October 25, 1999
Click here to email - BOBMILE@aol.com
ED SEFERSHAYAN -R.I.P.-
Ed Sefershayan the popular long time owner of Runners World Store on New
Dorp Lane died earlier this week. The retired fireman fought a valiant battle
against throat cancer and was doing great until stricken with a illness while
on vacation and died.
Sefershayan opened the RUNNERS WORLD store in the late 1970's then turned
it over to his son Joe, who was a runner at Susan Wagner High School. Joe
ran the store up until about 3 years ago when it closed.
The two Sefershayan's ran the popular Runner's World 10Km race for a few
years in the mid 1980's on a very hilly and challenging course that was
acceptable during that time period. The proceeds of the event went to the
Staten Island High School Track And Field Association.
Sefershayan loved to play tennis at Walker Park and was a young 62 years
old. Sefershayan, though probably not known by many of today's runners, was
an important part of the running boom here on Staten Island. The man who
always welcomed you with a handshake and a smile will be missed. Ed, rest
in peace.
MUCHE-STRUCK MOVES TO NEW LOCATION
Staten Island's oldest race the 61st Annual Muche -Struck Run has a new distance
and location this year. Co-race director, Judge Michael Brennan, announced
the changes this week to try to incite more interest in the once popular
event.
This year's race will be 2 1/2 miles of cross country running in Staten Island's
best kept secret, Goodhue Park in West-New Brighton. The race is always held
on Veterans Day morning which is Thursday November 11th. at 11A.M.
Team and individual awards will be distributed along with special awards
for our running veterans. Applications will be available on this site.
The Muche-Struck in it's prime years had up to 350 runners on a weekday on
a 3 1/2 mile Fun Run type course in Clove Lake Park. At one point the event
was so popular it was divided into two events for the safety of the
runners.(Similar to the Marli Race)
Some of the winners I remember are Puerto Rican Olympian Tony Colon and the
first Pepper Martin winner sub 4:00 minute miler Rutger's star Ron Spiers.
Of course many of us have heard the folk stories of Bill Welsh's winning
10 straight years in the 1950's when the course was run thru Stapleton. In
the 1970's ,St. John's of Queens would bring it's whole team over to run
during an off week during Cross Country.
Maybe it is time we give the Muche-Struck run a try and bring it back to
it's previous stature as an important Staten Island race.
TRIPLE CROWN AWARDS DINNER SLATED FOR THURS. NOV. 4TH
The Staten Island Athletic Club-Triple Crown Dinner is coming up on Thursday
November 4th. at 7P.M. at the South Shore Country Club. The dinner features
an assortment of awards to Triple Crown winners, Staten Island A.C. members
and others from the Staten Island community.
This years guest speaker is 81 year old Olympic Marathoner Ted Corbitt. Corbitt
fits the word he wears on his jersey perfectly-PIONEER (New York Pioneer).
Corbitt was one of the founders of the New York Road Runners Club and is
one of the reasons courses are certified.
Ed Healy, formerly of Farrell High School and Georgetown University, will
also be honored on the 20th anniversary of his High School Staten Island
record of 12:30.4 at Van Cortlandt Park. On a course that has been run on
ONE MILLION times by High School runners Healy has the 33rd fastest time
ever. Healy's story is an interesting one as he transfered to Farrell from
Ohio for his senior year and won ten straight races. Healy once told me"
I was running 100-120 miles a week the summer before my senior year and that's
why I was so strong".
The most important award in the running community is the Marli service Award
and goes to a person "With long time service to Staten Island Running". This
year's winner is the ever popular Tom Hart. It should be an acceptance speech
you won't want to miss.
Tickets are still available and can be obtained by contacting me at 442-2057.
Ticket prices are $35 and are $45 at the door.