Staten Island Athletic Club's
3 Mile Fun Run
March 10, 2001
Here we go again. It was back to the brutal conditions for this week’s fun run. Thirty-four degree temperatures and a stiff wind that put the wind chill down around 20 degrees, made for tough going between the start and Martling Avenue.
A strong lead pack formed early, allowing some fortunate followers to have a wall of human wind-breakers ahead of them. Rob Russo-Vikos, Al Garcia, Jenn Merschoff, Chris Strumolo and John Kane huddled together, perhaps for warmth, through the first half-mile. Russo-Vikos emerged from the pack going down the first hill. By the halfway point he had a lead, but also had Al Garcia, fresh off his 4:35 Forest Avenue Mile, in hot pursuit (well on a day like today, more like chilling pursuit). Though Garcia seemed to have Russo-Vikos set up for the kill, it didn’t happen and Russo-Vikos held on for the win in 17:25. Garcia took second in 17:38. Meanwhile Jenn Merschoff, from Wagner College, finished third overall, and of course, won the women’s race in 17:51. That might be the fastest women’s fun run since Winnie Ng ran 17:42 in October 1999. That’s unofficial, but baring a good run by Kari Proffitt or Jeanine Radice during that time, it should hold true. Chris Strumolo, the New Dorp Frosh, broke 18:00 for the second straight time with his 17:57 fourth place performance. As it often goes with PRs and developing runners, don’t expect him to slum it above 18:00 too often any more.
Completing the women’s score cards, once Jenn Merschoff warmed down, got some water, stretched, put her sweats on, did her math homework and read War and Peace, Lisa Mangus claimed second place in 23:18. Debra Mahr followed close behind in third place with a 23:38 tour of the wind-swept course and Lisa Rigolini just missed the 30:00 mark with a 30:08 in fourth.
There will be NOT be a Fun Run next Saturday as the 12th Annual St. Patty’s Day 5K Run will be held at Wolfe’s Pond Park at 10:00am. Number pick-up and pre-registration will be Thursday, March 15 from 7 to 10pm at the Cargo Café at 120 Bay Street. Pre-entry fee is only $12.00 with an additional $2.00 discount for SIAC members (wow, this and a tax cut all in the same year, what a country). Call Richie Orazem at 718-981-0264 or check out the on-line race form on this home page for more information.
Place Name Sex Time Pace 1 Rob Russo-Vikos M 0:17:25 0:05:48 2 Al Garcia M 0:17:38 0:05:53 3 Jenn Merschoff F 0:17:51 0:05:57 4 Chris Strumolo M 0:17:57 0:05:59 5 Steve Lauria M 0:19:43 0:06:34 6 Bernard Wright M 0:21:12 0:07:04 7 Joseph Caplan M 0:21:50 0:07:17 8 Fred Rigolini M 0:21:58 0:07:19 9 John Kane M 0:22:50 0:07:37 10 P. J. Gambardella M 0:22:53 0:07:38 11 Richie Orazem M 0:23:11 0:07:44 12 Lisa Mangus F 0:23:18 0:07:46 13 Bill Rivers M 0:23:25 0:07:48 14 Debra Mahr F 0:23:38 0:07:53 15 S. Martinez M 0:24:45 0:08:15 16 Joe Feldstein M 0:24:51 0:08:17 17 Tony Celentano M 0:25:48 0:08:36 18 Paul Forster M 0:26:18 0:08:46 19 Steve Corrigan M 0:28:40 0:09:33 20 Lisa Rigolini F 0:30:06 0:10:02