DERBY — Local Olympian Ida Sargent was the overall winner at this year’s Dandelion Half Marathon, tying the female course record with a blistering time of 1:33:04.
This year’s run through the world-famous dandelion fields of Morgan, Holland, and Derby, was held on Saturday.
Sargent was born in Newport, grew up in Craftsbury, and currently teaches at Burke Mountain Academy.
She is a two-time Olympian cross country skier.
Jon Schoenberg, 57, of Harvard, MA, and East Burke, was the winner in the men’s division with a time of 1:41.40.
In the 10K race, Hibby Regan, 31, of Waterville, won with a time of 0.45.24, beating out the top male runner, Greg Bodkins, 56, of Dover, MA, who finished with a time of 0.48.10.
This year the Dandelion Run raised around $1,276 for Umbrella and its important work in support of victims of violence.
It also raised $400 for Siskin-Coutts which provided parking for the run.
The race was filled to capacity with 150 runners and walkers participating in the 1 mile, 2-mile, 4-mile, 10 km, and half-marathon distances.
Some dandies were already beginning to puff, but most remained in bloom, blanketing the fields.
Musicians were out in force, led by Patti Casey and Tom MacKenzie, Bob Dunn and the Hogeye Men String Band, Don Houghton, Jr. and his sidekick Ned, and newcomer Marc Heymann.
The race is underwritten by Community National Bank, and bank staff led by Tracy Roberts, Holly Pepin, and Kayla Wright provided coffee and Jeb’s maple cookies to runners before the start.
Over 40 Community Circle Club walkers and runners participated in the run/walk.
Of note on Saturday, 83-year-old Irene Farrar of Derby Line finished the four-mile course in 0.53.15.
The run is organized and hosted by Kingdom Games and volunteers including Kristian Pearson, Lucy Teller, Ellie Primeau, Pam Ladds. Chuck Goulding, Pat Goulding, Stan Chop, Jane Chop, Susan Watson, Ramblin’ Jack Watson, Anita Gariepy, Kathleene Callicott, and Hayley Joseph, as well as the flaggers of ADA Traffic Control.
Organizer Phil White said that after the break, it was great to be “on the road again” with the Dandy in the books and two more runs coming up this year.
