Friday, October 7, 2022

2022 Race Announcement

 39th ANNUAL BILL MARKIEWICZ MEMORIAL

ROCKLAND COUNTY ALUMNI X-COUNTRY RUN (3.0 MILES)

CO-SPONSORED BY ROCKLAND ROAD RUNNERS

THANKSGIVING SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2022

BEAR MOUNTAIN STATE PARK AT NOON, EVENT HELD RAIN OR SHINE!

REGISTRATION BEGINS AT 10:45 AM AT PICNIC TABLES NEXT TO THE

CAROUSEL. THERE IS NO ENTRY FEE, BUT PARKING IS NOW $10.

DONATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED TO HELP DEFRAY INSURANCE COSTS!

RUNNERS MUST BE POST-HIGH SCHOOL AGE. ALUMNI OF ALL HIGH

SCHOOLS ARE ELIGIBLE (NOT JUST ROCKLAND).

PLEASE COMPLETE THE WAIVER BELOW AND HAND IN AT

REGISTRATION ON RACE DAY! ENTRY IS DAY-OF-RACE ONLY. YOU

MUST TURN IN SIGNED WAIVER TO RECEIVE PARTICIPANT’S CARD!

WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VISIT THE ROCKLAND COUNTY ALUMNI

CROSS COUNTRY WEBSITES AT HTTPS://ALUMNIXC.BLOGSPOT.COM AND

WWW.ROCKLANDSPORTINGNEWS.COM. THEY CONTAIN A 38-YEAR

HISTORY OF THE RUN. KUDOS TO JASON FRIEDMAN AND MIKE COLLINS.

AGE-GROUP RACES FOR CHILDREN: THESE BEGIN AT 11:30 AM.,

COORDINATED BY RAY KONDRACKI. THERE IS NO ENTRY FEE. EACH KIDS’

RUN PARTICIPANT WILL RECEIVE AN AWARD DONATED BY THE ST.

THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE XC/TRACK PROGRAM.

Any Questions, Please contact Jamie Kempton at 845-521-0400

Monday, December 6, 2021

2021: Full Results

Saturday, November 27, 2021
Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain, N.Y.
Course: 3.0 miles
Meet records: 14:08, John Trautmann (Monroe-Woodbury ’86), 1994
17:04, Debbie Grant (Ramapo ’83), 1995

Men’s team scores: 1. Suffern (Suf), 90; 2. Pearl River (PR), 96; 3. Warwick (War), 105; 4. Monroe-
Woodbury (MW), 123; 5. North Rockland (NR), 148; 6. Albertus Magnus (AM), 225; 7. Clarkstown
South (CS), 227; 8. Nanuet (Nan), 238; 9. Clarkstown North (CN), 286.

Women’s team scores: 1. Monroe-Woodbury (MW), 64; other teams incomplete.

Team participation (combined men/women): 1. Monroe-Woodbury, 23; 2. Pearl River, 15; 3.
Suffern, 11; 4. Tie, Albertus Magnus and Warwick, 9; 6. Tie, Clarkstown North, Clarkstown South,
Nanuet & North Rockland, 6; 10. Tappan Zee, 4.

Women’s top 10

1. Jaime Lord (NR '14), 18:35.3 ; 2. Suzanne LaBurt (MW '81), 20:45.2; 3. Meghan Donovan
(Cornwall '11), 21:12.8 ; 4. Amanda Wright (Lakeland-Panas '06), 21:16.1 ; 5. Sandra Wilson (PR '15),
21:58.1 ; 6. Masha Portiansky (Commonwealth, Boston, MA '97), 23:16.3 ; 7. Emily Casey (Cornwall
'12), 23:48.7 ; 8. Kerry Monahan (The Assisium, New York County, NY '81), 25:26.2 ; 9. Leslie
Ballantyne (Suf '92), 27:12.5 ; 10. Kathy List (PR '91), 27:23.2.

