Breaking News – Maine’s Largest 5K Just Got Larger

(2,018 pre-entrants). Held on Sunday, May 10, the 9th annual Portland Sea Dogs Mother’s Day 5K set attendance records in its previous eight engagements.

Finishing on the third base side of Hadlock Stadium (home of the Sea Dogs), the immensely popular race now has a double header with the launch of the inaugural Portland Sea Dogs Father’s Day 5K using the same course on June 21st.

Below is the race recap and results from the 2008 event (sans photos) that appeared in the July/August 2008 issue of NER.

Sea Dog Scampers to New Records

Maybe it was the long awaited 60-degree spring day, or the fact runners got to cross a finish line inside Hadlock Field, the Portland Sea Dog’s version of a mini-Fenway Park, or maybe it was just the spirit of Mother’s Day that brought out a record-smashing field of 1,650 runners to compete in the 8th annual Sea Dogs Mother’s Day 5K. Whatever the reason this race has become the biggest 5K in Maine, and one of the largest in New England.
 
Race officials, in recognition of this growth and some complaints of some “traffic jams” for mid-pack runners at the entrance to the finish lap inside the ballpark, plan to make the necessary course revisions to resolve this problem next year.  “I guess our ballpark’s mini-version of the “Green Monster” wasn’t the only monster some runners faced trying to enter the finish area, but we’re aware of it and will address the issue” said one official.
   
For the sixth time in seven years Ethan Hemphill, 35, of Freeport, paced the field to win in a time of 15:14, only 1-second off his course best set in 2004.  Ever his toughest critic Ethan stated, “I’m still not where I want to be physically, but I felt good out there. It’s not a tough course except for one upgrade at the halfway point, but the winds were favorable and the last half is pretty much downhill.”

Finishing a close second was U. of Maine grad and ZAP Fitness athlete Judson Cake, 30, of Bar Harbor, in 15:19, with Jonathan Wilson, 20, of Falmouth in third at 15:21.

In the women’s division and fresh off their U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials performances in Boston, Sheri Piers, 36, of Falmouth and Kristin Barry, 34, of Scarborough, crossed the finish line with both being timed at 17:26.  But, Sheri edged training partner Kristin by a stride for the women’s title, reversing the order of finish for the last two years, and tying Barry’s course record set in 2006. Carry Buterbaugh, 36, of S. Portland, finished third in 17:59.

Maine running stalwart Tom Ryan, 52, of Cape Elizabeth, dominated the Senior division with a course record 17:01, a full 1:09 ahead of fellow Cape Elizabeth runner and second place finisher David Roberts, 53. Ryan dramatically lowered the former Senior mark of 17:21 set by Ron Newbury in 2001.

In a fairly tight 70-79 tussle, Brunswick’s Jerry LeVasseur, 70, scampered home 13 seconds ahead of Lloyd Slocum, 75, of Hollis. LeVasseur clocked 23:43 with Slocum leading the 75-79 contingent in 23:58

Nearby Kennebunk High School was well represented in the women’s 15-19 age group division with a three-way sweep of first through third with cross-country team stand-out Hannah Johnson, 17, at 20:48, Margaret Johnson, 17, at 22:41 and Alisha Keezer, 16, at 23:05.

Christine Reaser, 42, of Dayton, just back from the World Indoor Master’s Championship Races in France this past March, won her division with a time of 18:57. “I know I said I wouldn’t be running the Sea Dogs this year, but the weather’s so great and I feel so good I just wanted to run,” said the ever enthusiastic Christine.

Another record feel in the Men’s Veteran division as the good doctor from Wiscasset, Steve Reed (listed as Rud in the results) ran 19:03 to lower by 34 seconds the 2002 mark of 19:37 set by Lawson Noyes.

