The Aroostook Mûsterds awarded its 2016 Runner of the Year trophy to a first-timer in Bruce Clark of Houlton.
Clark ran in all eight of the 2016 County Challenge Series races, winning his 50-59 age group in all but one of them. Additionally, nominees pointed to Clark as being “quiet, dedicated, a major participant, and always supportive of others. He exemplifies what a Mûsterd is and does.”
The annual awards ceremony, held Dec. 17, marked the 34th time awards have been presented to runners for their racing and participation in the County Challenge Series. The eight races for 2016 were the Wild Katahdin Trust Snow Run (Houlton) the UMPI Spring Runoff 5K (Presque Isle), the Potato Blossom 5-Miler (Fort Fairfield), the S.W. Collins 5K (Caribou), The Mûsterd Mile (Caribou), The Caribou Marathon, Half, and Relay, the Caribou Labor Day 8K (Caribou), and the Caribou Turkey Trot 5K.
Evan Graves of Caribou ran to his first overall series championship, having earned 57 points, 11 points ahead of Evan Desmond of Caribou. PJ Gorneault, also of Caribou, was third with 44.
On the women’s side, Grace Graham of Houlton and Kim Wright of Mapleton had the same point total of 42, but the tie was broken based on head-to-head competition within the series, which put Graham on top. Marie Beckum of Caribou was third at 37 points.
The participation category requires participants to complete four of the eight series races to be eligible for recognition. Recipients having run four races were Susie Schloeman, Gorneault, Joey Bard, Cole Winslow, Jim Nesbitt, Shelby Johnson, Graham and Joe Ewings. Running five races were Angela Ewings, Katie Malone, Brent Bailey, Jeff Irving, Wright, Lisa Nascimbeni, Beckum and Teagan Ewings.
Involved in six races were Chris Rines, Ed Malone, Graves and George H. Ferland. Seven races were run by Carl Soderberg, Evan Desmond and Steve Desmond. Clark was the lone runner completing all eight series races.
Having run the minimum four races, age group winners were: 14 and under, Teagan Ewings (55 points); 15-18, Johnson (35) and Evan Desmond (68), Winslow (29); 19-29, Rines (48) and Bard (44); 30-39, Katie Malone (50), Beckum (40) and Gorneault (44); 40-49, Angela Ewings (55) and Steve Desmond (69), Ferland (52), Joe Ewings (44); 50-59, Wright (55), Nascimbeni (47), Schloeman (33) and Soderberg (65), Bailey (32); 60-69, Ed Malone (58); 70 and over, Nesbitt (44).
The 2017 County Challenge Series, which begins in February in Houlton, will be expanded to nine races with the addition of the Summer 5K Fun Run to be held at the University of Maine at Fort Kent Sports Center in July. The complete preliminary Aroostook County race schedule will be available in early January.
