DERBY — This year’s Dandy saw beautiful weather, fields halfway to peak, some powerful running, and a lot of great buddy running and walking groups out on the courses.
Dandy lovers came from all over Vermont, Florida, California, Texas, Illinois, Georgia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island. New Hampshire, Quebec, and Ontario to run and walk on dirt roads and celebrate high spring in the world famous dandelion fields of Derby, Morgan, and Holland.
Jennifer Johnson, 39, of Bethlehem, NH crushed the half marathon with a time of 1:33;04.
But, just a minute behind her was 14-year-old, James Cilwik, of Derby, with an equally staggering time of 1:34:42, edging out seasoned runners like Scott Gilman, 25, of Cambridge, MA, Jess Monago, 32, of Burlington, and John Raser, 39, of St. Johnsbury.
Cilwik’s running was fearless, using Johnson to pace himself and staying with her the entire way for the overall win among the males.
There were three other youngsters running the half marathon.
Chase Brainard, 14, of Derby Line, (3:15:41) and Arlo Moses, 14, of Newport, (3:15;42) finished just ahead of Michael Wooton, Jr. 13, of Waterville, (3:22:58).
Aleksei Bingham, 18, of Derby, three-peated the 10k course with another blistering time of 0:35:55, just a few seconds slower than the course record which he set last year.
Hillary DeLabruere, 31, of Colchester won among the females with a time of 0:50:26.
Also taking on the 10k, were Alan Esposito, Jr., 11, of West Charleston, finishing `14th among the males with a time or 1:03:28, Riley Frasier, 10, of Newport, with a time of 1:11:35, and Allison LaPierre, 12, of Newport with a time of 1:03:16.
Youth from Newport and Orleans were a strong presence and placed high in the four-mile and two-mile runs.
The youngest being Ryan Shaffer and Anthony Collins, both age 7, and from Newport.
Finn LaGray, 11, of Newport came in 3rd among the “men” and 4th overall among the men and women.
And special mention went Dottie Brainard, 76, of Derby, winner of the award for the “most mature” participant of the day.
Chet Greenwood, 73, of Derby, took up running only a couple of years ago and came in 6th among the males in the 4-mile run.
Community National Bank was an underwriter at the Dandelion Run again this year, and also organized a hearty team of volunteers on the course,
The town of Derby and Siskin Coutts were hosts again this year.
The Dandelion Run is held in honor and in memory of Terri Weed. This year raised $1,090 for Umbrella and its support and advocacy for victims of violence and $400 to support Siskin Coutts.
