Moninda Marube returned to Bridgton with one thing on his mind…

It wasn’t about winning his third title.

For the 37-year-old, it was simply about being a part of something special.

“First, I would like to deeply appreciate good organization of the race, a wonderful officer driving the lead car and great spectators along the course. Job well done,” the Auburn resident said. “I didn’t come to 4 on the Fourth to compete, but to race for a great cause I so much believe in. Winning the race gave me an opportunity to continue sharing my story. The story about the sanctity of human life and the need of us (human beings) treating each other with love and not as commodities in the market, like in the cases of human trafficking, which to me is a total disregard of human value.”

Marube’s focus now has shifted to school at the University of Maine at Farmington.

“School comes first, then running second,” he said. “However, my cause of fighting human trafficking continues and I appeal to like minds to join me in fighting this vice, which is growing day and night here in the United States and other parts of the world, making it third most lucrative organized crime in the world.”

As for the race, Marube stayed with the lead pack until the final two-thirds of a mile.

“I realized I had some energy to up the pace,” he said. “To my surprise though, only Silas (Eastman) responded not until little before the mile mark and he had dropped.”

Marube was alone at the homestretch, and broke the tape in 20 minutes, 40 seconds. Jim Johnson of Madison, N.H. was second in 21:03 while Silas Eastman, the former Fryeburg Academy standout and now Colby College runner, was third in 21:09, fighting off a challenge by Chris Garvin of Charlestown, R.I., who checked in at 21:13.

“I would say that the weather wasn’t bad at all — a little warm but not like 2014,” added Marube, who won titles in 2013 and 2014.

Kristin Pierce Barry, 42, of Scarborough was the fastest female with a time of 24:31, placing 31st overall. It was Pierce Barry’s fourth career win at Bridgton, her titles coming in 1998, 2001 and 2002. Last year’s champ, Erin Flynn of Newton, Mass. crossed the finish line in 24:42, 33rd overall, while former Fryeburg Academy standout Anna Lastra of Bridgton, 18, was 46th overall in 25:48.

2016 Race Notes

Race Founders, Phoebe and Jerry Levine, and long-time Race Director, Jay Spenciner, were the Co-Honorary Starters.

16 previous winners of the race returned to celebrate the race’s 40th Anniversary.

2,262 bibs issued, of which about 45 were complimentary registrations provided for sponsors. New record for bibs sold/issued.

2,071 runners completed the race. New record for finishers.

Runners came from 40 states and the District of Columbia, and from 16 foreign countries.

613 campers from 12 camps ran in the race.

Camp Newfound was the winner of the Camp Cup for girls’ camps, and Camp Owatonna again won the Camp Cup in competition with other boys’ camps. Camp Owatonna has won this competition every year since its inception in 2003.

The wind on Friday tore down the “Start Line” banner, including the pole on the side of Food City. That pole was replaced on Saturday by McIver Electric, and the wind late Saturday bent the new pole. Other than that, there were no significant problems, and the weather was near perfect.

The first 500 runners were signed up by Jan. 21, 2016, less than one week after registration opened on Jan. 15.

725 tech t-shirts and 775 cotton t-shirts were ordered. 500 tech t-shirts were given to the first 500 runners and about 40 to sponsors. All remaining tech t-shirts were sold, and only a few cotton t-shirts in Youth sizes were left over.

AGE CATEGORY TOP FIVE

(Note: The top three male and female finishers receive various prizes, and are not included in the age category winners)

