2012

Thirty years seems like an awfully long time, and I doubt that anyone thirty years ago could have envisioned that this race would have grown into what it has become--not only a fixture on the Rockland racing scene, but an event that draws top-flight athletes from throughout the Hudson Valley, providing a high-level competitive experience without sacrificing its family feel.  This year's top 30 runners hailed from 13 different high schools--only five of which were in Rockland County--and provided the mix of youth and experience at the front that the race has become known for.  Yet, the race is still free, still on the same course.  Larry Beckerle and Pat Chambers still toe the starting line.  Janet Markiewicz still presents the race's highest award on the starting line, as she has for the past twenty years.  Never have I been more proud to be included among that illustrious group, still as the only one of Mr. Mark's former athletes to be so honored.

Monroe Woodbury swept the both races and the participation title as well, becoming only the third team to accomplish that feat.  The Lady Crusaders were especially impressive, their 55-point margin of victory good for fourth largest all-time; though with the low turnout on the women's side, this distinction loses a bit of its luster.  Caile Kohlbrenner won her second title in two tries, upsetting the great Julianne Littmann-Viscardo.  The men's race was competitive once again, though not quite as tight as recent years.  Monroe Woodbury's 72 points in securing their third title was the fourth highest winning score ever; the past four years having produced those four highest scores, highlighting the diverse draw of the race across several counties.  The days of dominant men's teams and scores in the 30s, 40s, and 50s may be over.

Full Results
Jamie's write-up

Men's Top 30

1. Carlos Jamieson (NR '05) 15:59
2. David McCarey (Middletown '08) 16:14
3. Nick Roosa (TZ '03) 16:17
4. Louis Tafuto (Warwick '06) 16:45
5. Ryan Cross (Suff '12) 17:01
6. Kyle Collins (Suff '12) 17:16
7. Ben Nilsestuen (Warwick '01) 17:09
8. Thomas Zarnoch (MW '08) 17:37
9. Armando Oliveria (New Rochelle '85) 17:25
10. Jason Friedman (CN '93) 17:34
11. Llanex Hernandez (MW '12) 17:40
12. Tom Dillon (CN '97) 17:45
13. Mike Morris (CN '96) 17:47
14. Paul Mueller (St. Cloud Apollo, MN '02) 17:57
15. Bruce Hotaling (JJ-EF '09) 18:07
16. Brian Holahan (MW '08) 18:11
17. Marcus DeBergh (MW '01) 18:17
18. Doug Sklar (CS '91) 18:26
19. Matthew Walker (CS '12) 18:28
20. Peter Viscardo (MW '95) 18:30
21. Chris O'Brien (TZ '12) 18:33
22. Rob Conklin (NR '00) 18:34
23. Clint Earnheart (Edmond, OK '96) 18:35
24. Tom McCarney (CN '93) 18:47
25. Luke Driscoll (Baldwin '93) 18:48
26. Michael Sklar (CS '93) 18:50
27. Devon White (CN '96) 18:54
28. Tony Modafferi (CS '04) 19:00
29. Russell Maloney (Walter Panas '09) 19:05
30. David Blumel (MW '75) 19:08

Women's Top 10

1. Caile Kohlbrenner (TZ '11) 19:11
2. Julianne Littmann-Viscardo (MW '95) 19:32
3. Kristin Schiesswohl (MW '89) 19:44
4. Chrissy Clarkin (MW) 20:01
5. Suzanne LaBurt (MW '81) 21:32
6. Jacqueline Pollack (TZ '10) 22:17
7. Trish (Maher) Greany (Ram '81) 22:28
8. Megan Curran (TZ '11) 22:28
9. Jeanine Conklin (MW '92) 23:02
10. Tiffanee McCarney (Fargo North, ND '97) 23:40

Total Number of Runners: 235

Team Participation: 1. Monroe Woodbury 39, 2. Pearl River 23, 3. Clarkstown North 19, 4. Albertus Magnus 18, 5. Clarkstown South 13, 5. Suffern 12, 7. Tappan Zee 11, 8. Nanuet 9, 9. Warwick 8, 10. North Rockland 5, 11. Arlington 4, 12 (tie) John S. Burke, Millbrook, Ramapo, S.S. Seward, and Washingtonville 3, 17. (tie) Goshen, Marlboro, and Spring Valley 2.