Overall Finishers

1. Corey Calajoe (PR '04), 16:45.7; 2. Patrick Castellano (TZ '19), 16:47.8; Daniel Raboin (St. John's
HS '10), 16:53; 4. Evan Ward (Suf '12), 17:05.4; 5. Liam Hehir (TZ), 17:16.9; 6. Michael Brockway
(Washingtonville '20), 17:34.9; 7. Sean Casey (Cornwall '11), 17:53.4; 8. Kyle Collins (Suf '12),
17:59.6; 9. Kajetan Leitner (MW '19), 18:04.1; 10. Adam Alshoubeki (MW '16), 18:23.9; 11. Ben
Nilsestuen (War '01), 18:26; 12. Tyler Perry (NR '12), 18:28.1; 13. Brian Crowley (AM '82), 18:31.5;
14. Jaime Lord (NR '14), 18:35.3; 15. Mike Bernstein (Suf '95), 18:56.3; 16. James Kessler (PR '03),
18:57.3; 17. Thomas Cobb (NR '17), 18:58.2; 18. Matt Borawski (PR '04), 19:05; 19. Chris Danyluk
(CS '19), 19:12.6; 20. Matt Lenihan (PR '03), 19:19.4; 21. Zachariah Price (War '06), 19:20.7; 22.
Adam Klein (CS '14), 19:26.3; 23. Jacob Laroe (War '04), 19:38.4; 24. Bryan Onody (NR '20), 19:49.2;
25. Arasu Jawe (Archbishop Molloy '92), 20:03.4; 26. Mike Lawrence (War '01), 20:10.8; 27. Andrew
Kolesar (NR '20), 20:24.5; 28. Anthony Campione (War '05), 20:25; 29. Suzanne LaBurt (MW '81),
20:45.2; 30. Zach Berbit (Suf '96), 21:05.9; 31. Meghan Donovan (Cornwall '11), 21:12.8; 32. Amanda
Wright (Lakeland-Panas'06), 21:16.1; 33. Tom McCarney (CN '93), 21:21.8; 34. John MacKenzie (TZ
'98), 21:41.2; 35. Sandra Wilson (PR '15), 21:58.1; 36. Ade Ellis (Nan '00), 22:03.3; 37. Douglas
Hauser (MW '02), 22:09.7; 38. Dan Markiewicz (Goshen '96), 22:20.3; 39. Kevin Leonard (AM '76),
22:28.4; 40. Paul Bisconti (MW '15), 22:38.7; 41. Richard Barbera (Suf '09), 22:48.4; 42. Daniel
Wanamaker (MW '18), 22:59.5; 43. A.J. Lawrence (War '04), 23:03.5; 44. Masha Portiansky
(Commonwealth, Boston, MA '97), 23:16.3; 45. Adam Borg (CN '97), 23:23.7; 46. Mike Brockway
(Nan '87), 23:33.2; 47. Evan Ratnow (Suf '96), 23:35.3; 48. Michael Beckerle (Nan '79), 23:38; 49.
Aakash Dholakia (MW '18), 23:46.2; 50. Emily Casey (Cornwall '12), 23:48.7; 51. Jim Dugandzic (PR '81), 23:52.4; 52. Dave Baker (Nan '79), 24:31.7; 53. Andry Prokopiv (MW '17), 24:33.9; 54. Tyler
Bassett (Suf '16), 24:52.1; 55. Tom List (PR '80), 25:07.2; 56. Doug Carter (Kimball Union Academy,
NH '71), 25:12.1; 57. Kerry Monahan (The Assisium, NY County, NY '81), 25:26.2; 58. Dan Pragdat
(CS '11), 25:39.9; 59. Rob Pasquale (Archbishop Molloy'77), 25:48.2; 60. Bruce Meyer (TZ '76),
25:53; 61. Keith Reilly (PR '90), 26:21.4; 62. Kyle Egan (MW '16), 26:32.6; 63. Michael Colangelo
(AM '75), 26:45.5; 64. Anthony Carpentieri (CS '17), 26:56.7; 65. Jimmy McGovern (PR '90), 27:06.8;
66. Leslie Ballantyne (Suf '92), 27:12.5; 67. Mike Moran (AM '83), 27:13.2; 68. Jeff Wilson (Auburn,
Rockport, Illinois '86), 27:19.7; 69. Kathy List (PR '91), 27:23.2; 70. Bertrand Ganee (Jules Vielte,
Montbeliard, France '01), 27:23.7; 71. Henry Smith (War '01), 27:41.9; 72. Ashley Veno
(Washingtonville '02), 27:48.7; 73. Pat Butler (PR '90), 27:51.7; 74. Hugh Brady (PR '80), 28:05.2; 75.
Catherine O'Hanlon (CS '03), 28:06.9; 76. Michael Marcotte (MW '17), 28:16; 77. Stephen Beckerle
(AM '74), 28:38.7; 78. Jason Friedman (CN '93), 28:49; 79. Ravi Dholakia (MW '16), 28:50.6; 80. Joe
Dolan (PR '90), 28:56.3; 81. Jason Lipman (CN '91), 28:58.6; 82. Ed Casey (PR '82), 29:49; 83. John
Darga (NR '85), 29:49.9; 84. Chuck Sommerlad (MW '85), 30:02; 85. Angela Iaccarino (MW '18),
30:14.6; 86. Tom Maile (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan '60), 30:38.1; 87. Thomas Cooper (MW '15),
30:54.5; 88. William Carpenter (Longsands, St. Neots, UK '77), 31:44.9; 89. Wes Collins (Suf '19),
31:47.9; 90. Kyle Sommerlad (MW '16), 32:26.4; 91. Harry Owens (Chaminade '76), 32:33.7; 92. Joe
Sarvis (AM  '75), 32:53.1; 93. Elisabeth Tischler (MW '89), 33:12.4; 94. Krystal Weddell (War '01),
34:34.3; 95. Rob McNamara (Nan '86), 34:35.4; 96. Tiffanie Reilly (War '99), 34:39.6; 97. Larry
Beckerle (AM ';73), 34:41.7; 98. Michael Danyluk (CS '16), 34:42.1; 99. Bob Hermesch (Hendrick
Hudson '68), 36:03.9; 100. Mike Rogan (CN '86), 36:23.2; 101. Justin Gumbs (MW ';20), 36:50.9; 102.
Jena Sommerlad (MW ';20), 36:51.3; 103. Brian Conlon (MW '85), 37:35.3; 104. Amber Crispino (MW
'85), 37:59.1; 105. Gerald Conlon (MW '84), 38:05.5; 106. Ed Meyer (Jesuit, Sacramento, Calif. '92),
38:36; 107. Niels Dua (Lowell, San Francisco, Calif. '3), 39:01.2; 108. Dustin Collins (Suf '16),
40:22.2; 109. Michael Collins (Mepham '78), 40:22.6; 110. unknown, 40:35.4; 111. Diane Iriarte (PR
'83), 40:35.8; 112. Stephanie Hanrahan (PR '83), 40:36.3; 113. Robin Schaber (Southridge, Indiana
'98), 40:46.6; 114. Lisa Iaccarino (MW '14), 41:18.3; 115. Michelle Iaccarino (MW '16), 41:19.5; 116.
Mike Secora (AM '11), 44:20.1; 117. Prama Mongkolthavorn (Bangkok, Thailand '92), 44:46; 118.
Suda Phadungtalesin, Bangkok, Thailand '92), 44:46.5; 119. Sherry Berbit (Ramapo '69), 46:24.1; 120.
Dan Hogan (Suf '99), 48:00.5; 121. Jamie Kempton (AM '76), 53:23.3; 122. Mike Coakley (CN '87),
53:28.8; 123. Matt Beckerle (Nan '83), 53:30.3; 124. Laura Leonard (Stuyvesant '4), 53:30.4; 125.
Warren Berbit (Bayside '60), 54:08.5.

