2,000 fast feet

It was a beautiful day for a race. The air was cool, the wind nearly calm, the sun shining and the course dry. And race they did: Nearly 1,000 runners took to village roads last Saturday morning to participate in annual races sponsored by Rockville Centre’s Recreation Center and the Chamber of Commerce.

An untimed Family Fun Run, which attracted 249 participants, and competitive 5K and 10K events drew local athletes—including a U-12 girls’ soccer team, the Red Hots—and out-of-towners, first-timers and veteran racers. Every child who took part in the Family Fun Run walked away with a trophy. And as in previous years, the times of all 5K and 10K runners were recorded by Finish Line Road Race Technicians, thanks to electronic chips attached to running shoes that the competitors received when they registered.

Alex Gershowitz, 15, of Melville, was the first of 284 runners to finish the 5K, with a time of 18 minutes, 22 seconds. Second-place-finisher Tom Walsh, 23, of Rockville Centre, was seven seconds behind, and Teddy Monyak of West Hartford, Conn., was third, in 18:54.

Shaniqua Kirkpatrick, 13, of St. Albans, Queens, was the first female finisher, with a time of 19:53, coming in eighth overall. Dianne Skyes Scope, 34, of Long Beach, finished second in the women’s field and 14th overall, in 20:13, and Shayla Harris, 13, of West Orange, N.J., was third, in 20:54, placing 16th overall. The first woman from Rockville Centre to finish was Maggie Britt, 38, with a time of 2:54, good for 32nd overall.

In the 10K field of 444 runners, Brian Mongeon, 24, of Rockville Centre, took first place with a time of 34:45. Another local runner, Thomas Kennedy, 27, was just three seconds back, and Andrew Smith, 37, of Long Beach, finished third in 35:48.

The first woman finisher was Karen Pompey, 39, of Garden City, in 40:18, good for 14th overall. Following her were Liz Fernandez, 30, of Rockville Centre, in 41:30 (16th overall), and Karen Cotty, 46, of East Quogue, in 41:39 (19th).

“I’m a little tired,” said Regina Dowling, who was running the races for the second time, after a 10-year gap. Dowling, who said she works out by swimming at the Freeport Recreation Center added, “I’m back on the circuit.”

Russ Siller, who has been competing almost every year since the races began in 1978, said he thought it was one of the best days he could remember. “It was perfect — no wind, great crowd, something I’ve looked forward to,” he said.

It was the second time Rich Miceli had competed in the 10K, and like many other runners, he noted the support he received from residents along the course. “One house at the end of the course has a big radio outside,” he said. “This year they were blasting hip-hop music, last year college fight songs. A lot of people were clapping and handing out water. It definitely helps.”

“It was a beautiful day,” said Jim Donoghue, who finished second in the men's 55-59 age division in the 10K. “The weather was great and the people were great. There were a lot of supportive fans waving, cheering, giving out water and paper towels.

“That last street,” Donoghue added, “I thought it was going to kill me. The finish line gets longer every year. But it was good — I didn’t throw up.”

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