Sports
Westchester Running Festival Showcases Area's Endurance Athletes
A New Rochelle man took first place in the men's half marathon.
It felt more like a May morning than an October morning, but there were no complaints about the weather Sunday morning as hundreds of area runners gathered along with supporters and exhibitors for the Westchester Medical Center Running Festival.
“It was a beautiful day for running,” said Keith Schuman of Larchmont, who competed in the half marathon.
Held in the parking lot directly across from Westchester County Center in White Plains, the event featured a half marathon (13.1 miles) and a quarter marathon (6.55 miles), as well as a half marathon for walkers and a Kids Fun Run. The course was the Bronx River Parkway, which was closed from the County Center to the Sprain Brook Parkway.
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Schuman is a member of New Ro Runners, a New Rochelle-based organization with members from throughout central and southern Westchester, including White Plains. He hadn’t participated in such a long race in several years, he said, though he added that the half marathon and the Bronx River Parkway course are a great way to prepare for full marathons and other events.
Sunday’s festival was the seventh annual event in White Plains. Westchester Medical Center was the title sponsor of the event, and Zachys Wine and Liquor was the presenting sponsor.
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White Plains residents made a strong showing in the final results. Among the men in the half marathon, Christopher Sweeting, 33, finished first in the 30 to 39 age group and sixth overall, with a time of 1:26:33, less than five minutes behind the first-place finisher, Russel Cruz, 46, of New Rochelle.
In the quarter marathon, Matthew Callahan, 26, of White Plains, finished second in his age group, and Lowell Chapnick, 51, also of White Plains, finished third in his age group. White Plains resident Toran Sheftick, 31, finished third overall, with a time of 42:25.
Among the women in the half marathon, Heather Regan, 62, of White Plains finished second in her age group, with a time of 2:04:04.
In the quarter marathon, Katie Betz, 26, of White Plains, finished second overall with a time of 49:32, only 37 seconds behind Susan Branche, 53, of Scarsdale. Kathy Cripps, 60, of White Plains finished first in her age group, with a time of 52:40.
Genesis Adventures served as the event’s organizer and timekeeper. For full results, visit genesisadventures.com.