2021: Jamie's Recap

 Alumni Cross Country Run Returns After One-Year Pandemic Pause
By Jamie Kempton

After a one-year hiatus caused by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bill Markiewicz Memorial
Rockland County Alumni Cross Country Run returned to the hills and footpaths of Bear Mountain
State Park on Saturday, Nov. 27. The 38th renewal of the event welcomed 125 alumni harriers from
throughout the New York metro area and beyond to re-enact a ritual many remember fondly from their
days as scholastic competitors. The race is co-sponsored by the Rockland Road Runners.

For many veteran Alumni Run participants, the silting of time has slowed the gait and magnified the
aches and pains. But it has not diminished their zeal for recapturing the feeling of exhilaration and
camaraderie intrinsic to the Bear Mountain running experience. For Mike Rogan, Clarkstown North
class of 1986, finishing the race intact was a moral victory after undergoing a partial knee replacement
in July. Rogan, the 1985 Rockland County schoolboy champion, finished 100th in 36:23, a far cry from his speedy 15:05 winning effort in '85. But he made the trek from his home in Evansville, Indiana not to draw comparisons to his halcyon days of yore, but to reaffirm his vigor and Rockland loyalties after recent life-altering tribulations.

Rogan suffered a traumatic brain injury in July 2013, having fallen down two flights of stairs at his
home and sustaining severe facial and skull fractures. Through strenuous rehabilitation he has
improved his mobility, although his injuries have left him unable to go back to work. He had been an
emergency room physician and medical researcher in Indiana.

In a Hall of Fame career at North, Rogan won the state indoor title at 1,000 meters, ran the third-fastest
time in the country in that event in 1986 (2:29.59), and swept the 5,000, 1,500 and 800-meter races at
the spring county championships. At Notre Dame, he set a still-standing school record for the indoor
1,500 meters (3:47.64) and ran the equivalent of a 4:02 mile.

Rogan was undoubtedly the most accomplished athlete coached by Bill Markiewicz, in whose memory
the race is named. Markiewicz, Albertus Magnus class of 1967, was head coach of the Clarkstown
North cross country team from 1978 to 1989, who died in 1991 from cancer. He endeared himself to
everyone with his vibrant personality and full-throttle devotion to his athletes and the cross
country/track community as a whole. This year's recipient of the Bill Markiewicz Award – bestowed
annually to a significant, longtime contributor to Rockland cross country – was Pat Driscoll,
Clarkstown North class of 1998. Driscoll competed for Clarkstown North and Marist College before
embarking on a highly successful 15-year coaching career at Tappan Zee High School. He has coached
girls track/XC for 15 years and boys for 14 years. Pat ran in the Alumni race all but one year from
1998 to 2006.