Men's Team Scoring

1. Monroe Woodbury 72 (Zarnock, Hernandez, Holahan, DeBergh, Viscardo)
2. Clarkstown North 86
3. Clarkstown South 143
4. Tappan Zee 195
5. Suffern 198
6. Pearl River 229
7. Albertus Magnus 380
8. Nanuet 515

Women's Team Scoring

1. Monroe Woodbury 23 (Littmann-Viscardo, Schiesswohl, Clarkin, LaBurt, Conklin)
2. Tappan Zee 78

2012 Full Results

30^th annual Bill Markiewicz Memorial Rockland Alumni Cross Country Run

Saturday, November 24

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), 72; 2. Clarkstown North (CN), 86; 3. Clarkstown South (CS), 143; 4. Tappan Zee (TZ), 195, 5. Suffern (Suf), 198; 6. Pearl River (PR), 229; 7. Albertus Magnus (AM), 380; 8. Nanuet (Nan), 515; other teams incomplete.

Women’s team scores: 1. Monroe-Woodbury, 23; 2. Tappan Zee, 78; other teams incomplete.

Team participation (combined):  1. Monroe-Woodbury, 39; 2. Pearl River, 23; 3. Clarkstown North, 19; 4. Albertus Magnus, 18; 5. Clarkstown South, 13; 6. Suffern, 12; 7. Tappan Zee, 11; 8. Nanuet, 9; 9. Warwick, 8; 10. North Rockland, 5; 11. Arlington, 4; 12. Tie, John S. Burke, Millbrook, Ramapo, S.S. Seward, Washingtonville, 3; 17. Tie, Goshen, Marlboro, Spring Valley, 2; 20. Tie, Baldwin, Bayside, Bergen Tech, Blind Brook, Bronx School of Science, Chaminade, Colonie, Commack, Dennis-Yarmouth (Mass.), Dumont (N.J.),  Edmond (Okla.), Fargo North (N.D.), Farmington (Conn.), Great Neck South, Haldane, Hendrick Hudson, Holy Angels, C.D. Hylton, James I. O’Neill, Jefferson-Youngsville, Jesuit, John Jay-East Fishkill, Keveny (Cohoes, N.Y.), Long Beach, Manchester (N.H.), Marquette (Chesterfield, Md.), Mendham (N.J.), Mepham, Middletown, Minisink Valley, Murry Bergtraum, New Rochelle, Notre Dame College (Welland, Ontario, Canada), Nyack,  Paramus Catholic, Potomac (Md.), Prescott (Wis.) Rhinebeck, Rosary Academy, St. Cloud Apollo, St. Gabriel, St. Joseph Regional, Shasta (Redding, Calif.), Smithtown, South Kent, Tuxedo, Walter Panas, Weston (Conn.), Woodland Hills (Pa.), Xenia (Ohio), Yorktown, 1.

Women’s top 20 individuals (62 women finishers)

1.Cailé Kohlbrenner (TZ ’11), 19:11; 2. Julianne Littmann-Viscardo (MW ’95), 19:32; 3. Kristin Schiesswohl (MW ’89), 1944; 4. Chrissy Clarkin (MW), 20:01; 5. Suzanne LaBurt (MW ’81), 21:32; 6. Jacqueline Pollack (TZ ’10), 22:17; 7. Trish (Maher) Greany (Ramapo ’81), 22:28; 8. Megan Curran (TZ ’11), 22:48; 9. Jeanine Conklin (MW ’92), 23:02; 10. Tiffanee McCarney (Fargo North, N.D. ’97), 23:40; 11. Kelly Bromm (Wash’ville ’11), 23:46; 12. Aime Goldberg MacDonald (Nan ’94), 24:17; 13. Miranda Neri (Haldane ’06), 24:26; 14. Laura Koch (CN ’03), 24:35; 15. Joanne Smth-Whalen (MW ’05), 24:51; 16. Leslie Ballantyne (Suf ’92), 25:14; 17. Catherine Dillon (Prescott, Wis. ’96), 25:47; 18. Stephanie Betz (Holy Angels, N.J. ’10), 25:51; 19. Erin Frawley (Warwick ’00), 25:57; 20. Megan Ahearn  (Warwick ’00), 26:01.

