Paramus High School Graduate Wins Paramus Run

A Paramus resident won the Marty Roemer Memorial 10-kilometer run Sunday, the first time a Borough resident has taken the race in more than a decade.

Andrew Capizzi, 22, finished with a time of 32:28.81.

Capizzi wore his old singlet as he bounded across the finish line. Despite his home field advantage, the 2007 Paramus High School graduate said the course presented some challenges.

"It's fun," he said. "Got surprised by some hills in there."

The Marty Roemer Memorial Run was only the first part of the 33rd annual Terri Roemer Paramus Run. Hundreds of runners took part in the event, which has raised more than $500,000 for Paramus scholarships over its more than three-decade-long history.

The race always draws a core group of runners, including Misa Tamura, a Ridgewood resident who was the first woman to finish the 10k both this year and last year. The 46-year-old finished in 39 minutes and 42 seconds on a mild fall day.

A Ridgefield Park resident, 16-year-old Stephen Pena, was the winner of the 5k. Pena said residents of Chelsea Street and Burnet Place along the course cheered him to a strong finish.

Bruce Weber, who helped promote the run, said the course, which runs around and into neighborhoods south of Midland Avenue, is one of the biggest draws. 

"It's a beautiful course," Weber said. "It runs through beautiful neighborhoods."

After all the races were finished, Weber and race director Michael Roemer raffled off a host of prizes donated by sponsors like , , and others.

"It's nice to see," Roemer said. "It's just nice to see local people involved."