Maine’s DION USSSA Snowshoe Championship / National Qualifier: USA’s Best Snowshoe Bargain
How could one miss racing this combined state championship and national qualifier at the GrandPondMountain in East Orland? Only 10 clams—along with lobsters, Maine’s most prevalent seafood—for their registration, reflecting the prudent residents of the country’s most eastern state and northwestern Hancock Country. One had to be just unlucky not to earn one of their generous age-group medals set in every five-year blocks. Maybe it was the well-advised warning in the application form:
“This run is only for the type of person who knows what to expect and prepares for an off-road event year-round. This is a winter event and subject to extreme cold.”
If that did not get your attention, try this: “You can expect the chance encounter of wildlife including moose. Footing is rough at best for much of this run, and there are hills to climb and small stream crossings to maneuver around. Also, there may be the possibility of icy or slippery conditions present on the course. Distance may be modified based on conditions the day of the event.” That is what results when land is carved from heavy glacial activity.
And they were serious. Race Director, Peter J. Keeney reported, “Temperatures ranged from -4 at the noon start to 16 degrees around 2:00 p.m. Our course was covered in snow but (just) not deep enough to safeguard from roots and rocks, so we decided on a foot race with spikes and crampons.”
Those who did show enjoyed the ruggedly scenic 4.9-milecourse. “It was amazing to see the age range in our finishers,” noted Keeney. Overall winner, Jeff Lombardo, youngest competitor of the day excepting his wife Lindsay finishing tenth, crossed the line in 35:08, a seven-minute-mile pace over the challenging terrain. Peter Keeney took the silver about 73 seconds later.
Jeremiah Graham captured the bronze with a 39:45, with Steve Sprague missing these designations but still leaving happy with his age group medal.
Desiree Siroisfollowed Sprague by a few seconds to win the women’s overall gold and fifth overall with Katie Johnson pressing Ryan King right up to the finish as he nailed sixth and three-seconds later she took the women’s silver. Theresa Witheefollowed in less than 100 seconds for the bronze. Tom Kirby, 55, finished out the top ten.
Each of these top-ten racers won their age group excepting King whose age group (and exact age for that matter) matched Sprague’s.
Keeney called Ed Raymaker, the race’s 80-year-old finisher, “The Gordie Howe of Snowshoe racing, being at every race we have held over the years dating back to the 1990's.”
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