“As a Clarkstown North alum, winning the Markiewicz Award means a lot to me,” said Driscoll, a
special education teacher at Tappan Zee for the past 18 years. “Even though I never ran for Mr.
Mark, my coach Bob Dillon along with Paul Duddy referenced him a lot. I am surrounded by
incredible coaches in our county past and present and to be given an award because of my
contributions to the sport, is incredibly humbling.  My coach Bob Dillon always spoke so highly
of the Alumni race and to be honored by the Rockland County Cross Country Alumni is so
cool.” Driscoll was presented with the award by Janet Markiewicz, Bill's widow, who makes the trip
each year from her home in Goshen, N.Y. to keep the Markiewicz flame burning brightly.

Another cross country veteran who has weathered health hardships to return to Bear Mountain is Mike
Secora, Albertus Magnus class of 1971. In the era before Albertus joined the RCPSAL, Secora was an
Albertus front-runner. He won the titanic dual-meet showdown with public-schools champ Clarkstown
at Bear Mountain in 1970, leading the Falcons to victory before what is believed to be the largest
crowd ever assembled for a dual cross country meet in Rockland. He also finished 11th in the A race of
the highly competitive CHSAA Intersectionals at Van Cortlandt Park in 13:11, still an outstanding time
today.

Secora has struggled with health issues in recent years, contracting colon cancer in 2014 and 2015 and
having both hips replaced in 2017 and 2018. Now cancer-free, he has been walking regularly for the
past two years and set a goal of breaking 45 minutes at the race, which he did with a 44:20 effort. He
last participated in the Alumni Run in 2006 but has completed the race 16 times in total.

“I loved coming back,” said Secora, who has resided in Ormond Beach, Fla. for the past six years. “It is
always great to see former teammates and competitors. Bear Mountain was our home course so we
always liked running there. We felt we had an advantage being used to running the hills.” Back then
the course ascended the brutally steep ski slope incline twice over a 2.5-mile route, versus once on the
current 3-mile course.

The race was conducted in blustery, sunny 39-degree weather. Corey Calajoe, Pearl River class of
2004, outdistanced the field in traversing the challenging layout in 16:45.7. Calajoe was runner-up last
year. “I've run faster in previous years but due to the wind I just wanted to put myself up with the front
group and compete for the win,” said Calajoe, who ran all four years for Pearl River but did not
compete in college. He has completed seven marathons with a best of 2 hours 48 minutes. Calajoe lives
in Somers, N.Y., and works as an IT director in the insurance industry. Patrick Castellano, Tappan Zee class of 2019 (a Pat Driscoll protégé), finished right behind Calajoe in
16:47.8. 

In the women's division, Jamie Lord, North Rockland class of 2014, clocked a personal-best
18:35.3 for a 300-yard margin of victory over runner-up Suzanne LaBurt, Monroe-Woodbury class of
1981, who ran 20:45.2. Lord improved on her high school best of 18:48 at Bear Mountain. Collegiately
she competed for RPI in Troy, N.Y., for four years and now runs for the Battle Road Track Club,
training for the 2022 Boston Marathon next April. Lord lives in Wakefield, Mass., and works as a
systems engineer for Raytheon Technologies. Lord finished 14th overall and LaBurt placed 29th . LaBurt, the defending champion, has been a model of consistency at the Alumni Run, having won the women's division twice, finished second eight times, and third four times since 2000.

Suffern laid claim to the men's team crown for the seventh time, tallying 90 points to shade runner-up
Pearl River's 96. The Monroe-Woodbury women re-entered the winner's circle after having their nine-
year victory skein snapped last year by Suffern. The Lady Crusaders rang up 64 points for their record
16 h team flag, while Monroe-Woodbury also secured the combined men's/women's participation title
for a record 18th time (and 11th consecutively) with 23 participants. Pearl River was second with 15.

The gender breakdown of the race was 98 males and 27 females. The oldest participants were Warren
Berbit of Suffern, Bayside class of 1960, and Tom Maile of the Taconic Road Runners Club and
Bloomfield Hills, Mich. class of 1960. Entrants' alma maters represented seven states – New York,
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and California – as well as international
participants hailing from Great Britain, France and Thailand.

