[Here's the first year of the Bar Harbor 1/2. I included one of many news clips from the paper. There were many stories since the Island basically had a huge "Marathon Weekend" Vegas Night and all kinds of stuff going on. --JC, 9/22/2005]
NIKE 13 Miler
Bar Harbor, Sept. 23rd, 1978
12 noon
> From the Bar Harbor Times
Gardiner Man Earns Marathon Title
" A Living legend in running, the Incomparable Ralph Thomas."
Master of ceremonies Dennis Jenkins was dramatizing his praises for effect and humor during the marathon awards presentation, but in fact he, the crowd of observers, and the other contenders in the NIKE 13-Miler were impressed with the 42-year old Gardiner man who won Bar Harbor's first marathon race.
Thomas completed the course in 1:12:30, 35 seconds ahead of the second-place trekker. He says he got the lead about five or six miles into the race and then kept it.
No novice to marathons, Thomas has been a serious runner for nine years. He has participated in almost 20 events all across the country from Massachusetts to Oregon and has won "four or five." To maintain his superior conditioning he runs ten to twelve miles four or five days a week.
The marathon champ praised the Bar Harbor 13-miler as well run, with "superior organization." The course he said, "was harder than average."
Does Ralph Thomas have any advice for the younger running set? "Keep plugging."
Men's Open
1. Ralph Thomas Gardner 1:12:30
2. Own Kupferschmid Newton, Mass. 1:13:05
3. John Noyes Yarmouth 1:16:27
4. Richard Fournier Orono 1:16:34
5. Dirck Bradt Bar Harbor 1:16:36
6. Bob Thomas Bangor 1:16:47
7. John Emerson Old Town 1:17:00
8. Andre Benoit Augusta 1:17:07
9. Ralph Fletcher Auburn 1:17:44
10. Thomas Foltz Ashland, Mass. 1:17:48
Men's Masters
1. Waldron Babbidge Limestone 1:22:27
2. William Sayres Auburn 1:27:56
3. Robert Nicholson Skowhegan 1:33:40
4. Vaughan Holyoke Brewer 1:34:34
5. Robert Rothe Mt. Desert 1:34:36
6. Loren Ritchie Patten 1:38:40
7. Robert Kalchthaler 1:40:39
8. Phil Harmon Bar Mills 1:41:58
9. John Bates Chelmford, Mass. 1:41:58
10. Robert James Mercer 1:42:02
Women's Open
1. Robin Emery Lamoine 1:27:29
2. Janice Pilotte Bangor 1:37:34
3. Joan Sayres Auburn 1:41:56
4. Carol Roy Bangor 1:42:09
5. Catherine Richardson Providence, RI 1:44:58
6. Carol Horner Bar Harbor 1:47:42
7. Kay Sweeney Cambridge, Mass. 1:47:48
8. Lona Wright Rockland 1:48:27
9. Karen Black Bangor 1:48:52
10. Mary Ratner Bar Harbor 1:49:36
Under 16
1. Robert Neil Brewer 1:36:28
2. Scott Dunning Bangor 2:05:00
3. Robert Higgins Bar Harbor 2:45:43
Men's 3-man team
1. Deke Talbot
Bob Thomas
John Noyes Central Maine Striders
2. Rick Packie
Howard Richard
Dirck Bradt Downeast Striders
3. Mike Swanson
Jeff Hall
Cliff Olsen MDI
4. Charles Komar
Mike Petrick
Rick Davis ATO
5. Dale Richardson
Sandy McFarland
Charles Lerner MDI
3-Woman Team
1. Melba Wilson
Carol Horner
Mary Ratner MDI
2. Mary Jill Jenkins
Dee Karnofsky
Connie Hartley MDI
