Nick Hoch and Sarah Keener win 2016 Harrison 5K Run by the Lake

Nick Hoch (Newton MA) wins the 14th Harrison 5K Run by the Lake

Sarah Keener (Waterford) was the first female finisher.

(Harrison ME) Nick Hoch was almost 1 ½ minutes faster in 2016 and that was more than enough for a first place finish in Wednesday night’s Harrison 5K Run by the Lake.

This was the 14^th year of the race along scenic Long Lake.

Nick, who will be a sophomore at Newton (MA) North, was 5^th in 2015 but this time around his 18:26 pace gave the 15-year-old a fifty-two second spread over 2^nd place finisher Eric Martin.

The first female to reach the finish at the Harrison Post Office was Sarah Keener. She was fifteenth overall.

In recent news, Sarah won the 35-39 age group in Bridgton’s big 4 on the Fourth race two days ago.

Eric Martin of Naples was second followed by Gardner Waldner (Waterford), Tim Cushing (Bridgton), and 15-year-old Zach Hoexter of Raymond.

Brian Ladd about to catch Arno Bommer for 6th place

Last year I saw Brian Ladd gain three places in a closing run from the Gateway Marina to get 7^th place. This time he gained one space as he overtook Arno Bommer (Houston) to gain 6th place in the final yards.

Arno got second in his age group (55-59) in the Bridgton race.

Noah Currier was eighth and Dimitri DeBiase ninth.

Sara Bradley (Waterford) took 2nd for the women trailing Sarah Keener by only ten seconds. Sara was the top female in the 2012 Harrison 5K.

Sahtia Ellison (14-year-old) held on for 3^rd female despite a closing rush by 10-year-old Amelia Bommer. Young Amelia won her age group (10 and under) in Bridgton by nearly four minutes. Rising star?

No shortage of encouragement as the runners reach The Grange

Nice weather for the race. An afternoon rainstorm cooled things down considerably.

I like the way those in charge of the race (Tammy Anderson – director) limit the traffic intrusiveness of the event. Certainly don’t want to annoy the locals with no alternative routes available.

Nick Hoch was involved in running this year at D1 Newton North as a freshman. No doubt the conditioning required and the competition he ran against elevated his running ability.

RACE RESULTS

(I am on Twitter @McClellandPeter )

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