CARIBOU, Maine — The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t stop S.W. Collins Company from holding its 5K race this year. The situation instead inspired a creative alternative — an “anytime” race in which racers could complete the course on their own time and track their results using a mobile app.
Racers had between midnight, Sept. 19 and 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 27 to run the course, which began and ended at the Caribou lumber yard. Racers needed to run the loop twice to make it a full 5K (3.1 mile) race.
And to celebrate the harvest in the County, runners were asked to take a photo of themselves holding a potato beforing, during, or after they finish and to submit that photo to the company’s social media page.
“We encourage everyone to have some fun and race with a potato,” race director Leslie Jackson said in a press release. “We’ll have potatoes available at the start line and selfies can be posted on Instagram or Facebook using #swc5kharvestrace.”
Proceeds from the event, a total of $750, will be donated to the Caribou High School Athletic Department for the construction of new dugouts.
The men’s winner was Jordan Duplessie (age 17) with an overall time of 16 minutes and 44 seconds. The women’s winner was Rene Gorneault (age 42) with a time of 21 minutes and 51 seconds.
A total of 52 people participated in the race. The overall results are: 1, Jordan Duplessie, 16:44, (age 17); 2, PJ Gorneault, 17:05, 41; 3, Michael Cyr, 17:11, 15; 4, Malachai Willey, 17:11, 17; 5, Thomas Beckum, 17:37, 44; 6, George Ferland, 18:00, 16; 7, Dylan Marrero, 18:53, 19; 8, Seth Lister, 19:42, 16; 9, Ephraim Willey, 20:12, 15; 10, Craig Reese, 21:44, 59; 11, Rene Gorneault, 21:51, 42; 12, George H. Ferland, 22:12, 46; 13, Jake Robertson, 23:52, 39; 14, Theresa St. Peter, 25:35, 50; 15, Ben Rosser, 25:42, 30; 16, Krista Daniel, 26:49, 29; 17, Denise Hamlin, 27:09, 55; 18, Vicky Cyr, 27:46, 37; 19, Kristi Bray, 28:02, 43; 20, Jemelie McCorison, 28:40, 43; 21, Robin Holmquist, 29:02, 45; 22, Isabella Albert, 29:49, 9; 23, Ryan Cote, 31:22, 42; 24, Sheila Guerrette, 31:56, 43.
Also, 25, Sharon Pelletier, 31:59, 51; 26, Betty Jean Gallagher, 37:58, 62; 27, Claudia St. Peter, 41:55, 50; 28, Lise Collins, 43:59, 59; 29, Clara Collins 44:00, 24; 30, Lindsey Himes, 46:26, 15; 31, Cindy Himes, 46:26, 44; 32, Jacob Soucy 48:53, 19; 33, Roger Soucy, 49:08, 45; 34, Mary Lund, 53:30, 58; 35, Nicole Evans, 53:39, 49; 36, Allison Keaton, 53:43, 45; 37, Addison Hafford, 53:55, 44; 39, Jeffrey Landeen, 53:57, 36; 40, Seth McCrossin, 53:57, 37; 41, Dawn McCrossin, 53:57, 40; 42, Claudette Landeen, 53:57, 61; 43, Jessica Desplaines, 54:55, 39; 44, Hailey Vanier, 55:00, 21; 45, Connie Vanier, 55:00, 54; 46, Marisa Paul, 57:49, 18; 47, Greg Paul, 57:49, 72; 48, Heather Curran, 1:02:46, 38; 49, Ethel Kinney, 1:03:00, 56; 50, Karen Kovach, 1:03:00, 57; 51, Kate Easter, 1:04:00, 43; 52, Marteen Hester, 1:04:00, 54.
