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Bangor Labor Day Road Race (2nd Annual) Sept 2, 1963

RK Notes: This is the first mention of the Bangor Labor Day Road Race, the prior year I did not see anything written up and I checked the Portland Press Herald and the BDN... Interesting to note that in the 2nd Annual article they do mention the previous years winner and an explanation of the time. I've seen lots of lists of the overall winners, but never seen the first winner of the event ever listed...

Field Will Start From Bass Park
(Bangor Daily News, September 2, 1963)

The second Bangor five-mile road race will be fun today starting in front of the grandstand at Bass Park. The gun will start the field promptly at 2 p.m.

A field of 20 distance runners, is headed by Brown University track and field captain, David Farley of Orrington. Farley, an all-time track and field great will still another year to go at Brown, will be a heavy favorite to whip the field today.

He starts in the roll of favorite since last year's winner, Mike Kimball of Portland, has not filed and entry. A year ago, Kimball covered a course in 23 minutes 36.3 seconds.

The course this year has been measured by Captain Edward "Touchy" Short of the Bangor Police Department. The course starting at Bass Park will see the field go down Buck Street on to Main, Railroad, Summer, Exchange, Harlow, Holland, Wiley, Union, West Broadway, back on to the west end of Bass Park at the Third Street gate. The field will come down the harness racing track at the top of the stretch, finishing in front of the grandstand.

People other than those lining the streets on the course may keep abreast of the competition in the comfort of the grandstand. Through the radio facilities of Civil Defense, grandstand patrons will be informed by well known radio announcer, Hal Wheeler. He will report the on-the-spot progress of the race from radio-equipped vehicles located along the course.

Like a year ago, the three-mile point is certain to be the critical mark for the field. This mark is located at the foot of Holland Street hill, a brutal stretch which took a heavy toll of last year's field.

Milford Cohen will be the chief of course.

Trophies will be presented to the first five finishers, first Bangor resident to cross the finish line and first high school finisher. The race is sponsored by the Bangor Recreation Department. The field of entries will meet at the old Bangor Auditorium at 1:30 p.m.

Farley Wins Bangor Race (1963)

RK Notes: The race results of the 1963 Labor Day Road Race in Bangor. The race was ACTUALLY held on September 2, 1963. Sorry about my imparement on figuring out which day the race was held.

Farley Wins Bangor Race
(Bangor Daily News, September 3, 1963)

Favored Dave Farley picked heartbreaking Holland Street hill to make his break over four rivals tand win the second annual Bangor five-mile road race Monday.

The Orrington native and Brown University cross country captain couldn't shake four of the 14 competitors until the steep climb when he widened his lead to 50 feet. He wended his way with a steady pace for the next two miles to win by a comfortable 200 feet over Ben Heinrich of Ashland and the University of Maine.

Farley was clocked in 26 minutes 55.4 seconds. This set the record as the course was changed since last year's event, won by Mike Kimball, University of Maine runner who was not entered in this event.

MAKE HIS BREAK

Farley, related between puffs after the finish that the Holland hill was a tough grind but admitted that he picked that spot to make his break. He never lost one long-striding pace going up the steep incline.

Until that time he had four men on his heels over the course that orginated at Bass Park and wound through downtown streets. Fred Judkins of Upton, Don Sanborn of Thomaston, Heinrich and Joe Dahl of Old Town staked with him along Main Street to the junction of Railroad Street. Fairley, Sanborn and Judkins were all even at Exchange and Washington Streets and crossing the new Morse bridge Farley and Sanborn were neck and neck.

Then came heartbreak hill and Farley's steady drinding while his competitors dropped just a bit. Once at the top the strain showed on his face but he added speed crossing Wiley Street.

Hitting the home stretch aong West Broadway he boosted his margin to 150 feet.

He held that margin down Buck Street and back into Bass Park as Heinrich tried to catch up but found the deficit too great. Farley was greeted with applause as he crossed the finish line in front of the grandstand.

Heinrich was second in 27:05 while Sanborn was third in 27:29, Judkins placed fourth in 27:56 and Dahl fifth in 28:16. Two of the 15 starters dropped out. Last to finish in 26:05 was Robert Foss of Bangor.

PRESENTED TROPHY

Farley was presented the winning trophy while awards were made to Heinrich, Sanborn, Judkins and Dahl, the latter winning an additional trophy for being the first high school runner to finish. Alton Sabine received a trophy as the first Bangor entry to finish.

Other finishers were:

6, James Howell, Sangerville
7, Ellsworth Rundlett, Orono
8, Carl York, New Sharon
9, Alton Sabine, Bangor
10, Walter Petty, Dow AFB
11, William Kellet, Brooklin
12, Bud Farley, Bar Harbor
13, Robert Foss, Bangor

Meet director was George Hamilton of the Bangor Recreation Department, while Milford Cohen was chief of course and Edmund Styrna, timer. Others who assisted were Edward Short,Bangor Police Department; James O'Connor, Civil Defense; Louise Kotredes, race organizer; Hal Wheeler, WLBZ Radio; and route checkers Roy Tripp, Tom Tilley, Larry Taylor and Steve Gardner.

The meet was termed very successful by directors who set Farley's time as the record in view of the route change.

By rk at 26 September, 2005 - 10:26 | login or register to post comments