Graham, Gorneault atop Challenge road race series
The 2016 County Challenge Road Racing Series has just three race dates remaining following the completion of the most recent event, the Potato Blossom 5-Miler on July 16.
The next series race, which serves as a fund-raising effort for the Aroostook Mûsterds Scholarship, is the Caribou Labor Day 8K to be held Sept. 5 at Caribou High School.
Age group and overall division points have been updated and show Grace Graham of Cary leading the women’s division with 42 points. She is followed by Marie Beckum and Teagan Ewings (26 points each).
On the men’s side, PJ Gorneault of Caribous is in the top position with 44 points, leading Evan Graves by seven points (37) and Evan Desmond by 17 (27).
Age group leaders in the women’s division include: 14 and under: Teagan Ewings (44), Annalise Jandreau (16) and Amelia Russell (11); 15-18: Grace Graham (44), Shelby Johnson (26) and Emily Austin (11); 19-29: Kelsea Dickinson, Kayla Buck and Rachel Hudson tied for first (11); 30-39: Marie Beckum (40), Katie Malone (22) and Gabrielle Wheeler (11); 40-49: Angela Ewings (44), Ellen Bemis (11) with Vanessa Patenaude, Sarah Graham and Theresa St. Peter all tied for third (9); 50-59: Lisa Nascembeni (29), Susie Schloeman (25) and Kimberly Wright (22); 60-69: Connie McLellan, Nadeen Plourde and Debra Scott all tied for first place (11).
Men’s age group leaders are: 14 and under: Jeremy Stone (22), John O’Meara (20) and George J. Ferland (16); 15-18: Evan Desmond (48), Cole Winslow (29) and Isaiah Brown (22); 20-29: Chris Rines (31), Joey Bard and Russell Currier (22); 30-39: PJ Gorneault (44), Evan Graves (27) and Curtis Wheeler (15); 40-49: Steve Desmond (49), Joe Ewings (33) and George H. Ferland (32); 50-59: Bruce Clark (55), Carl Soderberg (38) and Brent Bailey (22); 60-69: Ed Malone (29), Nick Pesut (15) with Lee Byram, Steve McDonald and Bruce Freme all tied for third (11); 70-79: Jim Nesbitt (11).
The remaining series races and contact persons are the Sept. 5 Caribou Labor Day 8K (Chris Smith, 768-9472), the Sept. 18 Caribou Marathon, Half, and Relay (Lydia Kieffer, 551-9358) and the Nov. 26 Caribou Turkey Trot 5K (Evan Graves, 266-0711).
For the Sept. 18 event, runners choosing either the full or half marathon distance of the Caribou Marathon, Half, and Relay will have their finish positions in their respective races determine their points for this race series date.
The season finishes up with the 34th annual Aroostook Mûsterds Awards being presented on Dec. 3, with a location and time still to be determined.
The Aroostook Mûsterds Running Club is a family-oriented group which encourages the development of health, fitness and positive competition through the sport of running.
Each year the club awards a $500 scholarship to a student entering college who plans to continue running. Funds are raised from membership dues, through advertisements sold in the annual Mûsterds “Aroostook Road Racing Calendar” and from funds generated in the Caribou Labor Day 8K.
For more information on the club, membership or the scholarship, which has yet to be awarded to a 2016 graduate, contact Chris Smith, club president (“The Bull”) at 764-4816 or at christopher.smith@maine.edu.
