Race Report:

(Complete results at end of article)

Rockland Alumni Cross Country Run: A Harrier Tradition
By Jamie Kempton

A Thanksgiving tradition dating back to 1983 continued on the hills and footpaths of Bear Mountain State Park last Saturday with the 19th running of the Rockland Alumni Cross Country Run/Bill Markiewicz Memorial. It is the only countywide alumni athletic event in Rockland.

The alumni harriers make their annual pilgrimage to Bear Mountain to tackle the 3-mile course that is used for high school competition. The race is held, rain or shine, at high noon on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Many people run cross country for the purity of the sport, and this event is a purist’s dream: no entry fee (although there is a $5 parking fee), no T-shirts, no awards, no frills.

What it does offer, however, is an opportunity to circle historic Hessian Lake (of Revolutionary War fame), ascend the infamous, steep “ski slope” (former site of world-class ski-jumping competitions), swing past the Bear Mountain Inn - a cornerstone hearth of the Palisades Interstate Park system - and finish the tour on the Great Lawn in front of the inn.

The race is named in honor of Bill Markiewicz, a well-respected former cross country and track coach at Clarkstown North High School who died of cancer in 1991. The event is open to alumni from high schools everywhere, not just those from Rockland County. Over the years the Alumni Run has attracted entrants whose high school affiliation spans more than 20 states and several countries.

While the vast majority of entrants participate to enjoy the camaraderie and the course’s scenic beauty - and perhaps to strive for a personal best - the race has also been graced by the outstanding performances of national-caliber competitors. Two such athletes are John Trautmann, a 1992 U.S. Olympian in the 5,000 meters who starred for Monroe-Woodbury High School (of Orange County) and Georgetown University; and Debbie Grant, a 1983 Ramapo High and 1987 Villanova University graduate who finished fourth in the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 800 meters in 1:59.97 - missing a berth on the Olympic team by four one-hundredths of a second.

Trautmann holds the meet and course record of 14:08 set in 1994, and Grant holds the women’s meet record of 17:03, established in 1995.

The race has generally been blessed with favorable weather - but not always. The inaugural classic in 1983 was conducted in blizzard-like conditions: hail and freezing rain whipped by winds so strong that lapping waves from Hessian Lake spilled onto the course’s paved path. Runners who tried to kick it in on the 250-yard finishing homestretch encountered gale-force winds that made forward progress a victory in itself. Nonetheless, 19 hardy souls managed to complete that initial adventure, led by inaugural champion Pat Chambers (Albertus Magnus ’76) in 16:04.

The event has grown considerably since then, reaching a record 334 entrants for the 10th edition in 1992, and usually averaging between 220 and 270 participants. This year’s race - which was held in overcast, 55-degree weather after morning showers had subsided - attracted 223 finishers spanning 48 class graduation years. The oldest finisher was Ed O’Connell, age 66, Haverstraw High School Class of 1953, who placed 198th in 28:12.

The overall champion, for a record fifth time, was Art Gunther, Tappan Zee ’89. Gunther, a former Binghamton University All-America and member of that school’s Hall of Fame, traversed the hilly 3-mile course in 14:46 for a 100-yard margin of victory over runner-up David Dominguez, North Rockland ’93, who clocked 15:03.

Julianne Littmann, Monroe-Woodbury ’95 and an ex-Clemson University standout, garnered her second victory in four years with an impressive 17:17 clocking, the second-fastest women’s time in meet history. In the past six years, Littmann has two victories, two runner-up finishes and two third-place showings. Runner-up in this year’s race was Lauren Tuchband, Nanuet ’98 and a senior at Binghamton, who turned in a personal-best 18:32.

Several past champions also competed in this year’s race. John Trautmann, a three-time winner, placed 27th in 17:24 on a modest training regimen of “three miles every four or five days.” Other former winners included: Pat Chambers, the inaugural champion, 32nd in 17:34; Brian Crowley (Albertus Magnus ’82), the 1990 winner, 16th in 17:03; Todd Sinclair (North Rockland ’80), the 1986 and 1989 champ, 10th in 16:13; and Brian McKnight (Monroe-Woodbury ’97), the 2000 winner, 37th in 17:59.

The team scoring titlists were Clarkstown/Clarkstown North (the school was known as Clarkstown High School until 1972, when the district was split into North and South) in the men’s division and Monroe-Woodbury in the women’s bracket. Monroe-Woodbury, based in Central Valley in Orange County, N.Y., also swept the men’s, women’s and combined team participation titles.

