FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — Several sporting events were featured during this year’s Maine Potato Blossom Festival and the following is a wrap-up of what took place.
A swim meet was held July 11 at the Fort Fairfield Municipal Pool with swimmers from Mapleton, Presque Isle and Fort Fairfield participating.
Age division winners included: 8 and under girls, Lauren Dugal, Mapleton, 33 points; 8 and under boys, Graedon Rosado, Fort Fairfield, 35; 9-10 girls, Olivia Gagnon, Fort Fairfield, 35; 9-10 boys, Anthony Betancourt, Fort Fairfield, 35; 11-12 girls, Elisabeth Higgins, Presque Isle, 35; 11-12 boys, Micah Simon, Fort Fairfield, 35; 13-14 girls, Rhylee Kinney, Presque Isle, 35; 13-14 boys, Jason Bernaiche, Fort Fairfield, 14; and 15-18 girls, Maddie Wing, Presque Isle, 35.
In the 3-on-3 basketball tournament played July 12 at the community center gymnasium, seven teams vied for the title and the winner, with a 4-1 record, was the team made up of Keith Edgecomb, Mike Edgecomb, Shawn Smith and Jeremiah Fitzherbert. Taking second place was the team of Steven Decker, Dayne Savage, Donovan Savage, Dylan Murray and Cody Herbert, which went 5-2 overall.
Ashland picked up the victory in the single-elimination junior girls softball tournament, played Thursday at the Fort Fairfield Middle High School Athletic Complex. Ashland defeated Fort Fairfield, 10-8, in come-from-behind fashion. The winners’ road to the finals included triumphs over Presque Isle and Caribou, while Fort Fairfield had beaten Washburn and Mars Hill to reach the championship round.
Saturday’s five-mile road race saw P.J. Gorneault of Caribou recorded the fastest time of 26 minutes and 20 seconds. He was followed by Evan Graves (28:06), Patrick Cote (28:23) and Curtis Wheeler (29:00).
The first-place female was 16-year-old Grace Graham of Cary, who finished the race in 32:57. The women’s runner-up was Kelsey Dickinson, whose time was 35:08.
Age group winners were: 14 and under female, Amelia Russell; 14 and under male, John O’Meara; 15-18 female, Sarah Beaulieu; 15-18 male, Jason Bartley; 19-29 female, Dickinson; 19-29 male, Joey Bard; 30-39 female, Katie Malone; 30-39 male, Graves; 40-49 female, Ellen Bemis; 40-49 male, Steven Desmond; 50-59 female, Emily McDevitt; 50-59 male, Bruce Clark; 60-69 female, Debra Scott; 60-69 male, Lee Byram; and 70 and over male, Norman Page.
Paul Johnson was honored as the first Fort Fairfield resident to finish. Joe Doherty, at 1:01.08, captured the walker’s division. Tammy Landeen competed in the wheelchair division and her time was 55:13.
Sixty seven runners and 23 walkers took part in the event, which was Paul Lamoreau’s final one as race director.
In Saturday’s three-person scramble golf tournament played at Aroostook Valley Country Club, the winning Div. I team included Scott Fox, Jamie Pollock and David Konefal, all of Nackawic, New Brunswick. They had a score of 10-under-par 62. In second with a 63 was the team of Bob Bruce, Dan Ross and Milt Ross, who all play out of AVCC.
For Div. II, taking first was Adam Bruce, James Bruce and Ron Crouse, of AVCC, with a 65. Next was the team of Harry Orser, Sam Townsend and Carroll Carvell of Mars Hill Country Club. They shot a 66. Forty teams played in the tourney.
The final event was Sunday’s Spud Cycle Bicycle Race and Tour, a 25-mile event which included 20 racers.
Thad LaVallee of Sharon, Mass. was the winner in 1 hour, 5 minutes and 42 seconds. LaVallee sprinted to the finish line ahead of seven other riders to grab top honors. Gregg Collins of Caribou was a half a wheel length behind and was followed closely by Andrew Bouchard, Andrew Bland, Von Perry, Justin Perry, Joe Ewings and Mark Rossignol.
Barbara Springer won the women’s title in 1:16:20. Winning their divisions were Sarah Beaulieu, Tammy Landeen, Eli Pangburn, Bouchard, Collins and Marcel Bastide.
