2016

We celebrated some amazing weather for the second straight year, clear and cool but not to cold, minimal wind.  Times were in line with what we've come to expect over the past several years; race winner Evan Ward's 15:51 was nearly identical to Luke Gavin's 15:52 the year before.  As I've mentioned several times, the longer course is likely 30-45 seconds slower than the course that was used until about 2005; times in the top-10 are in line with those from previous years if about 30 seconds are subtracted.  Which makes Megan Patrignelli's performance all the more impressive; on the previous course she may have challenged the record of 17:04 set way back in 1995 by the legendary Debbie Grant Marshall.  As it is, her 17:53 places her in the top 10 all-time, and her 14th-place overall finish is the highest ever achieved by a woman.

The Monroe Woodbury women won their seventh straight title, sweeping five of the top eight spots for a record-low 22 points.  We've come to expect their dominance in recent years; less expected was that of the Suffern men, who nabbed four of the top six places on their way to 34 points, the second-lowest score in men's history (and a shocking reversal of the recent trend, which has seen the highest winning team scores over the past several years).  Due to the course changes, again, comparison of times across eras is difficult, and current teams will probably be undervalued historically.  But no men's team has ever had four runners in the top six, and that alone means this team becomes the first new addition to the Top Ten Teams list in sixteen years.

In other news, the Rams' streak of 18 consecutive top-3 team finishes came to an end, as we are finally, blessedly, too old for this shit.

Jamie's recap 
Full Results 

Overall Top 30

1. Evan Ward (Suff '12) 15:51
2. Nick Roosa (TZ '03) 16:19
3. Jack Jibb (MW '15) 16:22
4. Kyle Collins (Suff '12) 16:23
5. Tim Boston (Suff '14) 16:41
6. Patrick Hennelly (Suff '16) 16:48
7. Corey Calajoe (PR '04) 17:00
8. Ben Nilsestuen (Warwick '01) 17:15
9. Armando Oliveira (New Roch '85) 17:17
10. Adam Alshoubeki (MW '16) 17:23
11. Alexander Sanso (MW '13) 17:25
12. Jason Friedman (CN '93) 17:41
13. Brian Crowley (AM '82) 17:47
14. Megan Patrignelli (MW '10) 17:53
15. Brian Holahan (MW '08) 18:01
16. Michael Guglielmo (CS '13) 18:20
17. Anthony Calingo (CN '01) 18:20
18. Tom McCarney (CN '93) 18:20
19. Connor Gulick (Suff '13) 18:22
20. Paul Bisconti (MW '15) 18:28
21. Kyle Kondracki (PR '16) 18:29
22. James Kessler (PR '03) 18:33
23. Kyle Egan (MW '16) 18:41
24. Stephen O'Shea (MW '13) 18:43
25. Jeremy Shriber (MW '12) 18:43
26. Brendan Fennell (PR '03) 19:06
27. Bishoy Bishara (MW '14) 19:11
28. Austin Labbe (CS '16) 19:15
29. ? (CS) 19:19
30. Matt McKenna (CN '03) 19:20

Womens' Top 10

1. Megan Patrignelli (MW '10) 17:53
2. Suzanne LaBurt (MW '81) 20:34
3. Caile Kohlbrenner (TZ '11) 21:08
4. Megan Ventarola (MW '12) 21:14
5. Kim Newsome Chalfin (CS '88) 21:52
6. Leslie Berbitt (Blind Brook '04) 22:34
7. Christina Clarkin (MW '11) 22:59
8. Caitlin Holahan (MW '11) 22:59
9. Mary O'Keke (MW '16) 23:46
10. Alyson Bowman (CS '15) 23:48

Total Number of Runners: 170

Team Participation: 1. Monroe-Woodbury 36, 2. Clarkstown South 32, 2. Pearl River 19, 4. (tie) Suffern, Albertus Magnus 14, 6. Clarkstown North 10, 7. Nanuet 5, 8. (tie) North Rockland, Arlington 4, 10. (tie) Cornwall, Tappan Zee, Spring Valley 3, 13. Washingtonville 2.