Overall individual results  (235 finishers)

1. Carlos Jamieson (NR ’05),  15:59; 2. David McCarey (Middletown ’08), 16:14; 3. Nick Roosa (TZ ’03), 16:17; 4. Louis Tafuto (War ’06), 16:45; 5. Ryan Cross (Suf ’12), 17:01; 6. Kyle Collins (Suf ’12), 17:05; 7. Ben Nilsestuen (Warwick ’10), 17:09; 8. Tom Zarnoch (MW ’08), 17:16; 9. Armando Oliveira (New Rochelle ’85), 17:25; 10. Jason Friedman (CN ’93), 17:34; 11. Llanex Hernandez (MW ’12), 17:40; 12. Tom Dillon (CN ’97), 17:45; 13. Mike Morris (CN ’96), 17:47; 14. Paul Mueller (St. Cloud Apollo, Minn. ’02), 17:57; 15. Bruce Hotaling (JJ-EF ’09), 18:07; 16. Brian Holahan (MW ’08), 18:11; 17. Marcus DeBergh (MW ’01), 18:17; 18. Doug Sklar (CS ’91), 18:26; 19. Matthew Walker (CS ’12), 18:28; 20. Peter Viscardo (MW ’95), 18:30; 21. Chris O’Brien (TZ ’12), 18:33; 22. Rob Conklin (NR ’00), 18:34; 23. Clint Earnheart (Edmond, Okla. ’96), 18:35; 24. Tom McCarney (CN ’93), 18:47; 25. Luke Driscoll (Baldwin ’93), 18:48; 26. Michael Sklar (CS ’93), 18:50; 27. Devon White (CN ’96), 18:54; 28. Tony Modafferi (CS ’04), 19:00; 29. Russell Maloney (Walter Panas ’09), 19:05; 30. David Blumel (MW ’75), 19:08; 31. Matthew McKenna (CN ’03), 19:11; 32. Cailé Kohlbrenner (TZ ’11), 19:11; 33. Brandon Forzano (S.S. Seward ’10), 19:13; 34. John O’Rourke (J.I. O’Neill ’06), 19:21; 35. Devin Geraghty (PR ’12), 19:25; 36. Kevin Roth (PR ’11), 19:26; 37. Steve Thorp (Warwick ’01), 19:27; 38. Julianne Littmann-Viscardo (MW ’95), 19:32; 39. Kristin Schiesswohl (MW ’89), 19:44; 40. Jamie Kempton (AM ’76), 19:49; 41. Alex Berbit (Suf ’99), 19:52; 42. Mike O’Donnell (MW), 19:57; 43. Chrissy Clarkin (MW), 20:01; 44. Stephen Mulvihill (Jefferson-Youngsville ’10), 20:04; 45. Patrick Markiewicz (Burke Catholic ’06), 20:07; 46. John MacKenzie (TZ ’98), 20:10; 47. Isaac Rodriguez (S.S. Seward ’12), 20:15; 48. Nick Galella (Marlboro ’12), 20:19; 49. Jim Dinan (Nan ’87), 20:24; 50. Tom List (PR ’80), 20:30.

