| 2nd annual Great Cranberry Ultra: press, results and pic
Posted by crow events on July 21, 2008, 11:59 am
Message modified by board administrator July 21, 2008, 12:05 pm
Great Cranberry Island Ultra Marathon
click HERE for full results.
The 2nd annual Great Cranberry Island Ultra Marathon tested endurance athletes from two Canadian provinces and seven different US states. They came to run 50 kilometers or 50 miles back and forth on Cranberry's short two mile long main road. Cranberry Islanders are used to hosting running events. They boast a long history of running excellence stretching all the way back to the 70s when they hosted a 5K race that eventually became so popular they had to institute the first known lottery in the history of running to accept or reject entries, simply because so many people wanted to run and the field had to be capped.
In the latest incarnation islanders once again responded, on a hot day coming out in force with garden hoses to cool runners, posting signs meant to encourage them and continuing to be a very knowledgeable and appreciative audience. Many baked and contributed cookies and other treats for the runners. All competitors names and hometowns were posted on phone poles the entire length of the island. They included the bib numbers they all wore pinned to their shirts, this allowed islanders to instantly identify them and be on first name basis with their running visitors from away. The posts were also adorned with inspirational quotes meant to help propel runners toward the finish line which was located in the center of the island at the church
The race started at 11:00 with the playing of the Canadian and US national anthems expertly preformed by Jeff Wadsworth and Mary Ropp (co- race director) respectively on tenor and alto saxophone. The Reverend Jim Germainian blessed the field and they were off. After several hours of fierce competition Daniele Chernick from Cohoes NY, who was a member of the US National Ultra marathon team and has competed in events in Japan and Europe while representing the USA emerged from the field winning the 50 K race in 4:28:23. She was followed closely by Ned Swain from Portland and GCI a member of the host club, Crow Athletics in 4:35:06. Third place went to Darwin Lalonde from Whitby Ontario Canada in 6:31:20. The 50 mile race had many lead changes. The early leader and defending champion Joe Dunton, a fire fighter from Hermon ME was passed after many miles by Roger Marquis from Old Town ME who lead for several hours. He was eventually passed by Dave Nevittt from Dartmouth Nova Scotia. There respective finishing times were. 7:29:04, 8:02:19 and 8:21:09. After the race all were treated to a traditional lobster bake put on by Wesley 'Junior' Bracy who caught and cooked them. At to post race lobster bake awards ceremony Gary Allen (co-race director) told competitors they had left a little bit of themselves on the island and it felt fitting to give them all a piece, literally, of the island, they took home a piece of customized pink granite from the island.
full photo album coming soon!
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