No report of the Alumni Run would be complete without an acknowledgement of the three individuals who have competed in all 19 editions of the race: the aforementioned Pat Chambers; Larry Beckerle, Albertus Magnus ’73; and Walt Johnston, Suffern ’65.

Chambers was a key member of the undefeated 1974 Albertus Magnus cross country team, known as “The Long Red Line.” That team won the state Class B and Eastern States titles; at Van Cortlandt Park had a five-man average of 13:03 and 21-man average of 13:55 in the St. John’s Invitational; and was ranked second in the country based on its five-man cumulative time of 47:47.6 (average per man: 9:33.5) for a two-mile track run (“Postal 5x2”) at season’s end.

Chambers also competed for Rutgers University and coached his scholastic alma mater, Albertus Magnus, to the 1985 Section 1 girls’ spring track championship. Beckerle was the Nanuet High School track and cross country coach from 1979 to 1993 (head coach from 1983 to ’93). His 1990 girls’ cross country team won the NYSPHSAA Class C title and finished second behind Saratoga in the state Federation meet. Johnston coached for many years at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill.

A large turnout is expected for the 2002 Alumni Run - the 20th edition of the event. The race is set for high noon, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2002, at Bear Mountain State Park. For more information on the Alumni Run, contact Jamie Kempton at 845-627-2030 or at jkempton@kpmg.com.

Results:

19th annual Rockland Alumni Cross Country Run/Bill Markiewicz Memorial
Saturday, November 24, 2001
Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain, N.Y.
Course: 3.0 miles

Meet records: 14:08, John Trautmann (Monroe-Woodbury ’86), 1994
17:03, Debbie Grant (Ramapo ’83), 1995


Men’s Team Scores: 1. Clarkstown/Clarkstown North (CN), 56; 2. North Rockland (NR), 76; 3. Clarkstown South (CS), 117; 4. Monroe-Woodbury, of Orange County (MW), 119; 5. Albertus Magnus (AM), 174; 6. Nanuet (Nan), 182; 7. Pearl River (PR), 271; 8. Suffern (Suf), 293; 9. Tappan Zee (TZ), 329; 10. Warwick Valley, of Orange County (War), 341; Incomplete teams: Nyack (Ny), Ramapo (Ram), Spring Valley (SV).

Women’s Team Scores: 1. Monroe-Woodbury, 41; 2. Nanuet, 62; 3. Suffern, 91; all others, incomplete.

Men’s Team Participation: 1. Monroe-Woodbury, 35; 2. Suffern, 19; 3. Tie, Clarkstown/Clarkstown North and North Rockland, 17; 5. Pearl River, 15; 6. Albertus Magnus, 14; 7. Clarkstown South, 10; 8. Tie, Nanuet and Tappan Zee, 8; 10. Warwick, 6; 11. Tie, Arlington of Dutchess County (Arl) and Spring Valley, 3.

Women’s Team Participation: 1. Monroe-Woodbury, 9; 2. Suffern, 8; 3. Nanuet, 5; 4. Tie, Albertus Magnus, North Rockland, Pearl River, 3; 7. Tie, Clarkstown/Clarkstown North and Warwick, 2.

Combined Participation: Monroe-Woodbury, 44; 2. Suffern, 27; 3. North Rockland, 20; 4. Clarkstown/Clarkstown North, 19; 5. Pearl River, 18; 6. Albertus Magnus, 17.

Women’s Top 20 Individuals
1. Julianne Littmann (MW ’95), 17:17; 2. Lauren Tuchband (Nan ’98), 18:32; 3. Heidi Everett-Powers (War ’95), 19:06; 4. Jessica Romaniuk (Suf ’98), 19:23; 5. Meghan Howell (Suf ’99), 19:33; 6. Suzanne La Burt (MW ’81), 19:53; 7. Linda Higgins (Nan ’80), 20:06; 8. Christine Bibbo (MW ’93), 20:14; 9. Amy Ross (OSSM ’93), 20:30; 10. Jessica Petrina (TZ ’00), 21:10; 11. Kelli Allison (MW ’87), 21:17; 12. Kyle Lubrano (NR ’96), 21:32; 13. Erin Haugh (Nan ’97), 21:36; 14. Laura Hudson (Northern Valley Regional, Old Tappan, N.J., ’77), 22:01; 15. Megan Ahearn (War ’00), 22:10; 16. Kaia Haugeto (Suf ’95), 22:32; 17. Patti Zodda (Nan ’88), 22:45; 18. Katie Barnes (CN ’02) 23:44; 19. Kathy List-Orlando (PR ’91), 24:11; 20. Myrna Rivera (NR ’77), 24:33.