Mens' Team Scoring

1. Suffern 34 (Ward, Collins, Boston, Hennelly, Gulick)
2. Monroe Woodbury 57
3. Pearl River 103
4. Clarkstown North 116
5. Clarkstown South 166
6. Albertus Magnus 272
7. Nanuet 344

Women's Team Scoring

1. Monroe-Woodbury 22 (Patrignelli, LaBurt, Ventarola, Clarkin, Holahan)
2. Clarkstown South 48

2016: full results

Men’s team scores: 1. Suffern (Suf), 34; 2. Monroe-Woodbury (MW), 57; 3. Pearl River (PR), 103; 4. Clarkstown North (CN), 116; 5. Clarkstown South (CS), 166; 6. Albertus Magnus (AM), 272; 7. Nanuet (N), 344; other teams incomplete.

Women’s team scores: 1. Monroe-Woodbury (MW), 22; 2. Clarkstown South (CS), 48; other teams incomplete.

Team participation (combined men/women):  1. Monroe-Woodbury, 36; 2. Clarkstown South, 32; 3. Pearl River, 19; 4. Tie, Albertus Magnus and Suffern, 14; 6. Clarkstown North, 10; 7. Nanuet, 5; 8. Tie, Arlington (Arl) and North Rockland (NR), 4; 10. Tie, Cornwall (Corn), Spring Valley (SV), and Tappan Zee (TZ), 3; 13. Washingtonville (Wash), 2; 14. Tie, Academy of Mount St. Ursula, Bayside, Blind Brook, Burke Catholic, Goshen, Great Neck South, Greenhills (Mich.), Highland, John Jay-East Fishkill, Kimball Union Academy (N.H.), Morristown (N.J.), New Providence (N.J.), New Rochelle, Pine Crest (Fla.), Shasta (Redding, Calif.), Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School (Rochester, UK), Sullivan West, Ward Melville, Warwick, Xaverian, 1.

Women’s top 10

1. Megan Patrignelli (MW ’10), 17:53; 2. Suzanne La Burt (MW ’81), 20:34; 3.

Cailé Kohlbrenner (TZ ’11), 21:08; 4. Meaghan Ventarola (MW ’12), 21:14 ; 5. Kim (Newsome) Chalfin (CS ’88), 21:52 ; 6. Leslie Berbit (Blind Brook ’04), 22:34; 7. Christina Clarkin (MW ’11), 22:59; 8. Caitlin Holahan (MW ’11), 22:59; 9. Mary O’Keke (MW ’16), 23:46; 10. Alyson Bowman (CS ’15), 23:48.

Overall Finishers

1. Evan Ward (Suf ’12), 15:51.5; 2. Nick Roosa (TZ ’03), 16:19; 3. Jack Jibb (MW ’15), 16:22; 4. Kyle Collins (Suf ’12), 16:23; 5. Tim Boston (Suf ’14), 16:41; 6. Patrick Hennelly (Suf ’16), 16:48; 7. Corey Calajoe (PR ’04), 17:00, 8. Ben Niselstuen (Warwick ’01), 17:15; 9. Armando Oliveira (New Rochelle ’85), 17:17; 10. Adam Alshoubeki (MW ’16), 17:23; 11. Alexander Sanso (MW ’13), 17:25; 12. Jason Friedman (CN ’93), 17:41; 13. Brian Crowley (AM ’82), 17:47; 14. Megan Patrignelli (MW ’10), 17:53; 15. Brian Holahan (MW ’08), 18:01; 16. Michael Guglielmo (CS ’13), 18:20; 17. Anthony Calingo (CN ’01), 18:20; 18. Tom McCarney (CN ’93), 18:21; 19. Connor Gulick (Suf ’13), 18:22; 20. Paul Bisconti (MW ’15), 18:28; 21. Kyle Kondracki (PR ’16), 18:29; 22. James Kessler (PR ’03), 18:33; 23. Kyle Egan (MW ’16), 18:41; 24. Stephen O’Shea (MW ’13), 18:43; 25. Jeremy Shriber (MW ’12), 18:43; 26. Brendan Fennell (PR ’03), 19:06; 27. Bishoy Bishara (MW ’14), 19:11; 28. Austin Labbe (CS ’16), 19:15; 29. Clarkstown South, 19:19; 30. Matt McKenna (CN ’03), 19:21; 31. Matthew Borawski (PR ’04), 19:23; 32. John MacKenzie (TZ ’98), 19:24; 33. Alex Berbit (Suf ’99), 19:25; 34. Frank Visingardi (Nan ’86), 19:27; 35. Stephen Mulvihill (Sullivan West ’01), 19:31; 36. Jim Dinan (Nan ’87), 19:40; 37. Jamie Kempton (AM ’76), 19:44; 38. Dylan Eldred (MW ’13), 20:02; 39. Matt Lenihan (PR ’03), 20:03; 40. George Newsome (CS ’92), 20:05; 41. Jason Flach (Suf ’12), 20:09; 42. Douglas Hauser Jr. (MW ’02), 20:12; 43. Mike Morris (CN ’96), 20:18; 44. Logan Scott (Highland ’79), 20:23; 45. Suzanne La Burt (MW ’81), 20:34; 46. Tim Poole-DiSalvo (Arlington ’96), 20:37; 47. Matthew Moran (Cornwall ’15), 20:42; 48. Austin Frandino (MW ’16), 20:45; 49. James Dinan (John Jay-East Fishkill ’16), 20:46; 50. Mario Cortés-Mendoza (MW ’16), 20:52.