51. Brian Kelly (AM ’75), 20:32; 52. Dan Pragdat (CS ’11), 20:37; 53. Jim Dugandzic (PR ’81), 20:42; 54. Chris Lofaro (Marlboro ’12), 20:55; 55. Stephen McNiff (PR ’12), 20:56; 56. Ray Alicea (CS ’86), 21:00; 57. Ross Stephens (Arl ’94), 21:03; 58. Michael Beckerle (Nan ’79), 21:03; 59. Pete Modafferi (CS ’95), 21:07; 60. Barry Braun (TZ ’76), 21:13; 61. Brian O’Sullivan (PR ’11), 21:19; 62. Ray Sussmann (PR ’81), 21:25; 63. Robert Rossen (Great Neck South ’83), 21:27; 64. David Herbstman (Ramapo ’79), 21:29; 65. John Bondulich (TZ ’81), 21:30; 66. Suzanne LaBurt (MW ’81), 21:32; 67. Steven Estremera (Millbrook ’08), 21:33; 68. Matt Ammer (Suf ’94), 21:33; 69. Steven Fox (CN ’91), 21:42; 70. Dan Markiewicz (Goshen ’96), 21:56; 71. James Whelan (South Kent, Conn. ’07), 22:02; 72. Kevin Heraghty (NR ’94), 22:06; 73. Federico Torres (Murry Bergtraum ’88), 22:13; 74. Jacqueline Pollack (TZ ’01), 22:17; 75. Keith Reilly (PR ’90), 22:18; 76. Thomas Kavanah (Wash’ville ’85), 22:19; 77. Trish (Maher) Greany (Ramapo ’81), 22:28; 78. Noah Chernin (Suf ’00), 22:41; 79. Megan Curran (TZ ’11), 22:48; 80. Adam Borg (CN ’97), 22:57; 81. Bob Enright (PR ’68), 22:57; 82. Patrick Callum (Dumont, N.J. ’78), 22:58; 83. Jeanine Conklin (MW ’92), 23:02; 84. Michael Colangelo (AM ’75), 23:02; 85. Kevin Chanowsky (MW ’94), 23:05; 86. Bob Hermesch (Hendrick Hudson ’68), 23:10; 87. Brian Markiewicz (Warwick ’10), 23:19; 88. Ivan Gilan (Arl ’95), 23:24; 89. Jerry Quigley (SV ’75), 23:30; 90. Tiffanee McCarney (Fargo North, N.D. ’97), 23:40; 91. Michael Kelly (Nan ’79), 23:41; 92. DQ; 93. Kelly Bromm (Wash’ville ’11), 23:43; 94. Brendan Ward (Smithtown ’08), 23:46; 95. Evan Ratnow (Suf ’96), 23:48; 96. Randall Duggan (Shasta, Redding Calif. ’88), 23:49; 97. Chris Kondracki (PR ’11), 23:50; 98. Mike Moran (AM ’83), 23:51; 99. Cody Quinn (Manchester, N.H. ’09), 23:55; 100. Scott Earl (MW ’89), 24:01.

