michaud, Mary-Jo Sheehan and Katie Plourde.
The top-10 males, along with their handicapped times, were: Dillon Beckum, 13:25; Leo Kashian, 13:33; P.J. Gorneault, 13:59; Fred Bailey, 14:11; Spencer McElwain, 14:14; Thomas Beckum, 14:44.4; Joey Bard, 14:44.8; Christian Sleeper, 14:54; Will Sweetser, 15:03; and Timothy Freme, 15:06.
The top-10 females were: Kim Wright, 17:47; Sarah Dominick, 17:52; Rene Gorneault, 18:05; Melinda McAlesese, 18:08; Susan Plissey, 18:08; Emma Belyea, 18:48; Marie Strouse, 19:11; Dayna Michaud, 19:51.0; Kristina Stephens, 19:51.5; and Mary Jo Sheehan, 19:59.
