53.0°,
Partly Cloudy 15 years and still running strong
Over 100 runners participate in Inwood 5K
Last Sunday, runners from the Five Towns and its surrounding areas participated in the 15th annual Inwood 5K Run. The 3.1-mile race, honoring the memory of Jesse Mistero, was won by Joseph Koelbel of Brooklyn with a time of 17 minutes, 39 seconds. Bay Shore resident Christine Williams won the women’s category with a time of 19 minutes, 30 seconds.
“The race was a huge success logistically,” said Michael DeRosa, co-founder of the race. “The refreshments, the security, the volunteers, and our sponsors all came together for a great event.”
One hundred and thirty eight runners competed in the 5K this year, down just over 50 racers from last year. Sixteen-year-old Dean Perez, an Inwood resident who attends Lawrence High School, finished first among the 45 Five Towns residents in the race and third overall with a time of 18 minutes, 43 seconds.
DeRosa noted that attendance was down from last year’s race because it was inadvertently scheduled on Simchat Torah. “We lost some friends and we apologize for not being aware of when the holiday was,” DeRosa said.
The 15th annual race saw the introduction of an automatic chip timing system which tabulated the results as the runners crossed the finish line. DeRosa said that he believes that the new timing system, which was paid for by St. John’s Hospital, will help the race continue to grow.
St. John’s was one of the many organizations that helped sponsor the event along with the Inwood Buccaneers, the Inwood Fire Department, Leonardo da Vinci #2385, Five Towns Kiwanis, the Inwood Civic Association, the OLGC Rosary Society, Peninsula Kiwanis, VFW Post #1582, the Five Tows Community Center, the Lawrence High School Moms & Dads Club, the Five Towns Child Care Center and Knights of Columbus #378. Local groups and businesses — Prime-Time Xpress and LIHerald.com among them — also sponsored the 5K run.
The race raised money for scholarships, typically worth $500 each, that will be distributed to 12 high school students this coming June.
Overall, DeRosa said the race was a wonderful community activity that is sure to continue for years to come.
“Our future is bright,” DeRosa said. “The race is only going to get bigger and better with the new timing system. Everyone who comes to the Inwood 5K feels at home and comfortable, and although we don’t have the largest quantity of people running in the race, the quality is there.”
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