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Maine AAU Marathon (1950)

RK Note - Eight of the top marathon runners of the United States came to run in what is right now the earliest known marathon (26.2 miles) held in the State of Maine. The Maine AAU Marathon was conducted in the evening of July 22, 1950 in Fort Fairfield, Maine as part of the Maine Potato Blossom Festival.

Participants included - Jesse Van Zant of the BAA, George Pike of the BAA, Mike O'Hara of the Millrose AC of New York, Harry Murphy of the New York Pioneer Club, George Younis of Boston, who is unattached, John Semple of the BAA, Ralph Murray of the BAA and John Laffery of AD 1, United States Navy of Quonset Point, Rhode Island. Two Maine runners has been identified one as Sam Ouellette of Ashland and the other as Edwin Sheppard of Gorham.

Other notable runners included Johnny Kelley of West Acton, Mass (two time winner of the Boston Marathon), Bill Steiner, Millrose AA, New York, three times 30K champion and Clarence DeMar (seven time winner of the Boston Marathon).

Winner was John Laffery running in 2:44.07, Second Place was Johnny Kelley running in 2:44.41. First Maine Marathoner receiving the Governor's Trophy from Governor Frederick Payne was Edwin Sheppard (who finished 6th overall).

Maine runners...

RK----Sam Ouellette of Ashland & Ed Sheppard are in "The Maine Running Hall Of Fame" Both have passed away----Sheppard is a 2-time winner of the Boy's & Girl's Club 5-miler (Patriot's Day)in the 40's & 50's....BOH

By boh at 24 August, 2005 - 01:16 | login or register to post comments

Bangor Daily Commerical Article - Maine AAU Marathon 1950

RK Notes: Cleaning up some marathon paperwork on my desk...

(Bangor Daily Commerical, July 23, 1950)

Maine AAU Marathon At Fort Fairfield

Kelly Places Second with Cote Third

Clarence DeMar 18th Over 26 mile Course

FORT FAIRFIELD, July 22 – The navy’s Johnny Lafferty of the Quonset Point, RI station won the Maine AAU marathon today.

Lafferty covered the 26 mile 385 yard course in 2 hours, 44 minutes and seven seconds.

Johnny Kelly, of West Acton, Mass., twice winner of the Boston AA Marathon, who wore the colors of the Boston Edison Employee association, was second. His time was 2:44:41.

In third place was Gerard Cote of St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, another BAA winner. He finished in 2:49:53.

Kelly led over much of the grueling trail. He tired a half mile from the finish and Lafferty, who had come from far behind, moved into the lead for a stirring finish.

The record time for the Boston AA marathon, the same distance as today’s race is 2:25:39.

Thousands lined the course which went through rich potato country from the start at Presque Isle to Caribou and on to Fort Fairfield.

The race was a highlight of the Maine Potato Blossom Festival.

Finishing in order, in the first ten, behind third place Cote were:

George Norman, Gladstone AC – Toronto
Jess Van Zant, BAA
Ed Shepard, Gorham AC
Harry Murphy, New York Pioneer club
Emery Terbeault, Lowell Snow Shoe club
Michael O’Hara, Milrose AA
Johnny Semple, BAA

Clarence DeMar, 63 year old veteran runner, who seven times won the Boston marathon, finished 18th with a time of 3:45.27.

The BAA won the team prize.

By rk at 23 November, 2005 - 15:36 | login or register to post comments