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Called the “Biggest Little Race in Central New York,” a gathering of 192 runners turned out Saturday morning for the 15th annual running of Herkimer’s five-kilometer D.A.R.E. Run.
The pace for the race was set by Kane Seamon, of Richfield Springs, who completed the loop from North Main Street to Herkimer County Community College and back through Brookwood Park and along German Street in 17:02, one minute and seven seconds faster than runner-up Kelsey Barra, of Newport. Paul Humphrey, of Deerfield, Jackie Kosakowski, of Sauquoit, and Nicholas Ashton, of Whitesboro, rounded out the top five finishers with Joseph Mashaw, of Marcy, Ryan Turner, of Herkimer, Christian Whalen, of Newport, Jason Alexander, of Herkimer, and Kyle Turner, of Herkimer, placing sixth through tenth. Kosakowski’s first-place women’s time was 18:43. Michelle Nizzi, of Frankfort, was the women’s runner-up in 21:09.
“It’s the runners and volunteers who make this event special,” said Herkimer police officer and D.A.R.E. coordinator Anthony Brindisi. “All of the credit belongs to them.”
Brindisi first took the reins of the Herkimer Police Department’s D.A.R.E. program eight years ago, only to discover that it also meant coordinating the road race.
“I had never done anything like it before, and quite frankly, I was a little overwhelmed by it all,” he said prior to the race, adding that teamwork is what makes the race a success each year. “A lot of times with events like this, the people who should get the credit, don’t get the credit.”
Brindisi said his fellow police officers fill in the gaps when he is busy “doing about a thousand things at once” as the race draws near. He said a group of “behind the scenes” people work to put the race together, and that more than 50 volunteers do everything from pass out water to the runners to prepare food for the post-race party. “These are the people that make everything happen,” he said. “And they need to know the program would not be a success without them. This race would not be possible without the great volunteers and the support of the community.”
Without any tax revenues to fund the materials and time commitments of police officers, the Herkimer D.A.R.E. program is funded primarily by community donations. The annual run, said Brindisi, has become one of the main fundraisers for the program that takes the “Just say no” message to students in the Herkimer Central School District and at St. Francis de Sales Regional Catholic School.
This year, runners had their entry fee waived and received a special pin if they secured $100 in pledges from businesses, individuals or organizations in the memory of Anthony Enea.
Runners competed for $250 cash prizes to the winners and age group trophies.
Telegram Staff Writer David Robinson contributed to this article.
Called the “Biggest Little Race in Central New York,” a gathering of 192 runners turned out Saturday morning for the 15th annual running of Herkimer’s five-kilometer D.A.R.E. Run.
The pace for the race was set by Kane Seamon, of Richfield Springs, who completed the loop from North Main Street to Herkimer County Community College and back through Brookwood Park and along German Street in 17:02, one minute and seven seconds faster than runner-up Kelsey Barra, of Newport. Paul Humphrey, of Deerfield, Jackie Kosakowski, of Sauquoit, and Nicholas Ashton, of Whitesboro, rounded out the top five finishers with Joseph Mashaw, of Marcy, Ryan Turner, of Herkimer, Christian Whalen, of Newport, Jason Alexander, of Herkimer, and Kyle Turner, of Herkimer, placing sixth through tenth. Kosakowski’s first-place women’s time was 18:43. Michelle Nizzi, of Frankfort, was the women’s runner-up in 21:09.
“It’s the runners and volunteers who make this event special,” said Herkimer police officer and D.A.R.E. coordinator Anthony Brindisi. “All of the credit belongs to them.”
Brindisi first took the reins of the Herkimer Police Department’s D.A.R.E. program eight years ago, only to discover that it also meant coordinating the road race.
“I had never done anything like it before, and quite frankly, I was a little overwhelmed by it all,” he said prior to the race, adding that teamwork is what makes the race a success each year. “A lot of times with events like this, the people who should get the credit, don’t get the credit.”
Brindisi said his fellow police officers fill in the gaps when he is busy “doing about a thousand things at once” as the race draws near. He said a group of “behind the scenes” people work to put the race together, and that more than 50 volunteers do everything from pass out water to the runners to prepare food for the post-race party. “These are the people that make everything happen,” he said. “And they need to know the program would not be a success without them. This race would not be possible without the great volunteers and the support of the community.”
Without any tax revenues to fund the materials and time commitments of police officers, the Herkimer D.A.R.E. program is funded primarily by community donations. The annual run, said Brindisi, has become one of the main fundraisers for the program that takes the “Just say no” message to students in the Herkimer Central School District and at St. Francis de Sales Regional Catholic School.
This year, runners had their entry fee waived and received a special pin if they secured $100 in pledges from businesses, individuals or organizations in the memory of Anthony Enea.
Runners competed for $250 cash prizes to the winners and age group trophies.
Telegram Staff Writer David Robinson contributed to this article.