Past Rockland County scholastic champions who competed in this year's Alumni Run included Rogan and Michael Colangelo, Albertus Magnus class of 1975, the 1974 NYS Class B individual champ and leader of the Falcons; NYS and Eastern States champion Long Red Line. Past Alumni Run gold medalists included Brian Crowley, Albertus class of 1982, the 1990 champ, who was 13th in 18:31.5;
Kyle Collins, Suffern class of 2012, the 2014 titleist, who finished eighth in 17:59.6; Evan Ward,
Suffern 2012, the 2016 winner, who took third in 17:05.4; and LaBurt.

The family participation title was shared by the Collins family of dad Mike and sons Kyle, Wesley and
Dustin, and the Beckerle family of siblings Larry, Stephen, Michael and Matthew Beckerle. Larry
Beckerle, Albertus Magnus class of 1973, extended his unrivaled streak of having competed in all 38
editions of the Alumni Run.

Monday, December 2, 2019

2019: Full results


Saturday, November 30, 2019
Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain, N.Y.
Course: 3.0 miles
Meet records: 14:08, John Trautmann (Monroe-Woodbury ’86), 1994
                            17:04, Debbie Grant (Ramapo ’83), 1995

Men’s team scores: 1. Monroe-Woodbury (MW), 44; 2. Suffern (Suff), 64; 3. Pearl River (PR), 87; 4. Clarkstown North (CN), 177; 5. North Rockland (NR), 224; 6. Clarkstown South (CS), 237; 7. Albertus Magnus (AM), 266; 8. Nanuet (Nan), 383; other teams incomplete.

Women’s team scores: 1. Suffern (Suff), 82; other teams incomplete.

Team participation (combined men/women):  1. Monroe-Woodbury, 36; 2. Suffern, 23; 3. Pearl River, 17; 4. Albertus Magnus, 15; 5. Clarkstown South, 14; 6. Clarkstown North, 9; 7. North Rockland, 6; 8. Nanuet, 5; 9. Tie, Goshen (Gosh) and Warwick Valley (War), 3; 11. Washingtonville (Wash), 2; 12. Tie, Beacon, Brewster, Colonie Central, Cornwall, Drimnagh Castle (Dublin, Ireland), F.D. Roosevelt, Framingham (Mass.), Hendrick Hudson, Jamaica, Jesuit (Calif.), John P. Stevens (N.J.), Kenmore East, Kimball Union (N.H.), Kingston, Lowell (Calif.), Manalapan (N.J.), Maria Regina, Marlboro, Mepham, Middletown, Morristown (N.J.), Nyack, Park Tudor (Ind.), Poly (NYC), Sleepy Hollow, South Ridge (Ind.), Sparta (N.J.), St. Joseph West, Tappan Zee, 1; 2 unaffiliated entrants.


Women’s top 10
1. Suzanne La Burt (MW ’81), 19:47; 2. Stacey Rogers (PR '09), 24:06; 3. Laura Murray-Fuggella (Suff '02), 24:17; 4. Naomi Siegel (Manalapan '05), 24:48; 5. Leslei Ballantyne (Suff '92), 24:51; 6. Lauren Trotta (Wash '01), 24:52; 7. Maria del Rosario (J.P. Stevens '04), 25:08; 8. Gina Ruotolo (CS '19), 25:23; 9. Katherine Hogan (CS '19), 25:57; 10. Kate McKnight (unaffiliated), 26:27.

Overall Finishers
1. John Dove (MW '14) 15:32; 2. Corey Calajoe (PR '04) 16:03; 3. Evan Ward (Suff '12) 16:04; 4. David McCarey (Middletown '08) 16:05; 5. Michael Hennelly (Suff '18) 16:18; 6. Kyle Collins (Suff '12) 16:37; 7. Kyle Egan (MW '16) 17:33; 8. Ian Wright (Colonie '04) 17:42; 9. Brett Walker (Goshen '98) 17:49; 10. Sean Reilly (MW '09) 17:55; 11. Brian McKnight (MW '97) 17:55; 12. James Kessler (PR '03) 18:16; 13. Mike St. Lawrence (Goshen '00) 18:19; 14. Mike Borawski (PR '04) 18:30; 15. Jamie Boyle (MW '09) 18:33; 16. Mike Slinskey (Beacon '87) 18:44; 17. Vinny Modafferi (CS '06) 18:44; 18. Thomas Cobb (NR '17) 18:55; 19. Jason Friedman (CN '93) 19:12; 20. Adam Klein (CS '14) 19:21; 21. James Paterson (NR '17) 19:21; 22. Robert Basstein (MW '02) 19:23; 23. Mike Bernstein (Suff '95) 19:27; 24. Matt Lenihan (PR '03) 19:46; 25. Suzanne LaBurt (MW '81) 19:47; 26. Thomas McCarney (CN '93) 20:00; 27. Wes Collins (Suff '19) 20:15; 28. Jamie Kempton (AM '76) 20:25; 29. Kevin Borden (Kenmore East '90) 20:31; 30. Matt McKenna (CN '03) 20:41; 31. Mike Lawrence (Warwick Valley '01) 20:45; 32. Alan Young (Drimnagh Castle IRE '85) 20:52; 33. Ed Ackerly (MW '86) 21:01; 34. John MacKenzie (TZ '98) 21:10; 35. Christian Cartensen (PR '15) 21:13; 36. Daniel Wanamaker (MW '18) 21:19; 37. Jeff Comerford (MW '85) 21:23; 38. Michael Boyle (MW '19) 21:25; 39. Gil Wager (AM '75) 21:34; 40. Sean Casey (Cornwall '11) 21:39; 41. John Trotter Jr. (Wash '02) 21:40; 42. Michael Beckerle (Nan '79) 21:42; 43. Adam Borg (CN '97) 21:48; 44. Matt Deitch (MW '02) 21:56; 45. Chris Danyluk (CS '19) 21:50; 46. Steven Alicea (NR '98) 21:55; 47. Jon Prince (Warwick Valley '02) 21:56; 48. Daniel Markiewicz (Goshen '96) 22:02; 49. Brian Kelly (AM '75) 22:13; 50. Peter McDonagh (PR '93) 22:26.

