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By Mike Lange, Of the NEWS Staff - GREENVILLE — Organizers of the the first UnitedKingfield "Moose on the Run" 5K road race admitted they didnąt know what to expect for a turnout Sunday. Some thought that maybe 30 or 35 people would show up at the starting line, considering that it was a new race on a cloudy, cool day. But as Greenville Town Manager John Simko put it, "We sure blew those numbers away!" A total of 91 people registered and 88 participated in Sunday's race: 39 men and 35 woman in the 5K and 14 youngsters in the 1K "Fun Run." The race started off with a bang - literally - as Sara Holman, the executive director of the Moosehead Region Chamber of Commerce, fired a shotgun at the starting line. A Greenville student, dressed in a moose costume, led the pack eastbound on Pritham Avenue. Justin Bates of Abbot was the first runner across the finish line with a time of 17:03 while Hannah Breton of Greenville, a 12-year-old student making her first road race, took first place in the ladies division with a 21:28. The winding course along Pritham Avenue, North Birch Street and Crafts Road featured a little bit of everything for every runners' taste, including a nice view of Moosehead Lake. "I loved it," said Brenda Bailey of Houlton, who won the "Most Blaze Orange" award for her outfit. "Everything was set up so nicely and the spotters on the route were great. It's hard to believe that this was a first-time race." Gene Ross, also from Houlton, agreed. "There were some nice level spots, a few gradual hills, and a touch of cross-country. I liked it and I'll be back next year." So will Christopher Almy of Charleston, who finished sixth overall and first in the men's age 50-59 division. "The course was well-marked and laid out nicely. When you came to a grade, you knew there would be some downhill running on the other side. I liked the cross-country section, too." Louise Clement of Dover-Foxcroft has organized several road races for the Foxcroft Academy Alumni Association and described the "Moose on the Run" as "one of the nicest courses I've been on. The terrain is nice and the scenery is beautiful. Sure, I'll be back next year and I'll bring some friends!" Registration fees were divided among the Greenville High School Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG) program, the Key Club and the school's cross-country team. "Our town manager came up with the idea, but a lot of people made it happen. This was truly a community effort involving the town, the school, the Chamber and several very generous businesses," said Joe DiAngelo, president of the Chamber's Board of Directors. "People's Beach to Beacon, look out!" joked Simko, referring to the famous Portland to Cape Elizabeth road race. Top 30 finishers 1. Justin Bates, Abbot, 17:03 "This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Moosehead Messenger and is used here with permission." |