ROCKLAND 25 K CHAMPIONSHIP RUN, UNION TO ROCKLAND, APRIL 4

TWO WINS IN TWO WEEKS FOR ASHBY by Marj Tennyson

On March 23, Robert Ashby ran away from the field at the
Readfield, Boston Primer 15 Miler. After 12 days, he attacked another
long and hilly course, this time a 25 K from Union to Rockland along Rt.
17, this time winning by almost three minutes. How does this 28 year old,
welder at Bath Iron Works do it? One well kept secret is that his
frequent long run training partner is Joan Benoit Samuelson. Robert is
one of the few who is willing (and able) to train so hard! Ashby is
hoping that his bad knee, agravated by kneeling on the job to weld, will
allow him to run either the Vermont or Sugarloaf Marathon this May. With
two wins, in two tough outings, in two weeks, perhaps he should run both!
Donna Hurley, in full marathon training for the Boston Marathon,
defended her title and won the women's race in 1:45:58, by a margin of
11:53. No stranger to hard work, Hurley, who started running in her mid
30's, and will turn 40 on her next birthday, had to run alone the entire
race. To keep herself going she repeated to herself:" I am a fit, strong,
powerful woman. I can do this!" Keeping things tidy, she is hoping to
clean a few seconds off of her marathon PR at Boston, to make the 3 hour
mark history.
Luckily, Boston's hills are just bumps when compared with this course.
Masters leaders were Paul Fagan (1:43:37) and Nancy Kneeland
(1:57:51) Also finishing this race and entered in the Boston Marathon
were Mathew Archambeau (1:32:59), Phil Pierce (2:05:07), Joan Merriam
(2:13:09), Louisa Dunlap (2:15:12), Ellen Spring (2:24:11), and 75 year
old Carlton Mendel (2:29:56.)

Men (Overall): 1. Robert Ashby 1:30:16; 2. Matt Archambeau 1:32:59; 3.
Charles Jepson Jr. 1:34:46; 4. Michael Boucher1:43:02; 5. Paul Fagan
1:43:37; 6. Willie Sproul 1:47:18; 7. Tom Shorty 1:49:20; 8. Marcio Munch
1:50:17; 9. Joe McGum 1:51:49; 10. Tom Amory 1:52:22. Women: 1. Donna
Hurley 1:45:56; 2. Nancy Kneeland 1:57:51; 3. Carol Manley 1:58:12; 4.
Vicki Bryant 1:58:16; 5. Diane Ross 2:10:05; 6. Joan Merriam 2:13:09; 7.
Lori Safford 2:14:48; 8. Louisa Dunlap 2:15:12;
9. Donna Teel Brown 2:20:06; 10. Ellen Spring 2:24:11
Under USAT&F 25K Age Group Standard: Donna Hurley 39, 1:45:58; Louisa
Dunlap 56, 2:15:12; Carlton Mendell 75, 2:29:58.