Trail to Ale

Late spring wins carry Dirigo into July.

Dirigo closed May and June with wins, podiums, and a youth state-title relay. Eliza Kerschner was third at the Vermont City Marathon in 2:54:03, Sheri Piers won the Memorial Day 5K in Cumberland, Taylor Bickford won the Market Square Day 10K, Michelle Lilienthal won the Trail to Ale 10K, and Karley Piers returned to Maine with a 23:33 win at the Gorham 4 Miler. Justin Freeman ran 15:29 at Battle Road, Daniel Bannon placed at both Memorial Day and Coconut Chase, Seth Crockett was seventh at Old Port, and Dirigo kept showing up at the Weekly Back Cove Series.

Lilienthal takes the women's title at Trail to Ale 10K

Michelle Lilienthal took third overall and the women's title at the Trail to Ale 10K on June 22, held as part of the Easy Bayside Trail Fest. Peter Burke and Garth Altenburg were close behind among Dirigo finishers.

Dirigo's 2016 archive.

Rob Gomez won the Portland Brewers Holiday Dash with Chris Harmon second and Christine Hein third woman; Pete Bottomley placed third M55-59 at USATF National Club Cross Country. At the Maine Marathon, Spencer McElwain won, Chris Harmon was third, Rob Ashby was sixth and first master, Hollie Corbett was third woman, and Sheri Piers, Erica Jesseman, and Mary Pardi led Dirigo half-marathon results. Trail to Ale was a team win with Chris Harmon, Patrick Hoagland, and Nate Buck going 1-2-3, and the Beach to Beacon, Lone Gull, L-A Bridge Run, Pound the Pavement, and USATF New England Cross Country results show the same pattern: Dirigo men, women, masters, and seniors scoring throughout the year.

Bangor Daily News: Bangor, Hermon runners repeat as Hunt Memorial 3K winners

Dirigo's 2015 archive.

Rob Ashby won the Ghost Train 100 Mile in 15:49:04, a new course record, and finished second overall at the Maine Marathon. Beach to Beacon was loaded with Dirigo results: Ben Decker was first Maine male, Erica Jesseman was first Maine female, Jeff Jones was Maine male master, Sheri Piers was female master and third Maine woman, and Mary Pardi, Bill Mariski, Todd Coffin, Rob Ashby, Kristin Barry, and Erin Chalat all landed notable Maine or age-group places. Dirigo also fielded USATF New England cross country teams, with Sam Seekins and Mike Burleson near the front at the Cape Elizabeth Turkey Trot, Greg Tapley and Christine Hein winning Trail to Ale, and Chris Harmon, Spencer McElwain, Nate Priest, Ryan Jara, Andy Spaulding, and Erica Jesseman repeatedly showing up at the front of local races.

Dirigo's 2014 archive.

At Boston, the women's masters team won overall, the men's masters team was fifth, Byrne Decker was first Maine male, Erica Jesseman was first Maine female, and Sheri Piers and Kristin Barry placed fourth and sixth among female masters. Beach to Beacon was another blue-heavy day: Erica Jesseman, Sheri Piers, and Kristin Barry were 2-3-5 among Maine women, Rob Gomez was fourth Maine man, Andy Spaulding and Sheri Piers were Maine masters winners, Bill Mariski was first Maine senior, and Mary Pardi won F40-44. Erica Jesseman also won Hartford in 2:40:58, Chris Harmon and Jesse Hugo went 2-4 in the Maine Marathon, Sam Seekins won the Maine Half, Rob Gomez and Erica Jesseman won Trail to Ale, Spencer McElwain and Jenna Krajewski set Old Hallowell course records, and Chris Harmon won L.L.Bean, Bagel Boogie, Patriot's Day, Race Judicata, Jimmy the Greek's, and Scarborough Frozen.