51. Patrick Markiewicz (Burke Catholic ’06), 20:58; 52. Tom List (PR ’80), 21:03; 53. Cailé Kohlbrenner (TZ ’11), 21:08; 54. Mike Beckerle (Nan ’79), 21:13; 55. Chris Craig (AM ’82), 21:13; 56. Meaghan Ventarola (MW ’12), 21:14; 57. Richard Jibb (Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School, Rochester, UK ’92), 21:20; 58. Adam Borg (CN ’97), 21:20; 59. Zack Berbit (Suf ’96), 21:22; 60. Kevin Chanowsky (MW ’94), 21:31; 61. Jared Chin (CS ’16), 21:37; 62. Clarkstown South, 21:45; 63. Nicholas Linehan (CS ’16), 21:47; 64. Kim (Newsome) Chalfin (CS ’88), 21:52; 65 Stephen Sussmann (MW ’13), 22:04; 66. Mike Bernstein (Suf ’95), 22:10; 67. Alex Tyler-Modeste (MW ’16), 22:13; 68. Chris Urio (MW ’16), 22:14; 69. Doug Carter (Kimball Union Academy, N.H. ’71), 22:15; 70. Chris Guglielmo (CS ’13), 22:19; 71. Llaney Hernandez (MW ’12), 22:22; 72. Robert Rossen (Great Neck South ’83), 22:24; 73. Leslie Berbit (Blind Brook ’04), 22:34; 74. Matt Ammer (Suf ’94), 22:34; 75. Mike Colangelo (AM ’75), 22:35; 76. Jim Dugandzic (PR ’81), 22:37; 77. Braden Frandino (MW ’16), 22:38; 78. James McGovern (PR ’90), 22:41; 79. Daniel Markiewicz (Goshen ’96), 22:42; 80. Jim Sussmann (PR ’83), 22:48; 81. Matthew Walker (CS ’12), 22:51; 82. Monroe-Woodbury, 22:57; 83. Christina Clarkin (MW ’11), 22:59; 84. Caitlin Holahan (MW ’11), 22:59; 85. Alan Araujo (CN ’14), 23:36; 86. Gary Scarano (Morristown, N.J. ’73), 23:39; 87. Ken Lindell (CS ’80), 23:45; 88. Mary Okeke (CS ’16), 23:46; 89. Mike Coakley (CN ’87), 23:47; 90. Alyson Bowman (CS ’15), 23:48; 91. Christina Higgins (CS ’15), 23:51; 92. Dave Peterson (PR ’04), 23:53; 93. Arjin Sharma (CS ’16), 24:08; 94. Ray Sussmann (PR ’81), 24:08; 95. Randall Duggan (Shasta, Redding, Calif. ’88), 24:10; 96. Thomas Kavanah (Wash ’85), 24:13; 97. Ross Edelman (Suf ’06), 24:15; 98. Tim Waples (Suf ’00), 24:16; 99. Aidan Connolly (Greenhills, Ann Arbor, Mich. ’15), 24:17; 100. Bill Rowland (PR ’75), 24:24.

