6 to be inducted into Maine Running H of F

BANGOR – Local running enthusiasts will have the chance to honor their own on Saturday when six runners are inducted into the Maine Running Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony is set for 6 p.m. at Pilots Grill. Tickets are available for $20 at the door or by calling Judson Esty-Kendall at 942-7509 or 942-0972.

Fort Kent native Sam Pelletier will be honored as will Barry Ivers of Brewer, Don Smith of Presque Isle, Bob Winn of Ogunquit, and Maurice Toothaker of Phillips. Clyde Stinson of Houlton will be inducted posthumously.

The 86-year-old Ivers may be the most familiar name among inductees. The speedy Ivers set a world 100-meter record for his age group in 1981 when he ran a 15.3. He also ran a 32.9 for 200 meters that year, setting another world age-group record.

Ivers has entered 67 track and field events since 1966 and holds four world records, two American records, and one Canadian record.

Stinson was a member of some of the strongest cross country and track and field teams the University of Maine ever fielded. His Black Bear squads won three straight New England Cross Country titles in the late 1920s and were runners-up in the National Intercollegiate Cross Country Championships.

Stinson then went to Houlton High, where he coached the Houlton boys to the National Interscholastic Championship in 1938.

Smith, an Easton native, was a standout at UMaine in the 1930s and won eight New England championships in his time as a Black Bear. He won three mile titles, two 880 crowns and three cross country championships. His best time in the mile, 4:13, was only five seconds off the world record at the time.

Pelletier was a solid runner at UMaine, but blossomed after graduation, when he became the fastest Maine marathoner ever. His 2:15:26 in the Philadelphia Marathon in 1983 still stands as the speediest by a Mainer, and his 23:33 record in the Portland Boys Club 5-miler hasn’t been topped.

Winn is being inducted for his past performances, but his present efforts aren’t too shabby, either. Winn is widely recognized as the top runner in Maine today.

Toothaker ran his way into the Hall by winning the National Interscholastic Cross Country Championship in 1938.