PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — After a long winter, runners must have been excited to hit the roads for an organized event as they came out in full force for the April 12 University of Maine at Presque Isle Spring Runoff 5K.
A field of 123 runners, an increase of 50 from last year, showed up at the start line for the annual fundraiser for UMPI cross country and track and field programs.
“We really promoted this as a fundraiser because we want to get track and field established at the university,” said race director Chris Smith, who also serves as the cross country coach at UMPI as well as the coach of the track and field club team which is participating in three meets in Massachusetts this spring.
“I think that had a lot to do with the outstanding turnout, as well as the fact that it has been a rough winter and people want to start getting active again,” Smith added.
The dry conditions and 45-degree temperatures allowed for close to ideal racing weather.
In the end, a runner with past success in the event captured top honors. Curtis Wheeler of New Sweden, who owns the course record with a time of 15 minutes and 33 seconds established in 2010, took first place in 17:45.
He was followed by Chris Rines of Houlton, who was 15 seconds back in 18:00, with Justin Fereshetian of Mars Hill taking third in 18:24 and Shawn Berry of Caribou in fourth in 18:33. Rines, Fereshetian and Berry are all former UMPI cross country standouts.
Veteran runner Jeff Ashby of Presque Isle claimed the fifth position in 18:41.
The remainder of the overall top 10 included Paul Johnson of Fort Fairfield (18:48), Lucas Kinney of Caribou (19:06), Trevor Levesque of Presque Isle (19:12), Alex Losieniecki of Caribou (19:30) and Bradley Burlock of Caribou (19:57).
The first female to cross the finish line was Tracy Guerrette of St. Agatha, who was 16th overall in 20:58. She was less than a second faster than women’s runner-up Rosalea Kimball of Readfield, who was one slot back. Marie Beckum of Caribou was third for females in 21:15.
Age division winners were: 14-and-under females, Libby Moreau of Mapleton, 24:45; 15-18, Sarah Doak of Caribou, 22:06; 19-29, Beckum; 30-39, Rebecca St. John of Presque Isle, 27:34; 40-49, Kimball; 50-59, Janice Wright of Presque Isle, 27:25; and 60-69, Connie McLellan of Cross Lake, 27:40.
Also, 14-and-under males, Dustin Alward of PI, 22:40; 15-19, Kinney; 29-29, Rines; 30-39, Berry; 40-49, Ashby; 50-59, Leo Kashian of Caribou, 21:30; 60-69, Larry Tonzi of Linneus, 24:11; and 70-79, Art Thompson of Limestone, 39:30.
For walkers, Michelle Bragdon of PI was first in 47:18, followed by Barb Tonzi of Linneus in 48:38 and Carolyn Kimball of Easton and Mitzi McKenney of Fort Fairfield with identical times of 50:21.
The Spring Runoff 5K was the second in the County Challenge Racing Series. The next one is the S.W. Collins Company 5K, set for Sunday, June 22 in Caribou.
