The race included both 5- and 10-kilometer courses, with the proceeds benefiting the Saranac Lake Youth Center and the local Rotary Club, which provides books to elementary school kids free of charge.

Seventy-three competitors walked, ran or power-walked the course, which wound through the village.

Saranac Lake native Josh LeBlanc dominated the field, finishing the 10K course in just 30 minutes, 12 seconds. That was more than 7 minutes ahead of the next fastest 10K runner, Saranac Lake junior Anderson Gray (37:35). On the women’s side, Mary Kate Curran (39:59) topped the field, followed by Cassie Ballageon (44:54). Dave Smith (44:20) and Samantha Davies (45:44) each claimed the third-place spot in their respective races.

“It’s a nice course, pretty flat for the most part,” said LeBlanc, who graduated from Saranac Lake High School in 2007. LeBlanc ran for St. Lawrence University while he was a student there, and regularly posted mile times of just over 4 minutes.

Josh LeBlanc, a Saranac Lake native, races to victory in Saturday’s Olga Memorial Footrace in Saranac Lake, finishing the 6.2-mile course in 30 minutes, 12 seconds. (Enterprise photo — Justin A. Levine)

“I was just visiting my parents, and I knew it (the race) was around this time and it’s always a great event,” he said. “I train for primarily cycling. I do duathlon — running and biking — so for running I do like 70 to 80 miles per week,” LeBlanc said. “When I was in college I specialized in the mile and I was like 4:06 in the mile so that was what I focused on.

“The longer stuff really frustrated me. But now that I’m older, I focus on the longer stuff because I can’t run that fast anymore,” he laughed. His pace for the Olga was still sub-5-minute miles.

In the 5K run, current Saranac Lake High School cross country runner Madison Grimone handily won the women’s division with a time of 21:51. Ben LeBlanc (17:59) topped the men’s field, and was followed across the line by Tupper Lake’s Lee Kyler (19:45) and Evan Barnett (20:35). Grimone’s first place finish was followed up by Meghan Grondin (24:58) and Nancy St Laurant (27:09).

“It was good to see where I am going into the season,” Grimone said. “(I feel) a lot better. I’ve already improved since last year so that’s good.”

Maria DeAngelo was the fastest walker, completing the 5K course in just 35:17, while her husband Matthew Paul (35:25) was the first man across the line.

Saranac Lake High’s Madison Grimone races to victory in the women’s 5K Olga Memorial Run on Saturday morning with a time of 21 minutes, 51 seconds. (Enterprise photo — Justin A. Levine)

Aleacia Landon, director of the Saranac Lake Youth Center, said the race was a great fundraiser for both the center and the Rotary Club.

“It’s a small race, but it is good turnout,” she said. “(It benefits) programs for the Youth Center, and then the Rotary Club of Saranac Lake’s literacy program, which puts a book in the hands of every elementary school child.”

Landon said the Youth Center is raising money to buy bikes for area youth, and the proceeds of the race will go toward that as well as arts and crafts, center upgrades and other programs the center offers.

She said she thinks people enjoy the race because it’s small and benefits local programs, but it’s not just locals who run or walk.

“I have some people that were here for Can-Am rugby — they live in Pennsylvania — and they decided to come back just for this race,” she said.

Lee Kyler, of Tupper Lake, turns onto St. Bernard St. in Saranac Lake as he nears the finish of the 5K Olga Memorial Run Saturday morning. (Enterprise photo — Justin A. Levine)

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Olga Memorial Footrace

Saturday’s Results

Men

5K Walk

Stephen Ellis pushes his son Landon, 3, during the race Saturday morning. (Enterprise photo — Justin A. Levine)

Matthew Paul 35:25

Russell Shaffer 56:13

Tom Techman 74:19

Bill Kelting 75:30

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5K Run

Ben LeBlanc 17:59

Lee Kyler 19:45

Jasper Frank 21:14

Bradley Varner 21:31

Jonathan Bourne 22:49

Rich Owen 24:38

Jim Ohlsten 25:09

Robert Sand 26:00

Shawn O’Conner 27:43

Stephan Ellis 27:49

Justin Pallach 27:50

Karl Zaunbrecher 28:30

Evan Ohlsten 32:17

Jonathan Kronstadt 32:35

Robbie Sinclair 32:53

Harry Farrell 35:10

Kevin Tuthill 36:25

Joe Waring 40:27

Evan Barnett 70:35

—

10K Run

Josh LeBlanc 30:12

Anderson Gray 37:35

Dave Smith 44:20

Andy Pickreign 44:39

Gregory Williams 46:24

Asco Delliavadin 49:51

Steven Bruey 50:09

Bob Morganson 50:24

Max Paul 50:33

David Casey 53:58

Micheal Hannon 56:07

Bill Izzo 57:50

Jasen Lawrence 58:54

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Women

5K Walk

Maria DeAngelo 35:17

Carol Connolly 41:53

Diane Kelting 53:50

Mary Duffy 56:13

—

5K Run

Madison Grimone 21:51

Meghan Grondin 24:58

Nancy St Laurant 27:09

Jenna Ohlsten 28:43

Em Stanton 28:44

Lynn Ohlsten 28:48

Rebecca Fox 29:15

Sara Ellis 30:26

Laurie George 31:22

Peggy Sand 31:52

Lisa O’Connor 32:38

Misty Sinclair 33:06

Morgan Paul 33:12

Janelle Cruz 34:33

Donna Farrell 35:10

Erin Tuthill 36:24

Rachel Barnett 70:37

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10K Run

Mary Kate Carran 39:59

Cassie Ballageon 44:54

Samatha Davies 45:44

Darci LaFarve 46:58

Heidi Holderied 47:26

Ann Marie Munn 48:20

Evie Brahmstedt 50:09

Andrea Hudak 51:47

Susan Hooker 51:47

Elizabeth Trachte 53:04

Nancie Battaglia 53:22

Amy Scully 57:58

Brooke O’Neil 63:01

Mary Gallagher 65:41

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