Overall Individual Results
(223 finishers)
1. Art Gunther (TZ ’89), 14:46; 2. David Dominguez (NR ’93), 15:03; 3. Mike Morris (CN ’96), 15:22; 4. Pete Modafferi (CS ’95), 15:35; 5. Jamie Kempton (AM ’76), 15:44; 6. Pat Driscoll (CN ’98), 15:55; 7. Mike Kohlbrenner (PR ’76), 16:00; 8. George Newsome (CS ’92), 16:03; 9. Tom McCarney (CN ’93), 16:08; 10. Todd Sinclair (NR ’80), 16:13; 11. Frank Visingardi (Nan ’86), 16:23; 12. John Tobin (Pine Bush ’98), 16:43; 13. Doug Sklar (CS ’91), 16:46; 14. Jason Friedman (CN ’93), 16:56; 15. Jim Trautmann (MW ’90), 17:00; 16. Brian Crowley (AM ’82), 17:03; 17. Curtis Akacki (War ’00) 17:04; 18. Joe Cronin (Don Bosco Prep, N.J., ’99), 17:10; 19. Jamsel Reyes (NR ’01), 17:12; 20. Jason Noeldechen (MW ’96), 17:12; 21. Bill Possidento (Nan ’80), 17:13; 22. Jon Vaughan (NR ’00), 17:15; 23. Mike Euell (NR ’98), 17:17; 24. Julianne Littmann (MW ’95), 17:17; 25. Brian McGillick (CN ’98), 17:19; 26. Preston Smolinski (MW ’98), 17:23; 27. John Trautmann (MW ’86), 17:24; 28. Gary Brissing (Nan ’01), 17:25; 29. Matt Cullen (Yorktown ’99), 17:28; 30. Anthony Calingo (CN ’01), 17:29; 31. Frank Colello (Washingtonville ’76), 17:31; 32. Pat Chambers (AM ’76), 17: 34; 33. Dan McEvoy (PR ’78), 17:45; 34. Donald Boyce (MW ’95), 17:47; 35. Tom Manza (MW ’73), 17:47; 36. Jim O’Donnell (MW ’90), 17:54; 37. Brian McKnight (MW ’97), 17:59; 38. Brian Keenan (Goshen ’89), 18:15; 39. Dominick Ponzio (NR ’00), 18:20; 40. Mike Hannon (NR ’01), 18:22; 41. Tom List (PR ’80), 18:25; 42. Mike Schroer (CS ’92), 18:32; 43. Lauren Tuchband (Nan ’98), 18:32; 44. Harold Haugeto (Suf ’93), 18:34; 45. Ron Genovese (War ’01), 18:35; 46. Matt Diglio (MW ’96), 18:35; 47. Adam McCaffery (Ny ’97). 18:36; 48. Bob Hermesch (Hendrick Hudson ’68), 18:37; 49. Steve Kondracki (TZ ’68), 18:48; 50. Jeff Greenstein (CS ’92), 18:50.

