APRIL 21, 1997 PORTLAND, MAINE
Results courtesy of Marjorie Tennyson
DECKER WINS; WAY SCORES THIRD 2ND PLACE
Byrne Decker, a 1989 graduate of Colby College, joined the Portland law firm of Pierce Atwood last summer and moved from Londonderry, N.H., to Yarmouth. He is training for a marathon next month, and this 5-miler was not in his plans. ”Doing this was not the smartest thing I could have done,” said Decker, who put in a 26-mile training run Saturday.The race’s tradition enticed Decker to enter. There were 602 finishers.
Early leader Justin Valliere of East Corinth stayed behind Decker in a three-man pack including Way and Scott Brown of Lewiston. Decker slowly pulled away. So, Way settled for a battle for second with Brown, as Valliere faded back. Way posted his 3rd, second place finish, in 3 tries at this event. Valliere caught Brown to grab third. 43-year-old Danny Paul of Presque Isle, finished seventh (27:12), and first among Masters, extending his streak of top-10 finishes to 17. Lloyd Slocum 64, ran an impressive 31:38 while 12 year old Eric Johnson clocked 34:22 and Patrick Tarpey 14, ran 31:37.
Christine Snow-Reaser, 31, won the women’s race for the second time in three years, in 28:40. Kristin Pierce (29:48) of South Portland took second, while Denise Harlow (30:26) took 3rd. Snow-Reaser established herself quickly with a first mile of 5:05. ”That was my plan, to get away from everybody,” said Snow-Reaser, also the 1995 champion. Pierce said she ran the first mile ”in 5:29 and that was even fast. I could see (Snow-Reaser) up ahead and thought maybe she would come back. But it didn’t happen.”
In the mile run for ages 12-and-under, Blake Davis beat 86 runners with a 5:34 time. Mandy Bowden was the top girl finisher (and third overall) in 5:56.
Of the 651 registered runners, 602 finished the race
MEN: (Overall): 1. Bryne Decker 25:13; 2. Kevin Way 25:40; 3. Justin Valliere 26:25; 4. Scott Brown 26:53; 5. Stu Hogan 26:58; 6. Guy Segars 27:04; 7. Danny Paul 27:12; 8. Michael Payson 27:16; 9. Paul Johnson 27:19; 10. George Towle 27:21 MASTERS: 1. Danny Paul 27:12; 2. George Towle 27:21; 3. Allan Muir 27:26. Seniors: 1. Stoddard Chaplin 31:24; 2. Bob Payne 32:15; 3. Michael Myrick 32:50. 60+: 1. Lloyd Slocum 31:38; 2. John Leroy 36:19
WOMEN (Overall): 1. Christine Snow Reaser 28:40; 2. Kristin Pierce 29:48; 3. Denise Harlow 30:26; 4. Gayla Underkoffler 30:53; 5. Marjorie Graff 31:28; 6. Jeanne Hackett 32:21; 7. Jody King 32:26; 8. Ann McGovern 32:53; 9. Carrie McCusker 33:07; 10. Caitlin O’Conner 33:10. MASTERS: 1. Carol Hogan 33:25; 2. Sheila Hodges 33:57; 3. Jane Rau 34:24 SENIORS: 1. Faye Gagnon 38:09. 60+: 1. Polly Kenniston 43:38 EXCEEDING USAT&F; AGE GROUP NATIONAL STANDARDS: George Towle 27:21; Lloyd Slocum 31:38; Polly Kenniston 43:38