Female 10 & Under

Amelia Bommer, 10, Houston, TX 30:58

Ellie Campbell, 10, Sweden, 34:31

Jayson Kelleher, 9, Bridgewater, MA, 34:58

Charleigh Newman, 10, Denmark, 35:03

Ellyson Ash, 8, Milton, MA, 35:40

Male 10 & Under

Oliver Young, 8, Harrison, 30:31

Trevor Kirn, 10, Harrison, 30:53

Dexter Thayer, 10, Bridgton, 32:08

Sam Holt, 9, Los Angeles, CA, 32:56

Corliss Ordway, 10, Bridgton, 33:43

Female, 11-13

Lila Gaudrault, 13, Cape Elizabeth, 27:22

Grace Sousa, 13, Georgetown, MA, 28:49

Zoe Cooper, 13, Sweden, 30:08

Sydney Sahovey, 11, Harrison, 30:41

Sydney Barnes, 12, Yorba Linda, CA, 31:46

Male, 11-13

Braeden McPhee, 12, Harrison, 28:03

Bennett Lewis, 12, Harrison, 28:18

Daejin Park, 13, Harrison, 28:22

Bear Brooks, 11, Santa Monica, CA, 28:35

Jake Hooper, 12, Harrison, 28:48

Female, 14-18

Samantha Friborg, 16, Harrison, 27:22

Emily Carty, 15, Sweden, 27:44

Emme Schaefer, 16, Harrison, 28:58

Melissa Brown, 16, Madison, NH, 29:43

Zoe Hale, 15, Denmark, 30:13

Male, 14-18

Nick Brown, 18, Madison, NH, 22:33

Dan Allara, 17, Sebago, 23:10

Henry Osborn, 16, Harrison, 23:57

Dominic Sclafani, 16, Harrison, 24:27

Henry Howell, 16, Harrison, 24:50

Female, 19-24

Kerry Strader, 24, Fryeburg, 27:00

Laura Pulito, 21, Bridgton, 27:33

Elizabeth Markowitz, 22, Denmark, 27:53

Sydney Hancock, 21, Casco, 29:48

Samantha Gluck, 23, Newton, MA, 31:13

Male, 19-24

Jose Rosas, 19, Raleigh, NC, 21:33

Robert Hollis, 22, Farmington, 21:39

Christopher Dunn, 21, Kennebunk, 21:51

Benson Worthington, 22, Brunswick, 23:00

Briggs Deloach, 23, Boston, MA, 23:53

Female, 25-29

McKenzie Souther, 25, Newbury, MA, 27:04

Sarah Grant, 29, Attleboro, MA, 27:11

Caitlyn Coady, 27, Bend, OR, 31:28

Kimberly Rivet, 27, Raymond, 31:57

Emily Ford, 28, Malden, MA, 32:36

Male, 25-29

Nathan Buck, 26, Portland, 22:11

Drew Cutter, 29, Gorham, 25:22

Joshua Kernan, 29, Shelburne, NH, 27:10

Jed Palmer, 29, Denmark, 27:12

Tony Myatt, 29, Portland, 27:20

Female, 30-34

Jill Canora, 30, Jamaica Plain, MA, 27:56

Erin Saulnier, 33, S. Hamilton, MA, 28:32

Jessica Engle, 34, Seekonk, MA, 29:43

Anne Dennett, 33, New York, NY, 29:53

Catherine Busha, 32, Cheshire, CT, 29:58

Male, 30-34

Kevin Tilton, 34, Conway, NH, 21:59

Daniel Bannon, 31, New Gloucester, 24:07

Gardner Waldeier, 34, Waterford, 26:02

Timothy Cushing, 30, Bridgton, 26:07

Mike Brooks, 32, Boston, MA, 26:21

Female, 35-39

Sarah Keener, 35, Waterford, 30:11

Carrie Bush, 36, Bridgton, 30:44

Sara Bradley, 36, Waterford, 31:04

Sarah Parks, 38, Bellingham, MA, 31:15

Julie Davis, 35, Casco, 31:16

Male, 35-39

Jeffrey Lindy, 37, Brookline, MA, 22:37

Ben Fletcher, 35, Lewiston, 23:31

Michael Vance, 35, Gardiner, NY, 23:44

Kyle Edgerton, 36, Arlington, Va., 24:37

Erik Martin, 36, Naples, 25:49

Female, 40-44

Deborah Downs, 40, Watertown, MA, 26:48

Kimberly Becker, 42, Millersville, MD, 28:14

Kathleen Goodberlet, 42, Brighton, MA, 30:10

Kristina Collins, 41, South Paris, 31:08

Sarah Wilson, 42, Dover, MA, 31:10

Male, 40-44

Mark Mayall, 44, Maynard, MA, 22:57

Michael Keenan, 43, South Glastonbury, CT, 24:20

Andrew Hooper, 44, Swarthmore, PA, 25:00

Dave Sheldrick, 41, Sebago Proper, 25:37

Anton Kelsey, 40, Underhill, VT, 26:10

Female, 45-49

Kristina Stevens, 47, Bethel, 32:55

Deborah Doyon, 48, Saint Johnsbury, VT, 33:15

Courtney Brown, 46, Uxbridge, MA, 34:03

Dawn Lennon, 48, Winchester, MA, 34:06

Beth Merrill, 48, Naples, 34:19

Male, 45-49

Andy Spaulding, 45, Freeport, 22:04

David Krall, 46, S. Weymouth, MA, 23:39

Darin Brown, 49, Madison, NH, 23:48

Kyle Rhoads, 46, Windham, 23:52

Arthur Bibeau, 48, Portland, 26:41

Female, 50-54

