TURNER – Before the fog had lifted off the pavement on Upper Street on Sunday morning, 45 runners and walkers had raced through a constant drizzle and completed the first 5K Run/Walk to raise funds for safer and better playgrounds at the Turner Primary and Elementary schools.
The racers sped over the flat course of closed-off Cobb Road in the Turner Center valley with overall winner Justin Fereshetian, 15, finishing in a time of 17 minutes and 51 seconds. He is a sophomore at Leavitt Area High School and was one of about 15 members of the school’s cross-country team competing in the approximately 3.3 mile race.
Race organizer and committee chairwoman Kerry Irish said the volunteers were “very pleased with the results; the turnout was great, we raised some money. But more importantly awareness was raised about the unsafe condition of our community/school playgrounds and the absolute need for their replacement. Everyone had fun and came out winners.”
Irish said approximately $1,400 was raised with the races for which 46 adults and 17 children (under age 12) were registered.
Winners other than Fereshetian, in the overall men’s and 19 and under categories, were: Overall women’s and age 30-39 category, Debbie Moreau, 33, of Turner; women 19 and under Jessica Field, 14, of Greene; men’s 30-39 category, Chris Irish, 39, of Turner; women’s 40-49 category, Lisa Despres, 43, of South Portland; women’s 50-59 winner, Linda Lydon, 50, of Turner; and men’s 50-59 Bob Poirier, 50, of Minot; overall, over 60, Denny Morrill, 65, of Portland.
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