101. Kyle Sommerlad (MW ’16), 24:37; 102. Edwin Lopez (MW ’16), 24:41; 103. Keith Reilly (PR ’90), 24:42; 104. Jason Lipman (CN ’91), 24:46; 105. Michael O’Meara (Xaverian ’87), 24:53; 106. Alana O’Neill (Wash ’14), 24:57; 107. Jennifer (Newsome) Flannery (CS ’90), 25:01; 108. Adam Klein (CS ’14), 25:02; 109. Jerry Quigley (SV ’75), 25:04; 110. Angela Roppolo (NR ’14), 25:05; 111. Joe Dolan (PR ’90), 25:36; 112. Chris Goodwin (MW ’89), 25:47; 113. John Murphy (MW ’85), 25:53; 114. Michael Danyluk (CS ’16), 26:01; 115. Terry Roy (CS ’16), 26:01; 116. Jo-Ann Houston (PR ’85), 26:09; 117. Leslie Ballantyne (Suf ’92), 26:19; 118. Charles Hester -(CS ’16), 26:34; 119. Bethany Robokoff (CS), 26:39; 120. Ed Hushon (AM ’83), 26:42; 121. Patrick Brown (MW ’71), 26:46; 122. Ravi Dholakia (MW ’16), 26:48; 123. Mark Mitchell (Nan ’79), 26:51; 124. Joe Holahan (AM ’78), 26:51; 125. Courtney Connolly (New Providence, N.J. ’12), 26:55; 126. Peter Connolly (NR ’76), 26:59; 127. Francis Connolly (NR ’79), 27:00; 128. Cynthia Sheng (Ward Melville ’87), 27:37; 129. Liz Pratusevich (CS ’16), 28:08; 130. Clarkstown South, 28:08; 131. Sean Moran (Cornwall ’10), 28:10; 132. Mike Moran (AM ’83), 28:26; 133. Nick Parente (CN ’87), 28:26; 134. Alison Stern (CS ’15), 28:48; 135. John Halpin (Cornwall ’89), 29:00; 136. Kyle DeSilva (MW ’16), 29:06; 137. Joseph Ruotolo (CS ’16), 29:07; 138. Ken Gerber (CS ’92), 29:28; 139. Arthur DeAraujo (CS ’16), 29:41; 140. Chuck Sommerlad (MW ’85), 29:49; 141. Jim Freeman (AM ’82), 29:59; 142. Dawn Newsome-Marinaccio (CS ’86), 20:01; 143. Jenn Maggin (CS ’08), 30:04; 144. Ross Stephens (Arlington ’94), 30:12; 145. Rob McNamara (Nan ’86), 30:18; 146. Jean Lipman (Pine Crest, Fla. ’91), 30:24; 147. Kevin Garrison (Nyack ’91), 30:32; 148. George Glum (CN ’82), 30:53; 149. Sue (Gulla) Lanoce (PR ’83), 30:59; 150. Gerald Conlon (MW ’84), 31:04.

151. Larry Quinn (AM ’69), 31:07; 152. Kathy (List) Orlando (PR ’91), 32:09; 153. Michael Holt (MW ’79), 32:21; 154. Doug Hauser (MW ’78), 32:22; 155. Shirley Quinn (CS ’81), 33:28; 156. Arlington, 34:06; 157. Betsy Pool-DiSalvo (Arlington ’96), 34:06; 158. Theresa Sullivan (CS ’81), 34:18; 159. Daniel Hlavac (PR ’79), 34:27; 160. Chuck Maze (NR ’73), 35:01; 161. Tom Colucci (AM ’74), 35:01; 162. Mike Markiewicz (AM ’70), 35:13; 163. Ken Gong (AM ’82), 38:09; 164. Larry Beckerle (AM ’73), 38:47; 165. Mike Teetsel (AM ’77), 43:55; 166. Sherry Berbit (SV ’69), 45:46; 167. Susan O’Neill (Academy of Mount St. Ursula, NYC ’78), 46:15; 168. Dan Hogan (Suf ’99), 49:29; 169. Warren Berbit (Bayside ’60), 51:39; 170. George Hoy (SV ’69), 53:06.

2016: Jamie's recap

 A Fixture at Bear Mountain, Alumni Run Celebrates 34th Renewal

In a world that sometimes feels as if it’s spinning at warp speed, barely catching a breath to trumpet the latest tragedy or the next must-have gadget, it’s reassuring to know there’s a place like Bear Mountain where time seemingly slows down, where the mere act of roaming the grounds alights the senses with an invigorating purity and comforting constancy.