Tammy Slusser, 51, Monroeville, PA, 26:39

Kristen Charette, 51, Fryeburg, 29:22

Rose Prest-Morrison, 53, Limerick, 30:15

Wenda Saunders, 52, Naples, 31:12

Kim Gluck, 52, Newton, MA, 31:14

Male, 50-54

Pete Bottomley, 54, Cape Elizabeth, 22:45

James Goodberlet, 54, Brighton, MA, 25:02

Martin Feeney, 53, Medway, MA, 26:00

Wells Sampson, 50, Carlisle, MA, 26:58

Timothy Ramsey, 51, Weston, MA, 27:29

Female, 55-59

Julie Peterson Menosky, 56, Beverly, MA, 28:39

Elizabeth Weintraub, 56, Tucson, AZ, 33:19

Patricia Dowd, 59, Loveland, OH, 34:02

Helen McCrady, 59, W. Roxbury, MA, 35:19

Ann Klein, 59, Reading, MA, 36:43

Male, 55-59

Matthew Curran, 59, Gloucester, MA, 23:58

Arno Bommer, 56, Houston, TX, 26:46

Larry Wold, 57, Freeport, 26:52

Brian Ladd, 55, Bridgton, 27:00

Glen Roy, 55, Naples, 27:36

Female, 60-64

Lisa Chace, 62, Hampton Falls, NH, 34:19

Anne Haglof, 62, Harwich, MA, 35:35

Marie Veselsky, 63, Auburn, 35:53

Margareitt McNulty, 64, Windham, 36:35

Jean Miller, 62, Barkhamsted, CT, 37:33

Male, 60-64

John Barbour, 62, W. Roxbury, MA, 24:01

Leo Dunn, 62, Dover, MA, 28:37

Randy Bartlett, 60, Eliot, 29:11

John Canora, 64, New Britain, CT, 29:17

Roark Maynard, 60, N. Smithfield, RI, 29:24

Female, 65-69

Sally Sundborg, 66, Harrison, 31:01

Linda Davis, 66, South Casco, 35:25

Kathy Burnell, 68, Conway, NH, 42:27

Paula Allan, 67, Amherst, MA, 43:04

Betty Southwick, 66, Jamaica Plain, MA, 43:57

Male, 65-69

Bill Reilly, 68, Brownfield, 28:51

Michael Sieron, 68, Buckfield, 31:55

Ralph Fletcher, 65, Auburn, 32:03

Glenn Johnson, 66, Hampton Falls, NH, 32:17

Robert Miller, 65, Danbury, CT, 35:09

Female, 70-74

Judi Moland, 70, Litchfield, NH, 39:51

Sandy Utterstrom, 72, Falmouth, 49:32

Peggy Ryan, 71, Falmouth, 55:01

Elaine Camelio, 71, Attelboro, MA, 56:31

Judith Siemen, 70, Cambridge, MA, 56:57

Male, 70-74

Ted McKnight, 71, Jericho, VT, 31:28

Jeff Newsom, 73, Bethel, 34:43

Richard Neal, 73, Woburn, MA, 35:14

John Cederholm, 73, Marion, MA, 36:00

Will Rhys, 71, Bridgton, 38:20

Female, 75-79

Joanne Diller, 76, North Bridgton, 55:07

Christine Curtis, 78, Seattle, WA, 58:35

Catherine Harris, 75, Bellingham, WA, 1:02.37

Suzanne Federer, 77, Falmouth, 1:08.24

Pat Brandenberger, 78, Harrison, 1:22.58

Male, 75-79

John Brooks, 79, Falmouth, 49:53

David Croteau, 77, Bridgton, 50:51

Bob Synder, 76, Bridgton, 59:36

William Warren, 79, Gorham, 1:00.03

Fred Hammerle, 79, Bridgton, 1:00.55

Female, 80 & Over

Joan Wood, 82, Medfield, MA, 1:08.01

Male, 80 & Over

John Howe, 81, Waterford, 37:24

Mel Fineberg, 80, Portland, 1:04.21

Edward Curtis, 83, Seattle, WA, 1:11.55

John Crowe, 89, Sweden, 1:25.04

TOP 10 BOY CAMPERS

Henry Osborn, 16, Owatonna, 23:57

Henry Howell, 16, Owatonna, 24:50

Boone Steele, 16, Owatonna, 25:19

Ben Kearney, 16, Owatonna, 25:29

Brandon Strey, 14, O-At-Ka, 26:32

Jimmy Woodrow, 14, Owatonna, 26:50

Ethan Jacunski, 14, O-At-Ka, 26:59

Dash Bevis, 16, Wigwam, 27:43

Bryce Faulstich, 16, Owatonna, 28:00

Braeden McPhee, 12, Owatonna, 28:03

Overall: 1. Owatonna 2:06.25; 2. O-At-Ka 2:26.06; 3. Indian Acres 2:31.10; 4. Wigwam 2:39.55; 5. Bridgton Sports Camp 3:00.59; 6. Winona 3:03.06

TOP 10 GIRL CAMPERS

Samantha Friborg, 16, Newfound, 27:22

Emme Schaefer, 16, Newfound, 28:58

Zoe Cooper, 13, Tapawingo, 30:08

Zoe Hale, 15, Wyonegonic, 30:13

Sydney Sahovey, 11, Newfound, 30:41

Rita Glazer, 15, Walden, 32:26

Ella Glassman, 15, Walden, 32:33

Ashley Ruder, 13, Forest, 32:41

Molly Rosenthal, 14, Pinecliff, 32:57

Alexa Miller, 15, Pinecliff, 32:58

Overall: 1. Newfound 2:38.58; 2. Walden 2:54.50; 3. Wyonegonic 2:54.50; 4. Pinecliff 2:57.13; 5. Tapawingo 2:58.30; 6. Forest Acres 3:01.35