51. Scott Curtis (MW) 22:32; 52, Dan Brabander (Nan '83) 22:37; 53. Tom List (PR '80) 22:48; 54. Anthony Copicotto (NR '01) 22:55; 55. Daniel Rossi (Brewster '16) 23:04; 56. Chris Urio (MW '16) 23:05; 57. Christopher Goodwin (MW '89) 23:11; 58. Daniel Hasler (Park Tudor IN '10) 23:16; 59. Jason Lipman (CN '91) 23:17; 60. Dan Murray (CN '87) 23:24; 61. Dan Pragdat (CS '11) 23:31; 62. Doug Carter (Kimball Union NH '71) 23:31; 63. Kyle Summerlad (MW '16) 23:32; 64. Tyler Bassett (Suff '16) 23:38; 65. Dave Baker (Nan '79) 23:38; 66. Douglas Hauser (MW '02) 23:41; 67. Evan Ratnow (Suff '96) 23:43; 68. Mike Colangeli (AM '75) 23:47; 69. Jim Dugadzic (PR '81) 23:54; 70. Brian Conlon (MW '17) 23:57; 71. Nick DiMaria (Warwick Valley '01) 23:58; 72. Michael Kelly (Nan '79) 24:06; 73. Stacey Rogers (PR '09) 24:06; 74. Bishoy Bishara (MW '14) 24:11; 75. Laura Murray-Fugella (Suff '02) 24:17; 76. Bertrand Ganee 24:42; 77. Naomi Siegel (Manalapan NJ '05) 24:48; 78. Leslie Ballantyne (Suff '92) 24:51; 79. Lauren Trotta (Wash '01) 24:52; 80. Brian Crowley (AM '82) 25:00; 81. John Murphy (MW '85) 25:05; 82. Maria del Rosario (John P. Stevens '04) 25:08); 83. Steve Schallenkamp (Kingston '72) 25:22; 84. Gina Ruotolo (CS '19) 25:23; 85. John Darga (NR '85) 25:29; 86. George Buckheit (AM '75) 25:40; 87. Tim Waples (Suff '00) 25:46; 88. PJ Butler (PR '90) 25:49; 89. Katherine Hogan (CS '19) 25:57; 90. Anjun Sharma (CS '16) 25:59; 91. Jeff Mehr (Suff '96) 26:00; 92. Zack Berbitt (Suff '96) 26:01; 93. Kevin Chanowsky (MW 94) 26:05; 94. Hugh Brady (PR '80) 26:15; 95. James McGovern (PR '90) 26:16; 96. Liam Walker (CS '18) 26:19; 97. Pete Modafferi (CS '95) 26:22; 98. Bruce Meyer (TZ '76) 26:27; 99. Kate McKnight 26:27; 100. Stephen Beckerle (AM '74) 26:34.

