Rockville Centre 5K & Family Fun Run draws hundreds of local participants

Villagers of all ages competed in the pre-holiday race, with local runners sweeping the men's podium

Posted Friday, November 21, 2025 8:52 am

First-place winners Samantha Augeri and James Albarella were honored after the race by Rockville Centre Village Trustees Katie Conlon and Kathleen Baxley and Legislator Scott Davis.

Mike Rechter/Herald

Nearly 400 people competed in the race through the streets of Rockville Centre on Nov. 15.

Mike Rechter/Herald

Rockville Centre’s Peter Bechhoff finished third in the 5K race after completing the course in just over 19 minutes.

Mike Rechter/Herald

Runners young and old had lots of fun at the annual Village of Rockville Centre 5K & 1 Mile Family Fun Run on Nov. 15.

Mike Rechter/Herald

Three-year-olds Violet Pino and Emery Malizio both competed in the Family Fun Run.

Mike Rechter/Herald

Top Finishers

5K Race Men:

1. James Albarella, RVC, 17:57.13

2. Kevin Dunbar, RVC, 18:57.49

3. Peter Bechhoff, RVC, 19:08.89

4. Brody Hoffman, Levittown, 19:26.35

5. Conor Lynch, Sayville, 19:29.33

5K Race Women:

1. Samantha Augeri, RVC, 19:30.34

2. Mary Kate Giordano, RVC, 19:55.19

3. Sibel Canlar, NYC, 21:10.39

4. Meghan Wilken, South Hempstead, 21:14.79

5. Fiona Haegeland, Cold Spring Harbor, 23:38.58

By Brian Kacharaba

Hundreds of residents laced up their sneakers last Saturday for the annual Village of Rockville Centre 5K & 1 Mile Family Fun Run, transforming the village streets into a blur of color, cheers, and pre-holiday energy.

The event drew participants of all ages. The 5K race kicked off on Front Street, between North Village Avenue and North Centre Avenue, then wound onto Maple Avenue before climbing up Brower Avenue. From there, runners joined Hempstead Avenue for a long stretch before looping back toward finish, navigating through N. Village Avenue and returning along Front Street to cross the line.

In the end, Rockville Centre natives swept the podium in the men’s 5K race on Nov. 15, with James Albarella winning with a time of 17 minutes, 57.13 seconds. Kevin Dunbar finished just over a minute later and Peter Bechhoff crossed the finish line in just over 19 minutes.

Rockville Centre’s Samantha Augeri was the top women’s finisher with a time of 19:30.34, almost 25 seconds ahead of fellow villager Mary Kate Giordano. Matty Lemley (Boys 1-9), Emma Lombardo (Girls 10-14), Madeline McKenna (Girls 15-19), and Harrison Walley (Boys 15-19) all won their respective age groups while representing Rockville Centre.

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