Local runners have known this for a long time. It’s a major reason why they return year after year, on Thanksgiving Saturday, to reunite, refresh and remember. Some 170 nature-loving harriers re-enacted their annual sporting rite Nov. 26 at the 34th Bill Markiewicz Rockland Alumni Cross Country Run, co-sponsored by the Rockland Road Runners.

A charge across the grassy plain bracketed by the historic inn and carousel, a bracing jaunt around Hessian Lake, a challenging ascent of the ski-slope hill, and a culminating sweep of the greensward serve to transport the runners toward a literal finish line and a figurative anchor for their reservoir of memories along the footpaths of their youth.

Back in 1983, a Pearl River coach/athletic director named Tom Doherty conceived of a Thanksgiving weekend race where running alumni could flock to Bear Mountain, site of the three-mile course used by high school cross-country teams, and reconnect with their hills-and-trails brethren via a competitive tour of the same course, followed by a celebration at the inn’s upstairs lodge with the welcoming fireplace.

Thirty-three years later, the Alumni Run is going strong. The race is no-frills, echoing the spirit of the sport. “There’s no medals, no T-shirts, no entry fee, and some years you don’t even get your time or place,” said Doherty, the race co-director along with Ralph Coleman. “But it’s all good and we have a lot of fun. It’s pretty special, after having it for so many years. I look around and see all of these legends at the finish line.”

Perhaps inspired by some of those legendary former champions, up-and-coming stars vied for the mantle of supremacy on the plains of Bear Mountain. Evan Ward, from  Suffern High School class of 2012, answered the call best, negotiating the three-mile route in 15 minutes, 51.5 seconds to score a convincing 175-yard victory over Nick Roosa, Tappan Zee class of 2003, who clocked 16:19. Ward competed for Lehigh University for the past four years, and is the son of former Pearl River harrier Mike Ward. Roosa is a two-time Alumni Run champion, having won the title in 2005 and 2011.

Ward’s heroics paced Suffern to its first team crown since 2011 and sixth overall. The Mounties alumni placed four runners in the top six to score an easy victory over second-place and defending champ Monroe-Woodbury, 34 to 57.

The women’s race was no contest as Megan Patrignelli, Monroe-Woodbury class of 2010, romped to victory in 17:53, the seventh-fastest time ever recorded by a female in the race. Patrignelli starred for the University of Oregon and was runner-up at the 2014 Pac-12 championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

The runner-up, nearly a half-mile behind, was teammate Suzanne La Burt, Monroe-Woodbury class of 1981, who ran 20:34, a fine time by any standard but especially so for a runner in the 50-plus category. Finishing third was the five-time defending champion, Cailé Kohlbrenner, Tappan Zee class of 2011.

Not surprisingly, the Monroe-Woodbury women scored an emphatic team triumph, tallying a minuscule total of 22 points to outdistance second-place Clarkstown South’s 48. The Crusaders of Orange County have captured the women’s title a record 13 times, including the last seven editions.

The race attracted participants from 33 schools spanning six states – New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Florida, Michigan and California – as well as an international competitor from Great Britain. Entrants’ ages ranged from 18 to 74.

The Alumni Run was renamed in memory of Bill Markiewicz in 1991 and an annual award was established to honor those who have given distinguished service to the sport. This year’s recipient was Bill Szachewicz, Suffern class of 1982, who served as a coach for the Pearl River school district in cross country, indoor track and spring track from 1990 through the spring of 2016. He served variously as an assistant or head coach for the boys’ and girls’ programs on all levels from modified to varsity. The award was presented to Szachewicz by Janet Markiewicz, Bill Markiewicz’s widow, who also cheered for three of her family members participating in the run.

Among the many notable entrants in the race were past Alumni Run champions Kyle Collins, Suffern class of 2012, who finished fourth; Brian Crowley, Albertus Magnus class of 1982, who placed 13th; as well as Roosa and Kohlbrenner. Former Rockland County scholastic meet titleholders who took part included Jim Dinan, Nanuet class of 1987; Mike Colangelo, Albertus Magnus class of 1975, who also captured a state individual crown and is a member of the Rockland County All-Century Cross Country Team; and Brendan Fennell, Pearl River class of 2003, who won three County championships and two state titles and was voted the Male Runner of the Decade for Rockland from 2000-2009.

Larry Beckerle, Albertus Magnus class of 1973, kept his unique streak alive of never having missed an Alumni Run.