Runners hit their stride in Inwood

Peter Hawkins, of Malverne, was the first participant to complete the 22nd annual Inwood 5K last Sunday as he cruised across the finish line at Inwood Park in his wheelchair racer in 14:30.94.
Hawkins, 51, was injured in a car accident 34 years ago. The former Valley Stream Central High School football and lacrosse player said he was “terrible at basketball,” which is why he didn’t get into playing wheelchair hoops and instead found road racing to his liking. “It was a tough transition, it was not quick, about eight years I started racing,” said Hawkins, who has taken part in the Inwood event twice, does the Malverne 5K Run for Education, which is this Sunday, the New York City Marathon and has raced in Japan. “I do speaking, talking to kids so they don’t make the same mistakes I did,” he said.
Ronald Joseph, 32, of Rockaway Park, was the first runner to hit the tape with a time of 14:30.94. Inwood resident Wisdom Enihle, 19, placed second in 18:53.48 and Atlantic Beach teen John Phelan, 14 was third. His time was 18:56.56. The first woman to finish was Lauren Dorsey, 20, of Huntington. Her time was 20:33.49. Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky, 37, (D-Long Beach) completed the race in 20:52.41, No. 1 in his age group (35-45).
There was also a 1K Fun Run for kids won by Christian Worrie, 10, of Queens. Event proceeds fund scholarships given to graduating high school seniors.
The Inwood race was the second leg of what is the Southwest Nassau Race Series that includes the already completed Five Towns Community Chest 5K, the Malverne run and the Lynbrook Fly with the Owls run on Nov. 14.