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Syosset Sprint 4-Miler
November 2, 1996 - Syosset, NY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFO: Mike Polansky (516) 433-0919
DI DONATO AND BORISOVA SCORE IN SYOSSET SPRINT FOUR MILE RUN!
Don DiDonato of Hicksville and Chad Kurtz of New York City matched stride
for stride for most of the 4 miles of the Syosset Sprint on November 2, but
the 39 year old Di Donato had more kick left at the finish, winning the 18th
edition of this prestigious road race in 19 minutes, 54 seconds (a very
impressive 4:59 per mile pace). Kurtz was 2nd in 19:56, and Pat Peterson of
Bay Shore was a fast charging third place finisher in 20:14, passing Jim
Stemm of New York City (4th, 20:17) and Harry Penn of Bellmore (5th, 20:20)
in the final half mile. The Run started and finished at the H.B. Thompson
Middle School in Syosset.
Russian Olympic runner Lyudmila Boriova, who was 7th in the 1500 Meters in
the Olympics in Atlanta this past summer, was the women's winner in a strong
22:48, although local superstar Regina Ronan of Northport gave her a pretty
good battle to take second place in 22:57. Ellen Gluf-Brach of Hicksville
was 3rd in 23:21, and her Runners Edge teammate Liz Flahavan, also of
Hicksville, took 4th place in 24:07.
Top Masters (age 40 plus) finisher was 44 year old Paul Mascali of the New
York Athlietic Club. Paul was the 8th finisher overall in 20:53. The first
place women's Master was 43 year old Diane Gordon of the Bohemia Track Club
in 24:52. The oldest finisher was 78 year old Walter Moritz of Manorville
in 45:07, and the oldest female finisher was 77 year old Althea Wetherbee of
Huntington Station in 48:02. The Wheelchair winner was Joseph Mendez of
Brentwood in 23:11.
The top finishers from the local area included Bob Pike of Plainedge, who
was first in the 50 to 54 age group in 24:08, Patty Zebersky of Farmingdale,
who was the 8th woman overall and 2nd in the 40-44 age group in 24:55, and
Geza Fled of Farmingdale, 3rd place finisher among the men age 60-64 in 26:31.
The Run was administered by the Plainview-Old Bethpage Road Runners Club,
with POBRRC's Lynn Kotler serving as the Race Director for the third year.
David Katz of Finish Line Road Race Technicians was the Technical Director,
and POBRRC Coordinator of Volunteers Mindy Lerner Davidson and about 75
volunteer race officals from the Club made sure that everything ran as
smoothly as possible. Race sponsors were AllStar Apparel Inc. (with a big
"thank you" to BOB ESLICK) and The Runner's Edge (with an equally big "thank
you" to BOB COOK").
New York State Senator CARL MARCELLINO of Syosset was on hand to serve as
the Official Starter of the Run.
"We were really pleased by the outstanding turnout of both elite athletes
and recreational runners from all over the New York Metropolitan area,"
enthused Race Director Lynn Kotler. "It was a wonderful morning, a
wonderful day of racing, and a great way to spend the first really chilly
morning of the autumn."
OVERALL LEADERS
Men
1. Don Di Donato, 39 19:54
2. Chad Kurtz, 24 19:56
3. Pat Petersen, 36 20:14
4. Jim Stemm, 36 20:17
5. Harry Penn, 35 20:20
6. Adam Cigliano, 24 20:28
7. Michael Anderson, 25 20:48
8. Paul Mascali, 44 20:53
9. Brian Cloherty, 27 21:01
10. Michael Parr, 30 21:08
11. Neil Wechsler, 22 21:20
12. Robert Anastasio, 43 21:20
13. Steve Calidonna, 41 21:26
14. Rick Ashby, 40 21:28
15. Robis Degirmenci 21:30
Women
1. Lyudmila Borisova, 30 22:48
2. Regina Ronan, 27 22:57
3. Ellen Gluf-Brach, 30 23:21
4. Liz Flahavan, 32 24:07
5. Linda Filar, 28 24:35
6. Una Broderick, 30 24:49
7. Diane Gordon, 43 24:52
8. Patty Zebersky, 40 24:55
9. Jean Bohan, 27 25:01
10. Lori Harfenes Melnik, 40 25:06
11. Donna Rubin, 26 25:12
12. Diane Ditchfield, 43 25:50
13. Helen Visgauss, 41 25:55
14. Mary Rosado, 47 25:59
15. Bernadette Cunningham, 34 26:21
Team Award Winners
Men's Open Women's Open
1. Warren Street S & A Club 1. The Runner's Edge
2. Bellmore Striders 2. Warren Street S & A Club
3. The Runner's Edge 3. Plainview-Old Bethpage Fast Feet
Men's Masters Women's Masters
1. Taconic Road Runners Club 1. Bohemia Track Club
2. The Runner's Edge 2. Plainview-Old Bethpage Fast Feet
3. Plainview-Old Bethpage RRC 3. Forest Park Runners
