Labor Day 5K to decide series champs

    CARIBOU — The eighth and final 2009 County Challenge Series road race will be held Monday beginning at Caribou High School.  The Caribou Labor Day 8K Road Race will begin at 11 a.m. with walkers starting at 10:30 a.m.  Runners will begin on the Caribou High School track and run a loop finishing up Sweden Street before concluding with 500 meters on the track.  Walkers will walk an out and back course for 5 kilometers.     This Monday’s race is particularly important for a number of area runners as the outcome of the County Challenge Series is still “up for grabs” in the mens overall standings and many age group categories. Marie Strouse leads the womens overall division with 62 points and is followed by Angela Ewings (47) and Michelle Roy (38).  Age group leaders for the womens group, by age, are 14-and-younger: Kendra Stephens (22), Jordann Coiley (18) and Alexis Coiley (15); 15-18: Kelly Kashian tied with Hannah Saunders (29), and Mary-Jo Sheehan third (16); 19-29: Marie Strouse (66), Susan Plissey (27), Nicole Porter (26); 30-39 (Michelle Roy (55), Rene Gorneault (44), Chanon Bond (11); 40-49: Angela Ewings (64), Linda Mountain (47), Brenda Bailey and Frances Prest tied for third (25); 50-59: Connie McLellan (44); 60 and over: Ruth Hare and Darlene Higgins tied for first (11).
    For the men, Alfred Hanscom leads overall with 45 points, but Jeff Ashby and P.J. Gorneault are both just six points back at 39. Age group leaders are: 14-and-younger; Trevor Levesque in first place with 44 points followed by Tyler Strid (43) and Dillon Beckum (28); 15-18: Jake Michaud (24), Tim Freme (22), Finn Bondeson and D.J. Flynn tied for third (20); 19-29: Even Graves (31), Erik Sjoberg (25), Jordan Powers (24); 30-39: Al Hanscom (61), Thomas Beckum and PJ Gorneault tied for second (40); 40-49: Jeff Ashby (66), Brent Bailey (37), Carl Soderberg (25), Jeff Irving (24); 50-59: Chris Smith (54), Leo Kashian (44), Steve Emery (26); 60-69: Don Zillman (40), Waldo Libby and Larry Tonzi tied for second (22); 70 and over: Art Thompson (33).
    In both the overall and age group divisions 10 points are gained for first place with 8, 7 etc. points given for second through ninth place finishes, respectively.  An additional point is given for finishing each race.  Based on this system the following divisions, including the men’s overall classification, are to be decided on Monday in Caribou: women’s 14 and under, 15-18, 30-39, 60 and over, men’s 14 and under, 15-18, 19-29, and 50-59.  In the event of a tie the finish position in the Labor Day event is the tie-breaker.
    Winners will be announced on Wednesday, Sept. 9 and awards presented at the annual Aroostook Musterds Awards gathering to be held Sunday, Oct. 18 at the Nordic Heritage Sports Club. Additionally, recipients of the Aroostook Musterds scholarships will be announced. The $500 awards will be presented to two Aroostook County athletes continuing their running careers in college, one to an athlete entering his or her freshman year and one entering his/her sophomore year. Applications are available by calling Chris Smith at 768-9472 or by emailing Smith at christopher.smith@umpi.edu.