Kashian wins half marathon

The Island Falls Half Marathon was held last Aug. 16 over a mostly flat course consisting of paved and dirt roads. The turnout was less than hoped for but the results were very good, as Caribou’s Leo Kashian zipped across the finish line in a nifty time of 1:33:59. He was followed by Craig Dubay, also from Caribou, in a time of 1:39:46. Next was the first female runner, Nicole Hanscom from Hodgdon, in a time of 1:41.
The race could also be run in relay teams of four. Finishing first in a time of 1:39:02, that was second only to Kashian, was the Eagles’ team of Taylor Quint from Hodgdon and Houlton runners Will Austin, Angela Ewings and Teagan Ewings. They were followed by the team of Brian Gould and Vonnie Gould, both from Island Falls, and Mike and Pam Savage, both from Sherman.
The race started and ended at the Island Falls municipal building, plus at the 1.5-mile mark the runners go back by the start/finish line for even more spectator enjoyment. The course is essentially a loop, but does have a couple out/back sections; there is virtually no traffic as the bulk of the running is on scarcely traveled roads that go by streams, fields, bogs and trees. Each participant received a door prize with cash given to the winners in various age groups and to the overall winners.
Results outside the top three are as follows: Richard Hoppe, Portage, 1:41:29; Kimberley Wright, Mapleton, 1:41:45; Anna Bernard, New Brunswick, 1:43:29; Ed Malone, Stockholm, 1:51:06; Katie Black, New Brunswick, 1:54:43; Scot Walker, Island Falls, 1:55:26; Tim Thoreson, Island Falls, 1:56:51; Jennifer Walker, Island Falls, 2:04:55; and David Bates, Houlton, 2:12:36.