Staten Island Athletic Club's
3 Mile Fun Run
February 10, 2001
Dean Grusky dominated the field and the 3-mile course with a rare sub-17:00 performance to capture this week's windy fun run. Only a handful of runners break this barrier each year and even fewer do it in the winter. Grusky took control of the race from the start, undaunted by the strong headwinds, and opened up enough of a lead that the rest of his challengers never entertained thoughts of catching him. He motored in with a superb winning time of 16:58.
Second place was up for grabs as Dave Panza, Chris Strumolo and A-Born Etchison stayed close until the last half mile. That's when Strumolo (18:14), the New Dorp Frosh, used his younger legs, actually 28 years younger, to bolt away from Dave Panza. Who said life was fair? With second place out of reach, Panza needed to hold off Etchison who continued to shadow him. Panza (18:36) never let Etchison (18:45) get close enough to bite and held on to third place.
Anthony Skomina (19:54) also used his younger legs - okay only 3 years younger, but hey that's significant - to put together a late sprint which nipped Steve Lauria (19:56) for fifth place. Darn kids. In seventh place, Sean Gatling (20:16) once again knocked on the door of his PR, but didn't go in. Scott LaMorte (20:27), Keith Gill (20:37) and Robert Polchinski (20:38) rounded out the top ten.
Twelve-year-old Francis Neller, Jr. (31:30) edged fifty-six-year-old Francis Neller, Sr. (31:44) for 28th place. See the above quote about darn kids.
On the women's side, Angela Conte recorded her first win and fastest time of the year with a 25:52 clocking. Lisa Rigolini, who finished her first fun run only last week, took second place in 35:30 just in front of Marie Garone (36:11).
The comments about age differences in running reminds me that there is an approved age grading formula that adjusts times based on age and sex, and produces a common performance level percentage. It would be interesting to score a fun run like this or have a handicapped race with head starts given based on the grading system. What do you think? It would be a god opportunity to finally beat some of those darn kids.
RESULTS
1. Dean Grusky, M, 16:58
2. Chris Strumolo, M, 18:14
3. Dave Panza, M, 18:36
4. A-Born Etchison, M, 18:45
5. Anthony Skomina, M, 19:54
6. Steve Lauria, M, 19:56
7. Sean Gattling, M, 20:16
8. Scott LaMorte, M, 20:27
9. Keith Gill, M, 20:37
10. Robert Polchinski, M, 20:38
11. Fred Rigolini, M, 20:42
12. Scott Hall, M, 20:45
13. Paul Buckheit, M, 21:45
14. Anthony Picozzi, M, 21:45
15. John Lilley, M, 22:31
16. Robert Brandt, M, 22:35
17. Larry Araneo, M, 22:56
18. Charlie Siracusa, M, 23:48
19. Richie Orazem, M, 24:17
20. Bill Rivers, M, 24:19
21. Pete Janesie, M, 24:20
22. Stephen Ruberto, M, 24:44
23. Paul Forster, M, 24:45
24. Tony Celantano, M, 25:45
25. Angela Conte, F, 25:52
26. Mike Garone, M, 26:55
27. Richard Ruberto, M, 28:38
28. Francis Neller Jr., M, 31:30
29. Francis Neller Sr., M, 31:44
30. Lisa Rigolini, F, 35:30
31. Marie Garone, F, 36:11