101. Adam Kosowicz (MW ’08), 24:05; 102. John Murphy (MW ’85), 24:08; 103. Todd Machnik (Dennis-Yarmouth, Mass ’90), 24:11; 104. Joe Dolan (PR ’90), 24:16; 105. Aime Goldberg MacDonald (Nan ’94), 24:17; 106. Chuck Sommerlad (MW ’85), 24:19; 107. Ed Hushon (AM ’83), 24:20; 108.Ed Casey (PR ’82), 24:24; 109. Chris Post (Rhinebeck ’91), 24:24; 110. Michael Ward (PR ’81), 24:25; 111. Miranda Neri (Haldane ’06), 24:26; 112. Joe Horner (MW ’85), 24:28; 113. Larry Beckerle (AM ’73), 24:30; 114. Richard Scheinert (Mendham, N.J. ’85), 24:30; 115. Bill Rowland (PR ’75), 24:31; 116. Laura Koch (CN ’03), 24:35; 117. Tom Maloney (AM ’72), 24:39; 118. Matt Diglio (MW ’96), 24:40; 119. Joanne Smith-Whalen (MW ’05), 24:51; 120. Pat Butler (PR ’90), 24:57; 121. Stephen Beckerle (AM ’74), 24:58; 122. George Glum (CN ’82), 25:11; 123. Chris Roth (PR ’10), 25:13; 124. Leslie Ballantyne (Suf ’92), 25:14; 125. Mike Greco (PR ’78), 25:18; 126. Tim Waples (Suf ’00), 25:22; 127. Nick Danyluk (CS ’11), 25:28; 128. Ben Walker (Notre Dame College, Welland, Ontario ’85), 25:38; 129. Christopher Goodwin (MW ’89), 25:42; 130. Dan Winfield (Tuxedo ’62), 25:43; 131. Catherine Dillon (Prescott, Wis. ’96), 25:47; 132. Stephanie Betz (Holy Angels, N.J., ’10), 25:51; 133. Erin Frawley (Warwick ’00), 25:57; 134. Megan Ahearn (Warwick ’00), 26:01; 135. Harry Owens (Chaminade ’76), 26:01; 136. Brittany Mayer (MW ’12), 26:03; 137. Leslie Steinberg (Blind Brook ’04), 26:04; 138. Jered Haag (MW ’89), 26:06; 139. Matthew Beckerle (Nan ’83), 26:12; 140. Douglas Hauser Jr. (MW ’02), 26:14; 141. Kevin Farry (PR ’92), 26:36; 142. Antal Halasz (Nyack ’96), 26:41; 143. Caitlin Holahan (MW ’11), 26:47; 144. Jeff Ratnow (Suf ’89), 26:49; 145. Chris Hecht (CN ’01), 26:50; 146. Tom Mahady (Paramus Catholic ’77), 26:53; 147. Jill Crouther (Marquette, Chesterfield, Md., ’99), 26:55; 148. Jessica Kosowicz (MW ’04), 27:15; 149. Carolyn Chapman (PR ’89), 27:20; 150. Kayla Hart(Nan ’12), 27:21.

151. Vincent DeLuise (S.S. Seward ’12) 27:22; 152. Bridget Bromm (Wash’ville ’09), 27:25; 153. Shawn O’Connor (Minisink Valley ’79), 27:27; 154. Frank Silvestre (Burke Catholic ’06), 27:28; 155. Gibby Sweet (PR ’68), 27:32; 156. John Herr (MW ’83), 27:36; 157. Dianne Pinto (CN ’87), 27:38; 158. Ashley Conklin (MW ’05), 27:40; 159. Joe Holahan (AM ’78), 27:46; 160. Nick Parente (CN ’87), 27:49; 161. Emma Loniewski (TZ ’11), 27:53; 162. Amanda Connell (TZ ’10), 27:58; 163. DQ; 164; Lee Peters Nilsestuen (NR ’80), 27:59; 165. Lisa Viscardo (Colonie ’92), 28:05; 166. Lindsey Nicastro (MW ’05), 28:06; 167. Rebecca Ratnow Meyer (Suf ’94), 28:08; 168. Ed Meyer (Jesuit ’92),28:10; 169. Mike Coakley (CN ’87), 28:10; 170. Shannon Ahearn (Warwick ’98), 28:11; 171. Earl Roosa (Xenia. Ohio ’68), 28:20; 172. Sheila Barnes Lyons (CS ’85), 28:42; 173. Jay Kaplan (SV ’67), 28:42; 174. Renee Luchkiw (CN ’88), 28:52; 175. Michael Heraghty (NR ’90), 28:53; 176. Christine Amundson (MW ’96), 28:54; 177. Jonathan MacDonald (Farmington, Conn ’93), 28:57; 178. Kevin Hart (Nanuet) 29:00; 179. Melissa Estremera (Millbrook ’12), 29:02; 180. Megan Dignan (Millbrook ’12), 29:17; 181. John Fahy (Woodland Hills ’96), 29:17; 182. Larry Quinn (AM ’69), 29:19; 183. Ellen Wilson (MW ’85), 29:22; 184. Pete Chapman (Weston, Conn. ’87), 29:25; 185. Rob McNamara (Nan ’86), 39:31; 186. Douglas Hauser (MW ’78), 29:32; 187. Michael Collins (Mepham ’78), 29:33; 188. Chris Acerbo (St. Joseph Regional ’82), 29:36; 189. Lori Gessman Wheat (Burke Catholic ’82), 29:57; 190. Teresa Scott (CS ’80), 30:00; 191. Maureen Hart (Nan ’85), 20:38; 192. Meghan Markiewicz (Warwick ’03), 30:29; 193. Elisabeth Tischler (MW ’89), 30:30; 194. Gerald Conlon (MW ’84), 30:42; 195. Pat Chambers (AM ’76), 30:42; 196. Mark Markiewicz (C.D. Hylton, Va., ’95), 30:45; 197. Kevin Russo (AM ’74), 30:51; 198. John McNiff (AM ’75), 30:53; 199. Ryan Barden (MW ’04), 31:02; 200. Kathleen (Smith) Potter (MW ’99), 31:13.

