Photos by Sandra Michaud
WNMU Great Race 041319
WNMU Great Race 041319
Waiting for the race to begin
WNMU Great Race 041319
President Joseph Shepard gave the teams final instructions
WNMU Great Race 041319
Team Valhalla is first to go
WNMU Great Race 041319
Team Plan B is next off
WNMU Great Race 041319
Team Little Rascals is third
WNMU Great Race 041319
And finally the Goonies get their start
WNMU Great Race 041319
Plan B and the Goonies are neck and neck
WNMU Great Race 041319
Into the Mud Hole
WNMU Great Race 041319
Hitting with a splash
WNMU Great Race 041319
Goonies coming through
WNMU Great Race 041319
Big push from Plan B
WNMU Great Race 041319
Deep water
WNMU Great Race 041319
On the home stretch…it’s all uphill from here.
WNMU Great Race 041319
And into Old James Stadium
WNMU Great Race 041319
Waiting for results
WNMU Great Race 041319
Valhalla celebrates winning Spirit of the Great Race
WNMU Great Race 041319
Team Valhalla
WNMU Great Race 041319
Little Rascals celebrate the win
WNMU Great Race 041319
Team Little Rascals
Despite a day that threatened rain, there was a good turnout of people cheering on the teams participating in the Great Race. The four teams were started at 30-second intervals from the Fine Arts Theater parking lot, and rounded the racecourse three times, including slogging through the infamous Mud Pit. Each team was timed and the team with the shortest time won. The race wound up in Old James Stadium, where trophies and celebration were the order of the day. A special guest, Jay Whitlock, was present this time, 52 years after he participated in the Great Race of 1967.
Team Little Rascals came in first, with a time of 13:22, followed by the Goonies, 13:33; Plan B at 17:24 and Valhalla with a time of 20:36. Valhalla also received a trophy for the team who exemplified the Spirit of The Great Race, and Plan B got recognition for Best Banner.