101. Gary Scarano (Morristown NJ '73) 26:36; 102. Mike Moran (AM '83) 26:51; 103. Joe Dolan (PR '90) 27:37; 104. Kim Gong (AM '82) 27:39; 105. Linda Edward-Wells (MW '81) 28:04; 106. Sheila Harrington-McNaughton (CS '94) 28:09; 107. Ed Casey (PR '82); 108. Ed Hushon (AM '83) 28:30; 109. Keith Reilly (PR '90) 28:44; 110. Benjamin Schneck (Ny '18) 28:51; 111. Bob Hermesch (Hendrick Hudson '68) 29:02; 112. Lucas Pinto (Suff '18) 29:04; 113. Darrel Pinto (Suff '18) 29:04; 114. Michael Danyluk (CS '16) 29:10; 115. Ken Gerber (CS '92) 29:21; 116. Michael Marcotte (MW '17) 29:24; 117. Matt Ammer (Suff '94) 29:27; 118. Karen Spinozzi (Marla Regina '66); 119. Ravi Dholakia (MW '16) 29:32; 120. David Hall (MW '93) 29:34; 121. Chuck Summerlad (MW '85) 29:44; 122. Charles Hantery (CS '16) 29:52; 123. Jeanne Teestsel (AM '81); 124. Tricia Van Tassel (Beacon '04) 30:32; 125. Niels Dua (Lowell CA '83) 30:39; 126. Rachel Barese (Suff '00) 30:47; 127. Joanne Smith-Whalen (MW '05) 30:53; 128. William Ratnow (Poly '19) 30:54; 129. Larry Beckerle (AM '73) 31:05; 130. Mike Rogan (CN '86) 31:23; 131. Michael Andrea (St. Joseph's NJ '67); 132. Sue Gulla-Lanoce (PR '83) 32:03; 133. Emma Viser (Framingham MA '16) 32:07; 134. Elizabeth Tischler (MW '89) 32:36; 135. Orlando (PR '91) 32:35; 136. Diana Karron (FDR '79) 33:02; 137. Helen Pasqual (Jamaica '81) 33:05; 138. Robin Schaber (South Ridge IN '98) 33:10; 139. Mark Maloney (NR '96) 33:25; 140. Dianne Pinto (CN '87) 35:06; 141. Larry Quinn (AM '69) 34:01; 142. Mike Coakley (CN '87) 35:06; 143. Shirley Quinn (CS '81) 36:08; 144. Faith Pinto (Suff '18) 36:20; 145. Cassie Pinto (Suff '15) 37:33; 146. Mya Pinto (Suff '19) 37:36; 147. Dustin Collins (Nan '18) 37:43; 148. Michael Collins (Mepham '78) 37:43; 149. Katie Galvin (Suff '02) 37:44; 150. Jeff Ratnow (Suff '89) 38:16.

151. Ed Meyer (Jesuit CA '52) 39:01; 152. Ken Newcomb (MW '81) 39:39; 153. Deb Scarano (Sparta NJ '82) 40:41; 154. Dan Hogan (Suff '99) 42:28; 155. John McLaughlin (AM '74) 43:31; 156. Pete Torgersen (Nan '79) 51:27; 157. Neil Galeota (Sleepy Hollow '77) 53:36; 158. Mike Teetsel (AM '77) 53:37.

2019: Jamie's recap


Albertus harriers return to the scene of their triumphs

By Jamie Kempton

Forty-five years ago, the Albertus Magnus High School cross country team swept through Bear Mountain State Park like a typhoon, capturing Rockland County and Section 9 titles en route to the most dominant season in the sport's illustrious history in Rockland. On Saturday, November 30, six members of the Falcons' famed “Long Red Line” harrier squad returned to the scene of their watershed triumphs to take part in the 37th annual Bill Markiewicz Memorial Rockland County Alumni Cross Country Run, co-sponsored by the Rockland Road Runners.

On a sun-bathed, 40-degree afternoon at one of the most picturesque locales in the Hudson Valley, Michael Colangelo, George Buckheit, Gil Wager, Brian Kelly and Jamie Kempton – supported by “team photographer” and former teammate John McNiff – joined 156 other alumni runners in touring the well-trod 3-mile Bear Mountain layout used by local scholastic teams. Sharing equal billing with the participants, the course is marked by (and feared for) the steep climb of the old ski-jumping slope, site of regional and national championship events for more than 50 years.  The Albertus harriers remembered the ascent as being challenging but manageable back in their days of vim and vigor.

Not now, though. “The hill got bigger,” said Buckheit, Albertus class of 1975, who won the Alumni Run in 1985 and 1987 and is second-fastest ever (14:36). “I just tried to survive it.” That he did, finishing as the Falcons' sixth runner in 89th place out of 161 entrants in 25:40, more than 11 minutes off his personal best. The Falcon fossils, now all in their 60s, enjoyed their nostalgic sojourn on the storied course, albeit decidedly slower than in 1974, when they took the scholastic cross country realm by storm. Albertus, coached by the astute Dick Weis, went undefeated and unchallenged, winning the New York State Intersectional Class B title with a record-low score, salting away the Eastern States championship with ease, and earning the No. 2 ranking in the nation – the highest rating ever achieved  by a Rockland high school team. Colangelo was their front-runner, dashing to victory in the County and State Intersectional meets and cementing his place in the Rockland XC pantheon. Earlier this year, the Long Red Line received an additional capstone distinction, becoming the first team to gain induction into the Rockland County Track & Field Hall of Fame. Colangelo had been inducted individually in 2011.

