South Nyack 10-Mile Run Designated USA Track & Field-NY Championship

24th annual race benefits local fire depts., ambulance corps, soup kitchens

The 24th annual South Nyack 10-Mile Run, set for Sunday, Sept. 9, has been designated the USA Track & Field-New York 10-mile championship. Race proceeds are to benefit the Orangetown Fire Company No. 1 (South Nyack) and Piermont volunteer fire departments, the Nyack Ambulance Corps and Nyack soup kitchens.

USA Track & Field is the national governing body for road racing, track & field and race walking. The local chapter encompasses the metropolitan New York region.

The race, sponsored by the Rockland Road Runners, is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. It will be preceded by the children’s fun runs at 8:15 a.m. Check-in for the 10-mile run is from 7 to 8:15 a.m., and for the fun runs from 7 to 7:45 a.m.

The race is one of the most popular in Rockland, attracting more than 500 participants last year from throughout the New York metropolitan region. The challenging out-and-back, USATF-certified course begins and ends near Franklin Street Park. It offers picturesque views of the Hudson as it runs along the river through the villages of South Nyack, Grand View and Piermont and turns around at the end of the Piermont Pier. The last mile of the course is on the Esposito Trail, a converted rail-trail that was once part of the Erie Railroad line.

The defending champion is Art Gunther of Upper Nyack, a former Tappan Zee High School star and Binghamton University Hall of Famer who has dominated the race with 14 victories in 16 attempts.

Last year’s race generated $6,500 for its designated charities. Since September 11, 2001, race proceeds have been earmarked for local first-responder organizations. Since its conversion to the 10-mile distance in 1989 – it was a 7.8-mile race from 1978 to 1987 – the event has raised thousands of dollars for area fire departments, Junior Achievement and other worthy causes, such as Camp Venture, St. Agatha’s Respite Care, St. Dominic’s Home, Rockland County Friends of Autistic Children and Rockland County Association for Children with Learning Disabilities.

The overall male and female winners will be awarded Citizen watches, and the winning masters (40 or older) runners will receive trophies and a $50 prize. A special trophy will be awarded to the first male and female resident of South Nyack, Grand View or Piermont. In addition, USATF-NY championship medals go to the top three male and female finishers both overall and in the following age categories: 19 or younger, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65 or older. T-shirts are limited to the first 400 registrants and shirts are not guaranteed to race-day entrants. Amenities include post-race raffle prizes, food and refreshments.

For more information visit www.rocklandroadrunners.org or contact Kathleen Daly at vp@rocklandroadrunners.org or 845-536-3052, or Mike Angarola at mangarola@yahoo.com.

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