NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix Presented by Continental Airlines: Staten Island

October 11, 2009 [Video] [Results]

This race, which completed the 2009 five-borough half-marathon tour, was run on a cold, clear morning. Nearly 4,000 runners finished the 13.1-mile race, which began in St. George and traced the coast of Staten Island past Fort Wadsworth and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, putting many of the runners in mind of the upcoming ING New York City Marathon on November 1.

Runners warmed up in a picturesque setting along the St. George Esplanade.	Volunteers were out early, but still cheerful, on a 48-degree morning.	At 8:30 a.m., the race was on for thousands of competitors.	Staten Island local William Vega was at peace with the cool-weather conditions…
…and Munteng Sarah Chang was doubly so, and prepared to phone home about it.	Calvin Connor of the NYPD took third in his 45-49 age group in a time of 1:21:43.	Laura Fenton of Brooklyn made 8:08-per-mile pace look easy.	Roger Dumadag of Jersey City, NJ, was fully equipped for his 13.1-mile journey.
David Edward Smith (#1350) and Jean-Cosme Delaloye cruised past Fort Wadsworth.	Runners using the race as preparation for the ING New York City Marathon could contemplate their November 1 starting line.	Jorge Eliecer Real of the West Side Runners won by well over two minutes in 1:10:04…	…and Madeleine Zolfo of Treasure Island, FL, won by nearly five minutes in 1:23:46.
David Wagner, the first firefighter to finish, won the Vic Navarra Award. Navarra, a Staten Islander, firefighter, and longtime New York City Marathon start coordinator, passed away in 2007.	Cheering spectators, some of them recent finishers, lined the last 100 meters of the course…	…and Miguel Angel Alvarez of East Elmhurst, NY (#16), responded with a big finish.	Pamela Sheridan of New York, NY, had Halloween on her mind (and pumpkins on her head).
The sense of accomplishment was clear on the faces of (L to R) Frieda Blades, John Grant, and Annette Grant. John won the 65-69 age group in 1:32:40.	Bianca and Gaetano Messina were very closely matched in their post-race apple-eating contest.	Kevin Considine (#4066) and Sean Perkins finished together in 1:51.	Many finishers paused for reflection at the beautiful September 11 Memorial, which is engraved with the names of Staten Island residents lost on 9/11.