The Albertus alumni finished seventh in the team standings with 266 points, abetted by their fifth scorer, Brian Crowley, AM class of 1982, who won the 1990 Alumni Run and continues to shine as a masters (40-or-older) athlete. The men's team title went to Monroe-Woodbury of Orange County, which scored 44 points for a 20-point victory margin over runner-up Suffern (64). The MW Crusaders have won three straight and eight overall, tying them with Albertus for the second-most men's team crowns, behind Clarkstown North's nine. The Suffern women re-entered the winner's circle after a 28-year hiatus, scoring 82 points as the only female squad with a full scoring unit. The Lady Mounties thus snapped a string of nine consecutive team championships by Monroe-Woodbury.

Individually, John Dove, Monroe-Woodbury class of 2014, romped to his second straight crown, navigating the Bear Mountain layout in 15:32 to outdistance runner-up Corey Calajoe (16:03), Pearl River class of 2004, by 150 yards. Suzanne LaBurt, Monroe-Woodbury class of 1981, secured her second title in three years and broke 20 minutes for the first time, clocking 19:47. Since 2000, she has won twice, finished second seven times and third four times. Not too shabby for a 56-year-old! The Crusaders of Monroe-Woodbury also led the way with 32 participants, laying claim to that honor for the 10th straight year and 17th overall.

The race is named in memory of Bill Markiewicz, Albertus Magnus class of 1967, who was head coach of the Clarkstown North cross country team from 1978 to 1989. He endeared himself to everyone with his charismatic personality and deep devotion to his athletes and the cross country/track community as a whole. This year's recipient of the Bill Markiewicz Award – bestowed annually to a significant, longtime contributor to Rockland cross country – was Pete Modafferi, Clarkstown South class of 1995. Modafferi was the 1994 Rockland County cross country champion and the 1995 NYS Federation 1,000-meter gold medalist. He has coached at Clarkstown South in track since 1998 and in cross country since 2003, and has participated in the Alumni Run many times, including this year's 97th-place finish (26:22). Modafferi was presented with the award by Janet Markiewicz, Bill's widow, who makes the trek annually from her home in Goshen to perpetuate the Markiewicz legacy.

One of Markiewicz's all-time greats, Mike Rogan, Clarkstown North class of 1986, made the trip from his home in Evansville, Indiana, for the third straight year. Rogan's plight is especially poignant. He suffered a traumatic brain injury in July 2013, having fallen down two flights of stairs at his home and sustaining severe facial and skull fractures. Through strenuous rehabilitation he has improved his mobility, although his injuries have left him unable to go back to work. He had been an emergency room physician and medical researcher in Indiana.

In a Hall of Fame career at North, Rogan won the state indoor title at 1,000 meters, ran the third-fastest time in the country in that event in 1986 (2:29.59), and swept the 5,000, 1,500 and 800-meter races at the spring county championships. At Notre Dame, he set a still-standing school record for the indoor 1,500 meters (3:47.64) and ran the equivalent of a 4:02 mile. Thirty-four years ago, Rogan won the Rockland County cross country title at Bear Mountain in a super-fast time of 15:05. Post-injury, he just aims to better his time from the previous year. He is now 3-for-3 in that department, progressing from 43:25 in 2017 to 36:23 last year, and to 31:23 this year. Rogan basked in the well-wishes he received at the race from his fellow Ram alums and his former track coach at North, Paul Duddy.

The race drew 129 male entrants and 32 female entrants, representing 40 high schools from six states –  New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Indiana and California – as well as an international entry from Ireland. Among the other notables participating were former Rockland County scholastic champions Colangelo, Modafferi and Rogan, and past Alumni Run titlists Evan Ward, Suffern class of 2012, who finished third (16:04); Kyle Collins, a classmate of Ward's, who took sixth (16:37); Brian McKnight, Monroe-Woodbury class of 1997, the 11th-place finisher (17:55); LaBurt, who placed 25th overall; Crowley; and Buckheit. The family participation crown went to the Collins family of Suffern – siblings Kyle, Wesley and Dustin and their dad, Mike, who was a third-place finisher back in 1987 and maintains a website devoted to the Alumni Run and Rockland track/cross country, www.rocklandsportingnews.com.

Larry Beckerle, Albertus Magnus class of 1973, is the only individual to have participated in all 37 editions of the Alumni Run. Beckerle, the longtime track coach at Nanuet High School, finished 132nd in 31:05, trailing his brothers, Michael, Nanuet class of 1979 (42nd , 21:42), and Stephen, Albertus class of 1974 (103rd, 26:34). Also noteworthy is the streak of Sue (Gulla) Lanoce, Pearl River class of 1983, who has taken part in the last 36 editions, missing only the inaugural race in 1983.