NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix Presented by Continental Airlines: Queens

September 20, 2009 [Video] [Results]

Runners competed in a 13.1-mile test of endurance and determination in Queens on Sunday as part of the NYRR Grand Prix series. Some participants ran their fourth half-marathon in the 2009 five-borough series, and others tested their fitness for a fall marathon. More than 5,000 folks conquered the Queens course for a variety of reasons, and as you can see, they had a blast.
It was dark and cool at dawn near the Poppenhusen Avenue start.	Friends and training partners met up to fend off pre-race jitters together.	Race volunteers were up bright and early to prepare the course for the runners.	Participants like Hischam Hafez of Weehawken, NJ, had extra motivation.
Racers took off at 7:00 a.m. with a few local men in the lead.	Spectators lined the course to cheer for people they knew and others they thought needed a boost.	This straightaway gave runners a chance to see their competition and make a break.	The tree-lined streets provided a scenic view to keep runners in a good frame of mind.
The half-marathoners enjoyed a full tour of Queens, passing the Bronx Whitestone Bridge.	There was no shortage of multi-million dollar homes to admire en route.	Side by side, runners helped one another keep up the pace.	Mary Brown of Jackson Heights wasn’t afraid to show her Queens pride!
Hector Rivera of the New York Athletic Club broke the tape in 1:10:51.	New York’s Veronica Clemens won the women’s race in 1:26:55.	Runners forged through the final miles to get the rush of finishing.	Laura Miles-Hobeika of the Greater New York Racing Team was the sixth female finisher in 1:29:52.
Rego Park’s Pedro Benitez kept up an 8:09 pace to finish in 1:32:53.	Darlene Gou of Brooklyn was psyched to run the half-marathon in just over two hours.	This team of NYRR racers enjoyed the company of friends and the nourishment of bagels after the race.