The course was different, but the result was a familiar one for the 10th edition of the Sportshoe Center Maine Marathon. Byrne Decker of Yarmouth, Maine, continued his dominance of the event, winning the race for the third year in a row and the fifth time in six years with a time of 2 hours, 30 minutes, 53 seconds. Unlike last year when he came from behind for the victory, Decker was never seriously challenged as he claimed the Road Runners Club of America's Eastern Regional marathon championship. Michael McGrane of Newton Highlands, Mass., was a distant second, more than five minutes behind.
Denise Jewell of Cumberland, Maine, on the other hand, was a surprise winner in the women's division. Jewell, who finished fourth in 2000, lowered her time by more than 15 minutes as she edged Ellen McCurtin of Danbury, Conn. McCurtin, a top ultramarathoner, led for most of the race but was eventually overtaken by Jewell, who finished in 3:03:36 -- 48 seconds ahead of McCurtin.
Nearly 1,700 runners -- a record total by a large margin -- were greeted by almost perfect conditions as they competed on the new marathon and half marathon courses. The reviews for the course were mostly positive, especially for the half marathon, which is significantly less hilly than the previous course.
Craig Fram, 43, of Plaistow, N.H., was a double-winner in the half marathon. Not only was he the top masters finishers, but he held off a challenge from Mike Payson of Falmouth, Maine, to capture the overall title with a time of 1:09:07. Payson crossed the finish line five seconds later.
Brunswick's Julia Kirtland, a former national marathon champion who is working her way back into racing condition after a long layoff, won the women's division of the half marathon. Her time of 1:22:31 was nearly four minutes better than runner-up Marjorie Graff of South Portland.