And what would a race in Maine be without Polly Kenniston, 71, of Scarborough, winning her division? Kenniston’s time of 27:22 lowered her own 70-79 course record by 13 seconds and was 1-second faster than her winning time at the mid-March Kerryman Pub 5K. How’s that for consistency!
‰ÛÓJohn Stevens

8th Annual Portland Sea Dogs Mother’s Day 5K, Portland, May 11
1,650 Entrants – 1,439 Finishers ‰ÛÓ Timing by: Bay State Race Services – USATF Certified: ME01002WN – Course Records: Louis Luchini, 14:30, 2007; Kristin Barry (2006), Sheri Piers (2008), 17:26. Masters: Mike Payson, 15:17, 2004; Joan Benoit-Samuelson, 18:19, 2005. Seniors: Tom Ryan, 17:01, 2008; Ellie Tucker, 19:34, 2005. Veterans: Steve Reed, 19:03, 2008; Judy Hardenbrook, 20:59, 2007. (70+): Lloyd Slocum, 19:41, 2003; Polly Kenniston, 27:22, 2008. (80+): Bill Tribou, 30:28, 2007; Dottie Gray, 39:57, 2006

Men (Overall): 1. Ethan Hemphill (35), 15:14*; 2. Judson Cake, 15:19; 3. Jon Wilson, 15:21; 4. Clayton Conrad, 15:31; 5. Kirby Davis, 15:32; 6. Adam Goode, 15:33; 7. P. J. Gorneault, 15:35; 8. Paul Greene, 16:04; 9. Ryan Prescott, 16:10; 10. Jeff Sprague, 16:16; 11. Andy Van Hoogenst, NH, 16:17; 12. Mark Halver, 16:27; 13. T. J. Hesler, 16:29; 14. Mark Goettel, 16:34; 15. Nick Scott, 16:44; 16. Joey Luchini, 16:47. (19-under): 1. Mark Halver, 16:27; 2. Jesse Hugo, 17:53; 3. Tim Woods, 18:04. Masters: 1. Mark Goettel, 16:34; 2. Bill Mariski, 16:58; 3. Wayne Piers, 17:20; 4. Scott Hornney, 17:44; 5. Dave Howard, 17:47. Seniors: 1. Tom Ryan, 17:01 (CR: old record 17:21, Ron Newbury, 2003); 2. Dave Roberts, 18:10; 3. Floyd Lavery, 18:16; 4. Mike Dinehart, 19:01; 5. Allan Muir, 19:13. Veterans: 1. Steve Reed, 19:03 (CR: old record 19:37, Lawson Noyes, 2002); 2. Mike Towle, 20:30; 3. Dick Curry, 20:50. (70-79): 1. Jerry LeVasseur, 23:43; 2. Lloyd Slocum, 23:58; 3. John Howe, 24:21; 4. Jim McLaughlin, NH, 27:43. (80+): 1. Lou Peters, MA, 40:29.

Women (Overall): 1. Sheri Piers (36), 17:26* (ties Kristen Barry’s CR from 2006); 2. Kristin Barry, 17:26; 3. Carry Buterbaugh (36), 17:59*; 4. Emily Durgin (13), 18:48*; 5. Christine Reaser, 18:57; 6. Jeanne Hackett (49), 19:10*; 7. Jess Ward, 19:20; 8. Suzanne Hussey, 19:24; 9. Amy Lilley, 20:02; 10. Stephanie Atkinson, 20:15; 11. Kelly Brown, 20:19; 12. Kristine Guaraldo, 20:19. (19-under): 1. Emily Durgin (13), 18:48*; 2. Fiona Hendry, 20:24; 3. Hannah Johnston, 20:48. Masters: 1. Christine Reaser, 18:57; 2. Jeanne Hackett (49), 19:10*; 3. Kelly Brown, 20:19; 4. Kelly Zwicker, 20:53. Seniors: 1. Carol Fanning, 21:49; 2. Nancy Grant, 22:41; 3. Kim Moody, 22:46; 4. Connie McLellan, 23:21. Veterans: 1. Gretchen Read, 23:58; 2. Joan Tremberth, 26:14; 3. Nancy Mills, 26:27; 4. Jean Smith, 26:35. (70-79): 1. Polly Kenniston, 27:22 (CR: old record 27:35, Kenniston, 2007); 2. Anne Knight, NH, 28:21; 3. Mary Hanley, 30:16. (80+): 1. Dottie Gray, MA, 44:03; 2. Florence Dagata, RI, 50:23.