Zombie Run puts the 'gore' in Gorham
Michael Kmack, USM Public Affairs
Hockey masks aren't the kind of gear you would usually expect athletes on the University of Southern Maine track and cross country teams to wear. They weren't dressed that way for a meet. They were competing, however, to see who could get the most screams.
The undead descended upon Shaw Cherry Hill Farm in Gorham for the fourth annual Zombie Run on Friday, October 13. The event is organized and staffed by the track and cross country teams. Participants sign up to run along the farm's walking paths while student-athlete jump out of the bushes to scare them.
The zombie theme was modified slightly this year to reflect the date. "Friday the 13th" is also the title of a horror movie franchise. The villain, Jason Voorhees, hides his disfigured face behind a hockey mask. A large number of students copied his look.
Wearing the mask and growling was easy for Albert Matrille, a junior majoring in Criminology. But as a sprinter, toning down his natural speed to mimic Jason's lumbering gait may have been the tougher assignment.
"For the little kids, I'm not scaring them too much, just cheering them on, as well," said Matrille.
Back in his own trick-or-treating days, Matrille preferred to dress up as superheroes or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Those characters remained popular costume choices with the kids who came to the Zombie Run. The crowd also included assorted princesses and monsters, among many others. READ MORE