201. Cory Mahady (Bergen Tech, N.J. ’07), 31:24; 202. Margaret Markiewicz (Rosary Academy ’76), 32:01; 203. Lisa Ansorge Ratnow (Arl ’96), 32:14; 204. Joachim Ansorge (Arl ’67), 32:23; 205. Susan (Gulla) Lanoce (PR ’83), 32:24; 206. Jessica Scheinert (Mendham, N.J. ’06), 32:32; 207. Renata Fersch (CN ’81), 32:36; 208. Nick Pantaleone (Goshen ’95), 32:40; 209. Jen Wagman (Potomac, Md. ’96), 32:54; 210. Dan Hlavac (PR ’79), 33:02; 211. Andy Kohlbrenner (PR ’81), 33:08; 212. Shirley Quinn (CS ’81), 33:09; 213. Brian Conlon (MW ’85), 33:35; 214. Ken Gerber (CS ’92), 33:46; 215. Eric Brandon (Bronx HS of Science ’86), 33:57; 216. Mike Markiewicz (AM ’70), 34:15; 217. Laurie Markiewicz (Commack ’89), 34:29; 218. Jason Lipman (CN ’91), 34:41; 219. Alan Brandstaedter (CN ’92), 34:48; 220. Dan Hogan (Suf ’99), 34:48; 221. Maureen Teetsel Hunter (AM ’78), 36:17; 222. Jesse Hackell (Long Beach ’68), 36:33; 223. Jeanne Teetsel-Galeota AM ’81), 36:35; 224. Peter Markiewicz (CS ’75), 36:41; 225. Sherry Berbit (Ramapo ’68), 37:03; 226. Sal Viscardo (MW ’91), 38:23; 227. Andy Power (MW ’85), 39:15; 228. Brian Marks (CN ’96), 39:41; 229. Vicki Bibbo (St. Gabriel ’71), 41:30; 230. Marcia Gates (Keveny, Cohoes, N.Y. ’71), 42:54; 231. Jeff Careaga (Yorktown ’79), 43:53; 232. Mike Teetsel (AM ’77), 45:54; 233. Warren Berbit (Bayside ’60), 46:34; 234. Ken Gong (AM ’82), 52:30; 235. Zack Berbit (Suf ’96).

Jamie's write-up for 2012

Jamieson wins first, Kohlbrenner repeats at Alumni Cross Country Run

Monroe-Woodbury sweeps team titles in 30^th annual Markiewicz race

 

By Jamie Kempton

 

Who knew back in 1983 that a cross country race launched at Bear Mountain for former high school runners would endure for three decades? Probably not many, but the Bill Markiewicz Rockland Alumni Cross Country Run indeed celebrated its 30^th renewal on Nov. 24. A cast of 235 runners braved extremely blustery 40-degree temperatures to re-enact a ritual as anticipated on their calendar as the Thanksgiving feast two days prior.

 

The Rockland Road Runners co-sponsored the popular event, which has a distinctive reunion-type feel with post-race celebrations at the Bear Mountain Inn, the Merry-Go-Round Carousel, and outdoors on the sprawling playfield between those two landmarks.

