By Hector Flores
Runners from as far east as Southampton and as far west as Manhattan met at Bedford and Grand Avenues, as early as 6 a.m., to register for what has been called a "Belllmore tradition." Some of the runners in attendance were even from other countries; there was one runner who traveled from Ethiopia to participate.
There were two races that day, a Kids Race and an Adults Race. The Kids Race, which began at 8:30 a.m., attracted 20 local children, ages 12 and under. At 9 a.m., the Adults Race started, and its participants ranged in age from 13 to 84.
Alex Cuozzo, event organizer and founding member of the Bellmore Striders racing club, said the group's annual event has garnered the attention of all types of runners, from the well seasoned to the beginner.
"My team has only 20 members, and we attend other races, and through our participation, we have been able to spread the word about our race," said Cuozzo. "This marks the 21st race we have hosted, and as you can see, it has attracted quite a following."
The starting line for all runners was on Pettit and Centre Avenues, and the finish line was at Bedford and Grand avenues. The course of the first race, which was one mile, took runners through Pettit, Bedford, Oak Street, Bellmore Avenue, Broadway and then back to Bedford and then Grand Avenue. On average, it takes kids six to nine minutes to complete the course, but first-place winner Brendan Bretscher, 11, of Farmingville, finished the course in six minutes.
The Adult Race, a four-mile run averaging 20 to 24 minutes to complete, began at Pettit, then Bedford, Oak Street, Bellmore Avenue, Broadway, Bedford again, back to Oak Street, to Bellmore Avenue, north, to Broad Street, to Newbridge Road, and then to Grand Avenue and Bedford for the finish line.
The top five male runners of the four-mile race were: Mike Guastella, of Manhattan, who finished the race in 20:19 minutes; Arsenio Ortiz, Flushing, Queens, 20:45; Trevor Murray, Rockaway Beach, 20:53; Michael Anderson, Manhattan, 20:58; and David Finneran, East Meadow, 21:50.
The top five female runners were: Alentsehay Misganaw, Ethiopia, who finished the race in 23:00; Megan Holden, Shoreham, 23:06; Juana Vazquez, Astoria, Queens, 23:52; and Danna McMahon, Farmingdale, 24:35.
Although placing among the top five is impressive, most runners did not compete to gain recognition or break a record. Their reward was just being able to participate in the race.
"Running is a good way of relieving stress," said Guastella, a managing vice president for T.D. Waterhouse. "I am in charge of a team of stockbrokers, and this is the best way of escaping the daily grind. I definitely recommend running as a sport; it is a great and healthy activity."
The sentiment was shared by Dan O'Connor, a North Bellmore resident and former Olympian (1980-84), who brought his 9-year-old daughter Jeanne to take part in the Kids Race.
"This is a family event, and we have been attending it for the last 12 years," O'Connor said. "Our oldest daughter Katie [18] has just graduated [Mepham] High School and will be attending Sacred Heart University this year on a partial scholarship in cross country and track. In our house, we have four children, and they all must run a mile by the age of 5. Running is a lifetime habit and something you should do as a daily regimen. It is a healthy habit, and it speaks for itself."
