Young athletes need role models and aspiring runners receive a healthy dose of that each year when they compete in the Parker Pruett Invitational in East Sullivan.

The fourth annual race, which was held in early October, was started by Gouldsboro resident Warren Young, who was involved in youth sports and wanted to offer something extra for the area’s young runners.

“I wanted the kids in small schools to realize that individually, you can excel if you are determined, like Parker,” Young said. “Parker was not a winner the moment he stepped onto the track. He worked hard to get there and he’s a great inspiration for the kids to follow.”

Pruett, a Gouldsboro native who was a star runner at Sumner High School in East Sullivan, went on to have a stellar track and field career at Dartmouth College. He is currently a member of the Nike Farm Team, whose goal is to develop runners for the Olympics.

The Parker Pruett Invitational is for runners in grades 5-8. Each year the winning team is awarded a traveling trophy, which mainly consists of a bronzed running shoe of Pruett’s with engraved names of the winning teams.

Another factor that makes the race unique is that the champion is based on a total team score from both boys and girls teams.

“That’s the beautiful part of the race. You can come in with a real strong boys team, but might not dominate,” Young said. “It really is one big team effort.”

The race course is 1.7 miles and runs mostly behind Sumner High School. Young has received help in organizing the race from Steve Dexter and the event has been sponsored by the American Legion Post 207 in Trenton.

Young has stayed involved in the race even though both his sons, who were past participants in the race, are now in high school. Dustin Young is a senior at Sumner and Gregory is a sophomore. Both are runners.

This year’s race attracted 16 teams with a total of 100 boys and 97 girls who finished the race. The Reeds Brook School from Hampden won the team trophy for the second straight year. Parker Harris of Reeds Brook won the boys race with a time of 10 minutes, 52 seconds and Cassie Hintz of Old Town won the girls race in 11:02.

“The race generates excitement in running for the kids who come down. They look forward to it,” Young said, explaining that he hopes the race serves as motivation for young runners to keep competing in the sport of running.

The total team scores, with the top 25 finishers from the boys and girls races are listed below.

PARKER PRUETT INVITATIONAL

At East Sullivan

Reeds Brook 105, Old Town 125, Tremont 244, Southwest Harbor 262, Northeast Harbor 268, Gouldsboro 386, Emerson 465, Airline 483

Top 25 boys: 1. Parker Harris (RB) 10:52, 2. Cory Estes (OT) 11:00, 3. Matt Roope (RB) 11:01, 4. Robin Daley (E) 11:05, 5. Henry Worden (NE) 11:19, 6. Gerald Herlihy (OT) 11:28, 7. Evan Farley (RB) 11:35, 8. Dan McCue (RB) 11:40, 9. Mike Dutra (SW) 11:40, 10. Ben Clark (T) 11:46, 11. Eric Eaton (T) 11:47, 12. Jake Thompson (OT) 11:52, 13. Justin Grover (RB) 11:56, 14. Jared Lewis (T) 12:07, 15. Andrew Brunton (G) 12:12, 16. Ross Bell (Blue Hill) 12:15, 17. Bruce Romano (NE) 12:15, 18. Will Shibles (RB) 12:19, 19. Andrew Cole (OT) 12:23, 21. Tucker Smith (E) 12:25, 22. Schuyler Mann (NE) 12:27, 23. Victor Jacques (G) 12:31, 24. Jordan Merchant (NE) 12:34, 25. Derek Crocker (G) 12:44

Top 25 girls: 1. Cassie Hintz (OT) 11:02, 2. Felicia Muncey (A) 11:56, 3. Emily Farley (T) 12:03, 4. Hilary Maxim (OT) 12:08, 5. Jana Prazza (Blue Hill) 12:13, 6. Molly Peverada (RB) 12:35, 7. Madeline Glover (A) 12:47, 8. Gabbie Just (SW) 12:48, 9. Mallory Hines (BH) 12:52, 10. Christy Spurling (Isleford) 12:59, 11. Ashleigh Madden (OT) 13:02, 12. Amanda Gervasi (RB) 13:10, 13. Brenna Crothers (NE) 13:13, 14. Christina Blank (Isle) 13:14, 15. Alex Pfister (BH) 13:18, 16. Sarah Toothacher (RB) 13:21, 17. Eliza Tibbits (OT) 13:23, 18. Courtney Haly (BH) 13:24, 19. Rizi Arce (RB) 13:24, 20. Andrea Bommorito (RB) 13:26, 21. Cecelia Palow (T) 13:26, 22. Corinna Edmonson (SW) 13:26, 23. Amanda Logue (SW) 13:35, 24. Addie Maxwell (SW) 13:46, Elizabeth Keene (E) 13:46

Brewer PAL season to begin

Aspiring basketball players and cheerleaders in the Brewer area have a chance to participate in a fine youth program as registration for the Police Athletic League will be held Monday at the Brewer Auditorium from 6:30-8 p.m.

The program is for boys and girls in grades 3-5 who would like to play basketball or do cheerleading. The registration fee is $7. For more information contact Susan Farley at 989-3646.

Joe McLaughlin’s column on youth sports is published each Thursday. He can be reached at 990-8229, 1-800-310-8600 or via e-mail at jmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net