Falmouth’s Piers guest of honor at MDI

Sheri Piers will be the guest of honor at the Mount Desert Island marathon this fall.

Piers, who recently finished second in the Maine women’s division of the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K, has been invited to speak at the pre-race pasta dinner at MDI High School the night before the Oct. 19 race, race officials announced last week.

Falmouth’s Piers, who along with friend, training partner and Beach to Beacon Maine champ Kristin Barry, finished under Julia Kirtland’s old course record established in 1998, has established herself as one of the top female marathoners the state has ever seen.

She ran to a 16th-place finish in April’s Olympic Marathon trials in Boston, covering the loop course around the city in 2 hours, 38 minutes, 46 seconds in her second Trials appearance.

The member of the Dirigo Running Club recently appeared on the cover of New England Runner magazine.

The pasta dinner will benefit MDI’s Music Boosters.

County runners mash B2B

Aroostook County had outstanding representation at last weekend’s TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K road race in Cape Elizabeth.

Members of the Spudland Racers and Aroostook Musterds running clubs mashed their way through the 6.2-mile course, and headed back to the County with exceptional times to show for it.

Leading the way was Caribou’s P.J. Gourneault, who completed the race from Bowery Beach Road to Fort Williams Park in 32 minutes flat, finishing 19th overall.

Evan Graves of Presque Isle was four slots behind him in 23rd (32:22) with Limestone native Robert Gomez, now living in Waldoboro, finishing 24th (32:26).

Jeff Sprague also cracked the top 30, as the Wiscasset runner clocked a 32:56.

Sam Sheehan of Woodland, a Caribou High graduate now running for Brown University, came in 64th in 34:20 while Jeff Ashby of Fort Fairfield was 89th (35:16). Nick Scott of Wiscasset was right behind Ashby in 91st in 35:23 while Rene Laliberty of Caribou, the only woman on the two teams who ran in the race, was 536th overall in 43:24.

Sub 5 barbecue planned

Local runners are invited to a Sub 5 Track Club group run and barbecue on Saturday at the home of local runners Kate and Andy Goupee in Dedham.

Festivities will kick off around 3 p.m. with a group run with the BBQ to follow. All Sub 5 members are welcome, along with families, friends and kids, but runners are kindly asked to leave pets at home.

Possibilities for runs include the challenging Bald Mountain, along with pavement and trails, and hiking and bike riding, along with swimming and fishing are possibilities as well if you don’t feel like running.

Runners should bring their own beverages and/or a salad and chips, running gear, swimsuits, towels and sunscreen while hamburgers, hot dogs and S’mores will be provided.

If you’re interesting in attending, contact 664-0408. For directions, visit www.sub5.com.

Schaefer run set Saturday

Before you chow down on the burgers and hot dogs at the Sub 5 barbecue, there’s the option of running one of Maine’s fastest road races Saturday morning.

The 7th annual George Schaefer Memorial road race will commence at 8:30 a.m. at Schoodic Point, in conjunction with the Winter Harbor Lobster Festival.

The event includes a 5K run, walk and one-mile fun run for the kids. The kids run will go off at 8.

Runners can register from 7-8 a.m. on race day, and the respective fees are $12 for the 5K and $8 for the kids run. T-shirts will be sold on race day.

The fairly flat course goes out and back along Schoodic Point. Any questions, give Becky O’Keefe a call at 669-2187.

rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net

990-8193