David Krall and Jen Rohde win 12th Harrison 5K Run by the Lake

David Krall topped the Harrison 5K field at 18:11

Jen Rohde was 10th overall and first among the women finishers

Arno Bommer outruns a Coastal Road Repair truck for second

(Harrison ME) David Krall and Jen Rohde took top honors in the 12th running of the Harrison 5K Run by the Lake on Wednesday night.

David (from South Weymouth MA) covered the scenic course in 18:11 and had a commanding forty-second advantage over Arno Bommer (Houston TX) who finished second.

Jen (from Cumberland ME) ended up tenth overall (20:45) but her margin of victory was only eleven seconds over Ann Lastra of Fryeburg Academy.

The weather was pleasant for running (overcast) compared to the last two years when the participants faced pouring rain in 2013 and sun in 2012.

There was plenty of space between the first four finishers. Let their times tell the story: David Krall (18:11), Arno Bommer (18:51), Dana Welch (19:38), and Michael Mageles (20:03).

The race for 5th between David Landry (138), Glenn Gordon (167) and Mark Hogan (371)

The first close race, from the Harrison Marina to the finish line in front of the Harrison Grange, was over fifth place. Sixteen-year-old David Landry came into view ahead of Glenn Gordon and Mark Hogan and was able to hold that spot.

Josh Weisbach looked as if he would take 8th but 14-year-old Dorn Scalfani caught him at the bridge before the Grange.

As I mentioned earlier, Jen Rohde was the quickest female. Ann Lastra finished second last year to Westbrook’s Sara Bradley by seven seconds.

Virginia Cain (Barrington RI) notched third place among the women runners.

Benjamin Sykes in the stretch run

Nearly two hundred participants registered times for the event.

The course records of Jeffrey Sprague (15:45 in 2008) and Tina Meserve (18:47 in 2007) were never in any kind of danger this time around.

David Krall’s 18:11 would have earned him fourth place last year. Maybe David’s time would have been a lot better if there had been competitors in his vicinity.

I marvel at the turnover in the Harrison 5K. The familiar faces are mostly in the crowd.

Arno Bommer improved his time from 2013 and moved up four slots from his 6th place finish that year. Arno looked as if he was trying to outrun a Coastal Road Repair truck over the final yards.

Michael Mageles improved five spots from 2013

Michael Mageles also improved his closing spot. Last year he was 9th, this time around 6th.

This race appeared to be well organized thanks to race director Kelly Meuse. My only worry on her behalf was before the race when a very dark cloud was moving over Long Lake with a thunderstorm in the forecast. Thankfully, none of that possible decision-making bad weather kicked in.

The complete race results

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)