Tough Potato Blossom race July 19

If you’re looking for a good, old-fashioned but tough race on your calendar, you’re in luck.

Next Saturday, July 19, you can head to Fort Fairfield for the popular Maine Potato Blossom 5-miler. The 26th annual race starts across from the Hillside IGA on Main Street. Registration kicks off at 7:30 a.m. with walkers going off at 8:30 a.m. and runners at 9. Cost is $10 per person ($15 Canadian), and the first 50 to register receive a T-shirt.

The event is among many at the 56th annual Maine Potato Blossom Festival.

Don’t think it’s an easy romp through the potato fields, though. This is one of the toughest courses in Maine with the first three miles being uphill before a quick, downhill finish.

Sub 5 standings heating up

Five of the 10 races on the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar Sub 5 Track Club Road Race Series have been completed and Sub 5 has compiled standings for the first four races.

Leading the overall male point standings as of the Tour du Lac 10-miler is Michael Bunker with 28, with Judson Cake nipping at his heels with 20. Tim Wakeland and Andy Beardsley (17 each) and Newell Lewey (16) round out the top 5.

In the overall female division, Kathleen Bell and Katrina Bishmeimer lead the way with 20 apiece, while Angela Ewings, Susan O’Brien and Sheila Hodges are tied for second with 15. Jenna Richardson, Cassie Hintz and Amanda Hill are tied with 10 each.

Age divisional leaders are:

. Women – 1-29: Courtney Stevens, Jenna Richardson, Stacy Colodny, Samantha Williams and Hintz (10 each); 30-39: Bisheimer (23); 40-49: Hodges (23); 50-59: Marilyn Hintz, Jeanne Weber, Linda Waitkun, Christine Deering and Diane Farrell (10 each); and 60-69: Louisa Dunlap (30).

. Men – 1-29: Bunker (28); 30-39: Wakeland (19); 40-49: Lewey (32); 50-59: Chris Almy (33); 60-69: Bill Pinkham (34); 70-99: Charles Clapper, Andy Marcec, and Jim Pottle (10 each).

The next series race is the Fort Knox Festival 5K on July 26 in Bucksport.

Distance Festival adds javelin

You may think the Maine Distance Festival is all distance races, elite and high school stars running record-breaking times. It had a new twist this year, as the men’s javelin was added as a new event.

The distances were impressive, as Canada’s Scott Russell earned the top spot with a heave of 267 feet, 7 inches. American Tom Pentranoff was a distant second with a throw of 199-9, while Scott Viafora, a high school student from Massachusetts, was a close third in 197-7,

Finishing Kick: Runners looking for a race this weekend have a few options. On Saturday, you can head to Springvale for the Run for the Gym 5K and Half-Mile Fun Run at 8 a.m. The MDI 24-Hour Run Marathon, 50K and 50-milers will be held at the MDI track at noon. The 5th annual Down East Family YMCA Mountain to Sea Triathlon is slated for Sunday, at 10 a.m., at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds.