2003

In the spring of this year, as word started to spread about the website, I got an e-mail from Andrew Rikert (Guilderland '97) who was starting a Section II alumni race similar to the Alumni Run in Guilderland, NY in September. He did alot of work and put together a nice debut run, getting over 60 finishers at the inaugural event. Lo and behold, who shows up two months later at the Bear but Andrew himself, dragging three of his former teammates in tow. In a coming-out party for what we hope will be a competitive team in future years, Guilderland's small but strong contingent put up a solid showing, with three top-30 finishes among them, including race winner James Sweeney. A hearty welcome to the Long Red Line.

(Ed. note: In recent years, Jim has become a friend and training partner of mine, and one of the top ultramarathoners in the country, with top-3 finishes at the JFK 50 mile and Vermont 100 mile to his name.)

While James became only the third runner from a "non-regular" school to win the men's title, the men's team title was contested among a group of familiar faces. Despite a strong non-Rockland presence in the top 10--non-area schools took 5 of the first 9 spots--the top teams packed in their athletes in the next twenty, and the race for team honors was on. For the third straight year the boys in purple and gold won out, boosted by a strong showing from Anthony Calingo, coming off a 2:40 effort just two weeks earlier in Richmond as part of the USMA marathon team. Despite what seemed to be favorable conditions, the men's race was one of the slowest on record, with only four runners breaking 16 minutes; the winning time was second-slowest in race history.

On the women's side, Julianne Littman returned to the Alumni Race after a one-year hiatus and reclaimed the throne she abdicated a year earlier. Her 18:27 was the slowest of her three victories to this point, but it helps support her claim as one of the greatest women in race history. The Newsome sisters made the team race a family affair, claiming three of the top 13 spots in leading the Clarkstown South women to their third win in the second-closest women's race ever. Kim Newsome tied an Alumni record with her tenth top-10 finish, equaling the women's standard set by Laura Pederson-Higgins.

Men's Top 30

1. James Sweeney (Guild '99) 15:40
2. Tim Cox (Suff '91) 15:47
3. Mike Morris (CN '96) 15:48
4. Stephen Furst (Gosh '03) 15:48
5. Eric Furst (Gosh '99) 16:01
6. Mike Kohlbrenner (PR '76) 16:06
7. Tom McCarney (CN '93) 16:09
8. Rich Friedrich (Gosh '98) 16:12
9. Keith Johnson (Hirschi, Wichita Falls, Texas '79) 16:13
10. Jamie Kempton (AM '76) 16:19
11. Matt Kohlbrenner (PR '79) 16:27
12. Jason Friedman (CN '93) 16:33
13. Dan Smitas (Guild '94) 16:35
14. Anthony Calingo (CN '01) 16:41
15. Pat Driscoll (CN '98) 16:44
16. Miguel Reyes (NR '03) 16:47
17. Frank Visingardi (Nan '86) 16:48
18. Tom Ciccone Jr. (Suff '94) 16:52
19. Jered Haag (MW '89) 16:56
20. Kenny Kohlbrenner (PR '03) 17:02
21. John McGovern (CN '82) 17:07
22. Jamsel Reyes (NR '01) 17:10
23. George Newsome (CS '92) 17:11
24. George Buckheit (AM '75) 17:17
25. Andrew Rikert (Guild '97) 17:23
26. Preston Smolinski (MW '98) 17:25
27. John Trotta Jr. (Wash '02) 17:28
28. Anthony Copicotto (NR '01) 17:32
29. Michael Cespedes (NR '03) 17:39
30. Pete Modafferi (CS '95) 17:49
    

Women's Top 10

1. Julianne Littman (MW '95) 18:27
2. Meghan Howell (Suff '99) 19:10
3. Suzanne La Burt (MW '81) 20:07
4. Ellen Driscoll (CN '00) 20:35
5. Kim Newsome (CS '88) 20:50
6. Lauren Tuchband (Nan '98) 20:56
7. Amy Ross-Schroer (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma '95) 20:57
8. Dawn Newsome (CS '86) 21:30
9. Jessica Hanley (PR '97) 22:07
10. Laura Bergen-DiMarino (Nan '84) 22:12
    

Total Number of Runners: 264

Team Participation: 1. Suffern 31, 2. Monroe Woodbury 29, 3. Pearl River 28, 4. Clarkstown North 25, 5. North Rockland 19, 6. (tie) Albertus Magnus, Clarkstown South, and Nanuet 17, 9. (tie) Goshen and Tappan Zee 7, 11. Guilderland 4, 12. (tie) Spring Valley and Washingtonville 3, 14. (tie) Nyack, Newburgh Free Academy, Mepham, Beacon, Somers, Highland, and Bayside 2.

Men's Team Scoring

1. Clarkstown North 51 (Morris, McCarney, Friedman, Calingo, Driscoll)
2. Pearl River 108
3. North Rockland 137
4. Monroe Woodbury 150
5. Suffern 169
6. Goshen 217
7. Clarkstown South 232
8. Albertus Magnus 305
9. Nanuet 332
10. Tappan Zee 699
    

Women's Team Scoring

1. Clarkstown South 63 (K. Newsome, D. Newsome, J. Newsome, Carle, Shiel)
2. Monroe Woodbury 68
3. Clarkstown North 77
4. Nanuet 116
5. Pearl River 131