November 22, 2024
CROSS COUNTRY

Merriam, Talbot, four others to enter Maine Running Hall

The Maine Running Hall of Fame will add six inductees, one posthumously, during an awards banquet at Killarney’s Restaurant in Waterville from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Among the inductees will be the late Fred Merriam of Bucksport. He was a well-known runner and race director who helped modernize road racing in the Bangor area and is credited with developing the Sub 5 track club.

Merriam directed the Tour du Lac 10-miler, a popular race in Bucksport, from 1986 to 2004. Merriam created the “Road Race Report” on WZON radio in Bangor in 1999, which Skip Howard continues today. Merriam died over the summer. His wife Joan will accept the award on his behalf.

Other inductees include Todd Coffin of Freeport, Gene Roy of Oakland, Lloyd Slocum of Hollins, William “Deke” Talbot of Machias, and Carol Weeks of Kennebunk.

Coffin is a former Morse High of Bath state Class A champ in the mile, an NCAA All-American at Colby College in Waterville, and Maine champion in the Beach-to-Beacon 10K in 2000.

Roy is a founder of the Central Maine Striders running club and a longtime race director. He currently represents Maine in the United States Track and Field Association as its long distance runner rep.

Slocum is holder of world age-group records (ages 50 and 70) in the 2-mile. He is winner of several national age-group records at distances up to 10 miles.

Talbot was captain of the Bowdoin College of Brunswick cross country team in 1971-72. He was president of the Central Maine Striders in 1980-81 and a major contributor to early Maine running magazines.

Weeks is a past president of the Maine Track Club and a standout distance runner since 1980. She has been named the top age-group runner in Maine several times and was twice named Female Masters Runner of the Year by “New England Runner.”

The banquet is open to the public. Those wishing to attend may make reservations with Phil Pierce, Chair, Maine Running Hall of Fame, 79 Waites Landing Road, Falmouth, ME 04105. Tickets are $20 apiece, and they are payable at the door.


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