PRESQUE ISLE — An impressive field of 73 runners took to the streets of Presque Isle Saturday for the annual University of Maine at Presque Isle Spring Runoff 5K, the second race in the County Challenge Series.
Despite the snow overnight, the weather cooperated and the conditions were fine for the 31st annual event, which is a fundraiser for the UMPI cross country program. P.J. Gorneault of Caribou, who was the overall champion of the 2012 County Challenge Series and was also named Aroostook Musterds Running Club’s runner of the year, dominated the field and sprinted across the line in a time of 15 minutes and 54 seconds.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Kevin Sjoberg
AND THEY’RE OFF — Runners take off from the starting line at the annual University of Maine at Presque Isle Spring Runoff 5K, held Saturday. Seventy three runners took part in the event.
Curtis Wheeler, who established the course record of 15:33 in 2010, placed second in 16:48. Shawn Berry of Caribou, a former Presque Isle High School and UM-Presque Isle standout, placed third in 18:11.
The women’s winner was Gabrielle Cyr in 19:21. Cyr, who placed ninth overall, owns the course record of 18:46, which was established last year. The female runner-up was Kayla Legassie of Presque Isle in 21:19 and taking third was Nicole Green of Caribou in 21:29.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Kevin Sjoberg
RUNNING MAN — Chris Rines of Houlton placed sixth overall in Saturday’s University of Maine at Presque Isle Spring Runoff 5K. Rines had a time of 19 minutes and one second.
The remainder of the overall top 10 included, fourth Marco Levesque, 18:26; fifth, Jeff Ashby of Fort Fairfield, 18:34; sixth, Chris Rines of Houlton, 19:01; seventh, Lucas Kinney of Caribou, 19:13; eighth, Andrew Nesbitt, 19:20; ninth, Cyr; and 10th, Thomas Wire, 19:40.
Age division winners from Saturday were: 14-and-under female: first, Sarah Beaulieu, 26:08; second, Jessica Boucher, 26:47; and third, Grace Bemis, 27:12; 19-29 female: first, Legassie; second, Sarah Taylor, 29:17; and third, Brittany Pelkey, 31:49; 30-39 female: first, Green; second, Susan Plissey, 23:11; and third, Renee Ennis, 24:41; 40-49 female: first, Stephanie Beaulieu, 26:09; second, Ellen Bemis, 27:35; and third, Vanessa Patenaude, 30:21; 50-59 female: first, Kimberley Wright, 21:51; and second, Patricia Hebert, 23:35; and 60-69 female: Connie McLellan, 28:09.
Also, 14-and-under male: first, Nick Bartlett, 20:57; second, John O’Meara, 23:39; and third, Craig Schiff, 24:10; 15-18 male: first, Kinney; second, Corey Hebert, 19:51; and third, Trevor Levesque, 20:09; 19-29 male: first, Wheeler; second, Rines; and third, Nesbitt; 30-39 male: first, Berry; second, Mike Smith, 20:16; and third, Thomas Beckum, 20:30; 40-49 male: first, Levesque; second, Ashby; and third, Robert Losieniecki, 22:28; 50-59 male: first, Leo Kashian, 20:08; second, Hal Stewart, 24:24; and third, Paul Lamoreau, 24:43; and 60-69 male: first, Steve McDonald, 25:27; second, Brent Jepson, 26;19; and third, Nick Pesut, 27:12.
The next County Challenge Series race is the S.W. Collins Company 5K in Caribou June 23.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Kevin Sjoberg
ON COURSE — Veteran runner Brent Bailey of Houlton turned in a time of 27:38, good for 54th place in Saturday’s UMPI Spring Runoff 5K Road Race in Presque Isle.
