Glenburn 5K fundraiser for multipurpose facility

Next weekend in Glenburn, local runners not only will have a chance to lower their personal-best times at the 5-kilometer distance – and raise some money for local youths.

Bangor High School running coach Ray Cooke will be putting on the third Glenburn 5K race on Saturday, June 23.

The race will start at the Glenburn Fire Station on Lake-view Road and finish up at the nearby elementary school.

All proceeds from the event will go toward possible construction of an eight-lane track facility at the Glenburn School.

“It’s to benefit the Friends of Glenburn Track, to help in the planning of construction of an all-weather sports field behind the Glenburn School,” said Cooke.

“[That] would be good for local high and middle schools, it [would] give them another track to run meets at,” Cooke added, who in addition to coaching cross country at Bangor, runs the Eastern Maine Middle School Track League.

The course is flat and very fast, a mix of all different types of running surfaces.

It starts on a dirt-and-gravel road for the first half-mile, then heads back onto Lakeview Road, eventually turning onto Hudson Road, winding past the school, then turning on grass for the last mile, finishing behind the school.

Former Bangor High and current University of Maine runner Jolene Belanger plans on running, Cooke said, and current Rams’ star Riley Masters and Binghamton University-bound Casey Quaglia may participate as well.

“If they come out, it’s going to be a very quick race,” Cooke said.

Entry fees are $7 for adults and $4 for students (18 and under). Runners interested in signing up can e-mail Cooke at EMMSTL@yahoo.com up until race day.

81/2-miler highlights slate

One of Eastern Maine’s longest running road races highlights the local racing scene this weekend.

The 32nd annual Hampden 81/2-mile race will be held Sunday at the Weatherbee School, starting at 8:30 a.m.

The race, which is sponsored by the Sub 5 Track Club and the Hampden Recreation Department, costs $8 with a T-shirt, and $4 without a T-shirt. Registration starts at 7:30.

Awards will be handed out to the top finishers in various age groups and to the first Hampden residents to finish.

Other local races on tap for this weekend include Saturday’s Epic Sports 10K Trail Run in Bangor.

The race gets under way at 8 a.m., with registration at 7.

The event will be held on the trails of Saxl and Cascade Parks, with the starting line and registration area next to the Dorthea Dix Psychiatric Center, off Mount Hope Avenue.

Fees are $10 in advance and $15 on race day. The first 100 to sign up will go home with an Asics water bottle.

Runners looking for a shorter race can head to Orland for the third annual Orland River Days 5K run.

The race will go off at 8 a.m. at the Bucksport Veterinary Hospital on Gross Point Road just off Route 1. Registration begins at 7:30, and the fee is $8.

Any questions, contact John Hunt at 469-0604.

Meanwhile, down south, former Ellsworth and Stanford University running sensation Louie Luchini will highlight a potentially strong field Sunday in the third annual KeyBank New England Mile, set for 9 a.m. in Portland.

Luchini, arguably the greatest high school and college runner of all time in the Pine Tree State, will be aiming for a sub 4-minute mile and a $1,500 prize in the Father’s Day event on Congress Street.

Joining Luchini in the field are former University of Maine stars Gabe Rivard and Jeff Caron.

All proceeds from the race benefit Easter Seals of Maine.