The 2016 Aroostook Musterds Running Club’s County Challenge Series awards will be presented for the 35th time at the Par and Grill Restaurant in Caribou on Saturday, Dec. 16.
Leo Kashian, the Musterds’ statistics officer, kept track of accumulated points and athlete participation in nine Aroostook County road races in determining the most consistent and stronger runners of all ages.
Points are awarded for overall and age group specific finishes for each of the races. Runners with the most points accumulated are recognized for their accomplishments. Participation awards for running a minimum of five series races are also presented. Additionally, the award for being chosen the Aroostook Musterd Runner of the Year will be presented to a worthy recipient.
The nine Challenge Series races this year were: the Wild Katahdin Trust 5K Snow Run in Houlton; the UMPI Spring Runoff 5K in Presque Isle; the S. W. Collins 5K in Caribou; the Musterd Mile in Caribou; the Potato Blossom 5-Miler in Fort Fairfield; the UMFK 5K Fun Run in Fort Kent; the Caribou Labor Day 8K Road Race; The County Marathon, Half, and Relay in Caribou; and the Caribou Turkey Trot 5K.
The first series was contested in 1983 and consisted of five races of five miles each held in Fort Kent, Caribou, Fort Fairfield, Presque Isle and Houlton. Originally conceived by Joggernaut Running Club members Conrad Walton, Bob Duprey, and Sam Hamilton, the series rules have changed very little, according to Musterd President Christopher Smith. How age groups are structured, the number of races in the series, and the fact that in 1983 individuals were required to run in the final race to be eligible for series awards, are the most notable changes.
Smith said one of the original purposes of the 1983 series, as is the case now, was to strongly encourage and to draw the less accomplished, recreational runner to come out as well as the more seasoned racers. The series winners that first year were Walton and Emily Higgins.
The Dec. 16 event will begin with a club meeting and social hour at 5 p.m. and will be followed by dinner and awards presentations. For more information please contact Smith at 227-6308, 764-4816 or at christopher.smith@maine.edu.
