By:Robert Elkin
Chris Mammone of Valley Stream lived up to expectations as favorite in the Valley Stream Rotary 4-mile race Sunday morning, July 29. The 17-year-old Mammone, who is entering Iona College in September, took the lead with about half a mile left and captured his fourth straight such race in a personal best time of 20:35.7, passing his mark of 21:01 set last year in the same event.
Michael Anderson, 29, of Woodbury, wound up second in 20:42.5, one place ahead of Dan McGrath, 18, of Lynbrook, who was timed at 21:08.5. Rounding out the top five were
Kevin McKeefery, 19, of Lynbrook (23:01.6), and Bill Weber, 35, of McHenry, Illinois (23:28.6).
Debbie Cuttitta, 34, of Bellmore, was the female winner in 23:55.3. overall she placed eighth in a field of 203 entrants.
Mammone, McGrath, and Anderson started out fast together, and ran away from the field.
After Mammone held a slight lead around the two-mile mark at which point he was timed at 10:10, Anderson surged ahead and McGrath dropped back a bit. The former standout runner at Valley Stream South High School rallied from second leaving Merrick Road and heading into Hicks Street to win.
"After I tried to make a move, he took me right off," Anderson said. "I think he would have won, anyway."
"I was very accustomed to the course and we trained here during the cross country season," Mammone said.
"We ran a great race and I liked the course," added McKeefery, who, like Mammone, ran for Valley Stream South High School. "I also ran in this race or my fourth time, and knew the course and neighborhood."
"It's a little bit hot but the course was nice and flat," said Weber, who was in town visiting his family in Lynbrook.
"I enjoyed the race," added Baldwin's Brian Ronan, who was timed in 23:48 for seventh place. "It was very well organized and the weather was perfect."
Overall, Everyone - the runners, organizers and volunteers - were very satisfied with the race and turnout. Twenty volunteers from the Valley Stream Running Club helped out in various capacities to make the race a tremendous success.
"This is the best turnout we had in the four years the race has been conducted by the Rotary," race director Boris Klerer said. "The organization did a great job. It's a fun run over a flat course. People seemed to enjoy it and we had some good runners. Mammone enjoyed winning in his hometown. He ran a good time. We hope for the best next year."
"Everything went smooth," said Valley Stream Running Club president Stan Friedlander. "We had a lot of good volunteers and nice people. Chris won again, but this time he had some competition [from McGrath and Anderson]. We had a tight race."
The race attracted athletes from all over Long Island and from various clubs in the area. Even some coaches ran, including CW Post football coach Frank Chimienti, 29, of Long Beach whose 28:40.6 earned him third place in his 25-29 age bracket and 48th overall in the age group race.
The oldest athlete in the field was 82-year-old William Benson of Valley Stream. He finished third in his 70 and up bracket in 41:37.7 and 166th overall.
On hand at the start of the race and at the award ceremony were George Baker, Recreation Supervisor, Joe Zabatta, Village Trustee, and Mayor Ed Cahill.
