A Lot of Smiles But Only One Mile

It wasn't a marathon or a 10K, but it was a challenge that brought out runners of all types.

Runners laced up their shoes and spectators lined the street for the 17^th annual Merchants Mile in Massapequa Park Saturday morning.

The race brought out about 200 runners to Park Boulevard, which was shut down for the runners. Entrants ranged in age from 9 to 91.

There were competitors in four categories; The Male Masters, All Women, Open Male, and the Kiddie Quarter.

Catalina Santiago said her 14 year old son loves  short races because they are nothing compared to the 14k's he's used to running.

But Kurt Laforest begged to differ. A lifelong runner, he's trained for many races and marathons but said, "The mile is the most challenging, it's more intense than any other."

Laforest, whose preperation consisted of lots of speed work and conditioning at the track, admitted he enjoys the novelty of the event.

"It's fun, there aren't a lot of other races that are just a mile long,"  he said..

One racer claimed he had a strategy that's "Worked for many years."

"You have to look at it in four parts," he said.

"Don't get too excited and sprint away from the starting line, save your energy and just keep a pace that you're comfortable with."

He went on to say that runners should stop passing you in the second quarter of the race and that you should increase speed in the third quarter.

His strategy for the the fourth quarter?

"That's when it's time to make it hurt,"he said.

Domenick Dematteo, 18, however, did not look like he was hurting at all when he crossed the finish line with the fastest overall time of 4:22.

Lianne Farber, 18,  was the fastest woman coming in at 5:09. William Zink and Susann Cuccia took first in the male and female masters. Awards were also given to age group winners.

The Merchants mile was sanctioned by the USA Track and Field and followed national and international track and field regulations.