 

Carlos Jamieson, a 2005 North Rockland graduate, claimed his first Alumni Run victory by touring the hilly three-mile course in 15 minutes 59 seconds. Jamieson, who was runner-up in 2010, battled much of the race with David McCarey, a 2008 Middletown alumnus, and defending champion Nick Roosa, Tappan Zee class of 2003. Jamieson lost the lead to McCarey on the steep ski-slope hill midway through the race, then recaptured it in the last mile to post an 80-yard win over McCarey, who finished in 16:14. Roosa, who won the race in 2005 and 2011, ran 16:17, one second off his winning time last year.

 

Jamieson was the 2003 Rockland schoolboy champion, and later starred at American University. He was one of seven runners chosen to the Rockland County All-Decade Cross Country team for 2000-2009. Jamieson is pursuing a master’s degree in physical education at Columbia University.

 

Cailé Kohlbrenner, a 2011 Tappan Zee graduate, salted away her second consecutive women’s title with a wire-to-wire triumph in 19:12, one tick slower than her winning time last year. Seven-time champion Julianne Littmann-Viscardo, Monroe-Woodbury class of 1995, was runner-up in 19:32.

 

Kohlbrenner is a sophomore biology/pre-med major and runner at Providence College who hopes to become a pediatrician. Providence recently placed second at the NCAA Div. I cross country championships. Kohlbrenner’s father, Andy, Pearl River class of 1981, is a four-time Alumni runner-up and 2008 Rockland Track & Field Hall of Fame inductee. He jogged the race this year due to a longstanding knee injury.

 

Monroe-Woodbury made it a clean sweep of the team titles. After just missing the past two years, the Crusader men outdueled eight-time champ Clarkstown North, 72 to 86, to win their third team crown. The women’s team won for the sixth time in eight years and a record ninth overall, scoring 23 points for a convincing victory over runner-up Tappan Zee, which tallied 78. Monroe has held a monopoly on the team participation championship and this year was no exception. The Crusaders won for the 12^th time with 39 participants, far ahead of runner-up Pearl River’s 23.

 

Runners representing 67 high schools from 14 states – including California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and Oklahoma – took part in the race, and entrants’ ages ranged from 18 to 70.

 

The annual Bill Markiewicz Award was presented to Chuck Sommerlad, a 1985 Monroe-Woodbury graduate and St. Thomas Aquinas College alumnus. Sommerlad organizes the Monroe-Woodbury team at the Alumni Run each year and is chiefly responsible for the Crusaders’ team participation success.

 

Markiewicz was Clarkstown North’s successful cross country and assistant track coach for 11 years (1978-89) and perhaps Rockland cross country’s most enthusiastic supporter. When he died of cancer in 1991, the race was renamed in his memory and an annual award was established to recognize those who have made a significant contribution to the sport.

 

Janet Markiewicz, Bill’s widow, made the award presentation as always. Members of the Markiewicz extended family gathered for the event, including nine participants: Bill’s brothers Mike (Albertus Magnus class of 1970) and Peter (Clarkstown South class of 1975), sister Margaret (Rosary Academy class of 1976), son Dan (Goshen, 1996), and five other family members.

 

Six previous Markiewicz Award winners competed in the race – Albertus Magnus alums Pat Chambers, Larry Beckerle and Jamie Kempton, former Clarkstown North runner Jason Friedman, ex-Pearl River harrier Ray Sussmann, and Mike Collins, formerly of Mepham on Long Island. Five other previous recipients helped coordinate the race – meet founder Tom Doherty, co-organizer Ralph Coleman, officials Kevin Stewart and Lou Hall, and Clarkstown South coach Ray Kondracki.

 

In addition to Jamieson, other former Rockland County meet champions who participated included Mike Colangelo, Albertus Magnus class of 1975; Jim Dinan, Nanuet class of 1987; and Pete Modafferi, Clarkstown South class of 1995.

 

Chambers, the inaugural Alumni Run champion, and Beckerle, Albertus Magnus class of 1973, maintained their streak of never having missed an Alumni Run.