CARRABASSETT VALLEY – Dominating a record-setting field of 1,527 runners, 29-year-old Shawn Rumery, of Alexandria, Virginia, won the 33rd Annual Sugarloaf Marathon today in 2 hours, 41 minutes, and 6 seconds. Thirty-one year-old Shelley Doucet of Quispamisis, New Brunswick, claimed the women’s title with a blistering time of 2:44:50.
Rumery captured the title more than three minutes ahead of his closest competitor, 46 year-old Robert Ashby of Brunswick, who finished with a time of 2:44:50. Rounding out the top three for the men’s division was 32 year-old Mark Dolgin of Chicago, Illinois, who crossed the finish line in 2:46:24.
Doucet held more than an 18-minute lead over the women’s second place finisher, Karen Auteri of Bloomingdale, N.J., who finished with a time of 3:09:17. And, taking the third spot on the women’s podium was Kristin Flajslik, of Hopkington, Mass., who crossed the line in 3:11:09.
In the 15k, 35 year-old Jenna Krajerski of Hallowell, earned the fastest finish of the day for men and women, with a time of 54 minutes and 9 seconds, while 50 year-old David Drew of Litchfield emerged as the men’s champion with at time of 57:07.
The women’s defending champion, Christine Irish of North Yarmouth finished second with a time of 56:54 with Mary Pardi of Falmouth finishing in 57:54. James MacHowski of Wales finished second in the men’s division with a time of 57:17, while Chris Holt of Ellsworth finished third in 57:58.
This year’s field surpassed the previous record of 1474, set in 2014, with a total of 1527 runners hailing from 32 different states and Canada.
Sponsored by Landry French Construction Company and Darling’s, the Sugarloaf Marathon is Maine’s oldest continuously run marathon. As an official qualifying race for the Boston Marathon certified by the United States Track and Field Association (USATF), the Sugarloaf Marathon is wildly popular among running enthusiasts. Despite its mountainous setting, the course is primarily downhill and ends with a gradual 16 mile descent. Marathon runners regularly record personal-best times at Sugarloaf.
Proceeds from the marathon benefit the Sugarloaf Region Charitable Trust, which is a private, nonprofit trust dedicated to improving the quality of life for the communities that make up the Sugarloaf Area. This year’s event will result in a record donation for the Trust, which will be distributed to deserving non-profit organizations in the Sugarloaf area.
The top three men and women in each race receive cash prizes, and all entrants received a t-shirt, post-race breakfast, massage, and a finisher’s medal.
For complete results from both races, please visit: http://allsportsevents.com/Results/running_results/SugarloafMarathon-15K2015.html.