51. Bill Connolly (Burke Catholic ’98), 18:51; 52. Sean McCormick (Suf ’00), 18:52; 53. James Attle (Suf ’98), 18:53; 54. Michael Sklar (CS ’93), 18:53; 55. Adam Skrypack (CN ’96), 18:55; 56. Brian Diglio (MW ’89), 18:56; 57. Heidi Everett-Powers (War ’95), 19:06; 58. Bob Hudson (TZ ’74), 19:07; 59. name unavailable (War ’01), 19:13; 60. Gil Wager (AM ’75), 19:18; 61. Kevin Chanowsky (MW ’94), 19:19; 62. David Lynch (CN ’98), 19:21; 63. Chris Hecht (CN ’01), 19:22; 64. Jessica Romaniuk (Suf ’98), 19:23; 65. Ian Diamond (Nan ’91), 19:24; 66. Michael Beckerle (Nan ’79), 19:30; 67. Walt Saudroft (NR ’77), 19:32; 68. Meghan Howell (Suf ’99), 19:33; 69. Jared Noeldechen (MW ’00), 19:35; 70. Chris Roman (AM ’80), 19:36; 71. Suzanne La Burt (MW ’81), 19:53; 72. Jerry Quigley (SV ’75), 19:54; 73. Brian Gilbert (MW ’94), 19:55; 74. Bill Robbins (NR ’84), 19:55; 75. John McNiff (AM ’75), 19:57; 76. Mark Papertsian (Archbishop Stepinac ’87), 19:57; 77. Anthony Copicotto (NR ’01), 19:59.9; 78. Linda Higgins (Nan ’80), 20:06; 79. Zack Berbit (Suf ’96), 20:07; 80. Kevin Powers (CS ’95), 20:09; 81. Christine Bibbo (MW ’93), 20:14; 82. George Rhein (Don Bosco Prep, N.J., ’73), 20:19; 83. John Murphy (MW ’85), 20:27; 84. Chris Post (Rhinebeck ’91), 20:29; 85. Bram Whillock (CN ’01), 20:30; 86. Amy Ross (OSSM ’93), 20:30; 87. Patrick Parietti (Suf ’78), 20:43; 88. Bill Szachewicz (Suf ’82), 20:45; 89. Tim Waples (Suf ’00), 20:50; 90. Larry Beckerle (AM ’73), 20:53; 91. Chris Goodwin (MW ’89), 20:55; 92. Dennis Ulatowski (MW ’89), 21:07; 93. Jessica Petrina (TZ ’00), 21:10; 94. Stuart Weiler (CN ’01), 21:16; 95. Kelli Allison (MW ’87), 21:17; 96. Jay Kaplan (SV ’67), 21:21; 97. Mike Roswell (Suf ’99), 21:26; 98. Chris Boelke (MW ’88), 21:30; 99. Kyle Lubrano (NR ’96), 21:32; 100. Justin Wright (War ’94), 21:33.

101. Erin Haugh (Nan ’97), 21:36; 102. Kevin Garrison (Ny ’91), 21:37; 103. Terry Horton (Arl ’66), 21:38; 104. Scott Earl (MW ’89), 21:39; 105. Walter Johnston (Suf ’65), 21:40; 106. Matt Markiewicz (Goshen ’97), 21:41; 107. John Raheb (CS ’81), 21:43; 108. Ray Sussman (PR ’81), 21:44; 109. Stephen McPhail (MW ’88), 21:47; 110. Andy Kohlbrenner (PR ’81), 21:51; 111. Adam Metlitz (Nan ’01), 21:52; 112. Keith McKnight (MW ’98), 21:53; 113. Greg Mooney (Nan ’79), 21:54; 114. Gibby Sweet (PR ’68), 21:56; 115. Laura Hudson (Northern Valley Regional, N.J., ’77), 22:01; 116. Keith Reilly (PR ’90), 22:02; 117. Kevin McAllister (school unavailable), 22:03; 118. Beverly Dally (MW ’82), 22:04; 119. Jack Arbolino (TZ ’68), 22:07; 120. Megan Ahearn (War ’00), 22:10; 121. Sean Barron (PR ’79), 22:12; 122. Peter Augello (MW ’92), 22:21; 123. Kevin Heraghty (NR ’94), 22:25; 124. Bill Donnelly (PR ’91) 22:25; 125. Kevin Monahan (MW ’85), 22:28; 126. Kaia Haugeto (Suf ’95), 22:32; 127. Jim Mulligan (AM ’70), 22:40; 128. Nick Parente (CN ’87), 22:43; 129. Patti Zodda (Nan ’88), 22:45; 130. Mike Moran (AM ’87), 22:45; 131. John Herr (MW ’83), 22:48; 132. Paul Kreischer (MW ’85), 22:49; 133. Thomas Kelly (PR ’78), 22:50; 134. Mike Greco (PR ’78), 22:56; 135. Matt Beckerle (Nan ’83), 22:57; 136. K. Gerber (CS ’92), 23:02; 137. Michael Heraghty (NR ’90), 23:11; 138. Jacob Lawrence (TZ ’90), 23:15; 139. Chandra Sivakumar (TZ ’90), 23:16; 140. Matt Skrypack (CN ’99), 23:17; 141. Jeff Mehr (Suf ’96), 23:22; 142. name unavailable (Suf ’96), 23:25; 143. Spencer McGuirk (MW ’89), 23:39; 144. Scott Curtis (MW ’01), 23:42; 145. T.J. Maglione (MW ’01), 23:42; 146. Katie Barnes (CN ’02), 23:44; 147. Alan Brandstaedter (CN ’92), 23:50; 148. Steve Sutton (TZ ’90), 24:02; 149. Steve Pashley (PR ’91), 24:02; 150. Marc Hirschfield (CN ’84), 24:05.

