CARIBOU, Maine — Thirty-three runners attempted to run the fastest mile of their lives on Friday, July 21.
The Musterd Mile served as the fifth race in the Aroostook Musterds running club’s County Challenge Racing Series. It was originally scheduled for July 7, but inclement weather that evening forced the postponement.
The race, held during the evening, began at Caribou High School and ended near Monica’s Scandinavian Gift Shop on Sweden Street. The downhill slope of the course typically results in fast times.
Evan Desmond of Caribou, competing in April’s Spring Run-off 5K in Presque Isle, won the Musterd Mile held in Caribou Friday, July 21.
(Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg)
Evan Desmond of Caribou, who placed third in last year’s event, knocked nearly 13 seconds off his time and finished in 4 minutes and 36.2 seconds to lead the way.
Max Bartley of Presque Isle was second in 4:59.6 and Chris Rines of Houlton was third in 5:13.8. Bruce Clark of Houlton (5:21) and Steve Desmond of Caribou (5:24.7) were fourth and fifth, respectively.
Marie Beckum of Caribou was the fastest female in 5:28.9, which was good for sixth overall.
The rest of the top 10 included, in order, seventh, John O’Meara of New Sweden, 5:30.1; eighth, Carl Soderberg of Caribou, 5:40.4; ninth, Allen Ferguson of Presque Isle, 5:43.6; and 10th, Ashley Violette of Caribou, 5:43.8.
Following Beckum and Violette in the female division was Madison Jandreau of Caribou, who was 11th overall in 5:44.6.
Eight-year-old Emerson McNeally of New Sweden finished the race in 6:47.4. The youngest runners in the field were 4-year-olds Scarlett Beckum and Peyton Gorneault, both of Caribou.
The next Challenge Series race is the UM5K Fun Run Aug. 5, starting at the UMFK Sports Center at 9 a.m. Contact Lucas Levesque at 834-7876 for more information.
