by Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
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.
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
THEY’RE OFF — Runners take off from the starting line with some light snow falling at the annual University of Maine at Presque Isle Spring Runoff 5K, held Saturday. P.J. Gorneault of Caribou (#228, near center), won the race in a time of 15:54.
Curtis Wheeler of Presque Isle, 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 of Presque Isle 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.
The remainder of the overall top 10 included, fourth Marco Levesque of Edmunston, New Brunswick, 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, an UMPI student from Williamstown, Mass., 19:20; ninth, Cyr; and 10th, Thomas Wire of Houlton, 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.
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| Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg Steve Desmond and Nicole Green, both of Caribou, were among the competitors in Saturday’s road race held in Presque Isle. The UMPI Spring Runoff 5K attracted 73 runners. |
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg Shawn Berry of Caribou was third overall in Saturday’s road race held at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Berry posted a time of 18 minutes and 11 seconds and won the 30-39 age group. |
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg Chris Rines of Houlton, formerly of Caribou, 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 and was second in the 20-29 division. |