151. Ross Stephens (Arl ’94), 24:06; 152. Kathy List-Orlando (PR ’91), 24:11; 153. Frank Cullen (Iona Prep ’66), 24:13; 154. Dan Goldwater (MW ’97), 24:13; 155. George Gilmartin (AM ’78), 24:17; 156. Drew Diltz (War ’90), 24:22; 157. Cary Shelofsky (TZ ’75), 24:28; 158. Mike Potter (War ’97), 24:32; 159. Peter Viscardo (MW ’95), 24:32; 160. Myrna Rivera (NR ’77), 24:33; 161. Abby Barnett (Beach Channel ’81), 24:33; 162. Kate Veldran (MW ’97) 24:53; 163. Kathy Thelen Diamond (Nan ’92), 24:57; 164. Suzanne Marsalisi (Trinity Catholic, Conn., ’04), 24:59; 165. Mike Grogan (MW ’76), 25:00; 166. Tasha Williams (MW ’80), 25:01; 167. Mike Hannon (CN ’72), 25:09; 168. Liz Rhein (Rosary Academy ’75), 25:14; 169. Danny Hogan (Suf), 25:15; 170. Noah Chernin (Suf ’00), 25:17; 171. name unavailable (Suf ’96), 25:22; 172. Mike Waples (Suf ’65), 25:24; 173. Philip Donnelly (PR ’93), 25:29; 174. Josephine Patten (Ballymahon, County Longford, Ireland, ’73), 25:32; 175. Tracey Harris (PR ’95), 25:33; 176. Sean Mathews (PR ’79), 25:35; 177. Tom McNamara (AM ’83), 25:39; 178. Gail Jackson (MW ’78), 25:40; 179. Denise Esserman (MW ’95), 25:49; 180. Craig Riegelhart (Washingtonville ’94), 25:51; 181. Carey Berlow (Suf ’98), 25:52; 182. Rich Nieves (NR ’93), 25:53; 183. Michael Seminelli (CN ’01), 25:56; 184. Erica Norey (CN ’00), 26:00; 185. Rob Conklin (NR ’00), 26:00; 186. Chris Markiewicz (C.D. Hylton ’95), 26:04; 187. Brian Leventhal (MW ’95), 26:06; 188. Pete Kitz (NR ’04), 26;15; 189. Kari Haugeto (Suf ’88), 26:18; 190. name unavailable (MW ’85), 26:29; 191. Janet McNamara Barron (AM ’79), 26:34; 192. Tom Maiorano (PR ’93), 26:41; 193. Robert Stephens (Newburgh Free Academy ’65), 26:50; 194. Erin Waples (Suf ’95), 26:57; 195. Sue (Gulla) Lanoce (PR ’83), 27:23; 196. Ryan Brogan (MW ’01), 27:30; 197. Drew Gulick (MW ’01), 28:11; 198. Ed O’Connell (Haverstraw ’53), 28:12; 199. Janie Howell (Irvington ’65), 28:15; 200. Vincene Bonventre (Manhasset ’91) 28:41.

201. Margaret Markiewicz (school unavailable), 28:58; 202. Mark Markiewicz (C.D. Hylton ’95), 29:11; 203. Mike Markiewicz (AM ’70), 29:11; 204. Peter Modafferi (AM ’67), 29:54; 205. Mark Stephens (Arl ’98), 30:47; 206. Rebecca Fuchs (Suf ’00), 30:50; 207. Gene Donnelly (PR ’87), 30:55; 208. Jeremy deJong (Suf ’96), 31:00; 209. Rachel Lockwood (Suf ’00), 31:01; 210. Jeanne McNamara (AM ’94), 31:27; 211. Sherry Berbit (Suf ’69), 31:46; 212. Paul Redner (Suf ’93), 31:48; 213. Mike Katzman (MW ’86), 32:54; 214. George Hoy (SV ’69), 33:00; 215. Larry Trautmann (Weehawken, N.J., ’56), 38:33; 216. Emily Trautmann (Columbia, N.J., ’59), 38:33; 217. Gail Markiewicz (AM ’65), 38:50; 218. Tom Markiewicz (AM ’69), 38:51; 219. Shelley Dall (NR ’01), 39:22; 220. Jennifer Markiewicz Wagman (Potomac, Va., ’92), 41:21; 221. Matthew Wagman (Sachem ’93), 41:25; 222. Markiewicz (CS ’78), 41:43; 223. Steven Redner (Suf ’96), 42:12.