By Kate E. Salute
Runners lined up early for registration at Howard T. Herbert Middle School, where the run began. They were eager to run on a new track alongside 1996 Olympic gold medalist and Malverne High School alumnus Derrick Adkins.
Before the race, Adkins said, "My mother has been part of the committee to get this new track, and she told me that they would be running a 5K to raise money, so I volunteered to run. I'm not going to be running to win, because my event that I used to run in track and field is so different - the sprint is so different from the distance race. Most sprinters, we have no long-distance talent at all. Most people are surprised by that. There will be plenty of people in front of me coming across the finish line. I'm just going to finish the race at a nice relaxed pace. I just want to support the effort."
Adkins predicted correctly, as Gary Klein of Bethpage came across the finish line first.
While the Educational and Fitness Foundation is running the show with regard to construction of the new track, the Malverne Rotary Club was in charge of the race. "We, as a chapter, put together this run to benefit the school," said Vincent O'Brien, president of the club. "The idea started at a meeting. One of our members is the superintendent of schools, another is the president of the school board and another is a runner, and that's where the idea came from to have a 5K run."
O'Brien added, "And Derrick Adkins - having him involved is such an honor. Not everyone has an Olympic gold medalist in their area."
More than 200 runners participated in the event, which raised more than $10,000. "It's only a start, but it's a great step, and the first step of many for such a big undertaking," said O'Brien. The money will fund, among other things, a new rubber track.
"Back in '88, a rubber track was a luxury," said Adkins. "We wanted one because we thought we deserved one, because we were successful. But now it's a necessity, just like a hardwood floor is a necessity for a basketball court. It's commonplace."
A new track will only be the beginning, said Educational and Fitness Foundation President Jack Tulley. "It'd be nice to have a new football field," he said. "We are also looking to enhance equipment, the snack stands, the shot put as well as the high jump area. We'd like the stands to be redone and to have lighting for night games and meets. The best part is that the community also can use the facilities at night for exercising."
While Tulley has big ideas for the school's athletic facilities, his expectations, he said, are reasonable. "We hope to have an estimate of the total cost in a month or two, but we are looking to be realistic," he said. "It's not something that is going to be done in three months or six months. It's probably going to take at least three to five years. It's a process."
Having had four children go through the middle school, Tulley has been active over the years in the school district and organizations outside the school such as Little League, all of which factor into the reason why Tulley, who was asked just to be on the committee, found himself heading it up. "I want kids to have these better facilities, even if it's not my kids getting to use them," he said. "Though it really is something that brings everyone in the community together. Everyone can use that area - Lakeview residents, Malverne residents - there is no issue of where you live or what you do. It's something that we hope will really break down all the boundaries."
Adkins recalled the Malverne Relays he once ran in as a high school athlete, which have been renamed the Derrick Adkins Classic. "Malverne puts on the largest high school track meet in Long Island," he said, "but we have never been able to put our own meet on at our home track. Hopefully we'll be able to do that now."
