The Great Canoe Race in Freeport

Ready, set, paddle! Seventy canoes participaated in 11 heats and in this year’s Great Canoe Race, held in the waters of Cow Meadow Park in Freeport on Sunday. It was a hot and sunny day that drew more than 100 participants and spectators.

“This was a great event and we had a great turnout,” Marianne Endo, the Great Canoe Race coordinator, said.

All the winners received medals including a first-place medal for Krista Palmer and Chris Crawford as well as Melissa and Ed, members of the National Ski Patrol, who came all the way from Pennsylvania to compete. Some of the competitors were as young as 9 years old, members of Freeport PAL who raced with a parent or another adult. The PAL winners included Robert and David, James and Victoria, Joshua and Edwin.

A few racers “dumped” including Ed Serringer and Jerry O’Donnell. “But it was a hot summer day, so it’s not so bad going into the water,” Endo said.

Another race highlight was the participation of Kathy Lundergan and Megan Lundergan, former Freeporters who came from Delaware to compete in the race in honor of their father Jack Lundergan, who died last year. Kathy and Megan came in third place.

Endo said those who made the race possible include the Village of Freeport, the Freeport Chamber of Commerce and Freeport PAL.