Popular race has local flavor

Patrick Burke, 23, of Seaford, was the winner of Saturday’s 12th annual Hot Chocolate Run.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Ben Varnas, who runs track and cross-country for Seaford High School, placed third overall.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Seaford High Ninth-grader Chris Schneider crossed the finish line.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Many of the participants wore the holiday sweater-themed shirts provided by the Seaford Wellness Council.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Lauren Jasinski, of Cold Spring Harbor, and Patrick Burke, of Seaford, were the top female and male finishers.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

James McVeigh, of Wantagh, placed second overall.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

The Seaford High School Band provided some pre-race entertainment.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Members of the Seaford Lions Club, including Pat Carpenter, Donald Paulson, Nancy Kohler, Donna Kohler and Charles Wroblewski, ran the race together, dressed as elves.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

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For the second time in 12 years, the Seaford Wellness Council’s Hot Chocolate Run cracked the 1,000-registrant mark. And even with the large turnout of runners and walkers from all over Long Island, local athletes were the top finishers.

Patrick Burke was the first runner to cross the finish line in front of Seaford High School last Saturday morning. The 23-year-old Seaford resident completed the 5K course in 16 minutes, 45 seconds.

“I’m very pleased with it,” said Burke, who ran the race for the first time. “You can’t be upset with a win.”

Burke, who ran in high school and college and completed the New York City marathon last month, said that within the first half mile, he realized he was beginning to leave the rest of the field behind and had a chance to win. Because he lives in the neighborhood, his family and friends were on the course, cheering him on.

Next year, Burke said, he will look to defend his title. He could face competition from a pair of high school track athletes, James McVeigh, of Wantagh, and Ben Varnas, of Seaford, who finished second and third, respectively.

“I’m not disappointed,” said Varnas, 17, who has been running since eighth grade and did the Hot Chocolate Run for the third time. He improved from ninth place last year and cut his time by 34 seconds, finishing in 17:32.

The Seaford High School senior, who runs track and cross-country, said that even if he goes away to college, he expects to be back next year, and would like to finish first or second, and cut “another 30 seconds, at least” off his time.

McVeigh, who finished in 17:16, ran the race for the second time. “It wasn’t about place,” he said. “It was about having a good time and running with your friends. I was feeling good and I just went for it.”

At 9 a.m., the runners were off after honorary starters Karen Cass and Donald Paulson sounded the horn. All participants received long-sleeve blue shirts with a holiday sweater theme. After the race there were bagels, coffee and, of course, hot chocolate, which was served before an awards ceremony in the auditorium.