Desmond and Wheeler record fastest miles in County’s Musterd Mile

6 years ago

CARIBOU, Maine — Sixty five runners competed in the annual Musterd Mile on Friday, July 6.

Elijah Staples, a 10-year-old competitor, finished the Musterd Mile on Friday, July 6 with a time of 7 minutes and 35 seconds. (Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg)

The event served as the fourth race in the Aroostook Musterds running club’s County Challenge Racing Series. It began at Caribou High School and ended at Monica’s Scandinavian Gift Shop on Sweden Street. The downhill slope of the course typically results in fast times.

Evan Desmond of Caribou won for the second consecutive year and knocked more than 14 seconds off his time from 2017 to complete the course in 4 minutes and 22 seconds.

Brothers Daniel and Caleb Streinz, both of Hersey, were second and third, respectively, with times of  4:34 and 4:46. Kyle Boucher of Caribou was fourth in 4:51 and Aaron Macek, also of Caribou, fifth in 4:57.

Gabrielle Wheeler of New Sweden was the top female with a clocking of 5:08, which was good for eighth overall.

The rest of the top 10 included, in order, sixth, Malachai Willey of Caribou, 5:06; seventh, Owen McQuarrie of Presque Isle, 5:08; ninth, Bruce Clark of Houlton, 5:18; and 10th, Grady McKeough of Caribou, 5:22.

Thirteen-year-old Luke Streinz of Hersey sprints to the finish line ahead of several other competitors at the Musterd Mile on Friday, July 6 in Caribou. He placed 11th in 5 minutes and 27 seconds. (Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg)

Following Wheeler in the female division were New Sweden native Anna (Sprague) van der Rhee of The Netherlands, who placed 15th overall in 5:33, and 13-year-old Kayley Bell of Caribou, one position back in 5:42. Ashley Violette of Caribou (5:48) and Abigail Streinz of Hersey (5:50) were others in the top five for females.

Impressive efforts turned in by young competitors included 10-year-old Isaac Staples of Presque Isle’s time of 6:04, good for 25th overall. Six-year-old Pierce Gorneault of Caribou finished the race in 8:28.

The youngest runners in the field were 5-year-olds Peyton Gorneault (9:04) and Scarlett Beckum (9:18), both of Caribou.

The next Challenge Series race is the Maine Potato Blossom Festival 5-Miler in Fort Fairfield July 21.