Massapequa Road Runners Host 30th Annual Firecracker 5K Run

The purpose of the gathering was a competitive race, but the atmosphere was distinctly family-oriented as 656 runners, along with their friends, relatives and an army of volunteers converged on Brady Park Sunday night for the 30^th Annual Firecracker 5K Run hosted by the Massapequa Road Runners.

Although the air was heavy with humidity, the sun was shining and there was a great energy at the corner of Park and Clark Boulevards as Mayor James Altadonna blew the whistle at 5:00pm sharp to start the race. The runners followed a 5K (3.1-mile) course, going north on Park Blvd., then left on Walker Street, into the Preserve and south on the bike path. Cutting back onto Clark Blvd., they then ran down Lake Shore Drive to the finish at Brady Park.

Crossing the finish line, runners grabbed bottles of water and ice cold hand towels, then met up with family, friends and fellow racers who were relaxing in the late afternoon shade. Participants and their guests were treated to snacks and drinks, while cotton candy and popcorn machines, as well as a clown doing face painting added a warm feel to the event.

Awards were given to the top male and female finishers overall, as well as the top finishing Massapequa Park residents. Eighteen year old Joseph Grieco from Massapequa was the top men's finisher, coming in with a time of 16 minutes, 38 seconds. Jake Macavoy, 15, was the top male finisher from Massapequa Park, finishing in 18 minutes, 55 seconds. On the women's side, Kelly Kramer, a 19-year old Massapequa Park resident took first place both as a resident and overall, with a time of 19 minutes, 52 seconds.

Although no course time records were broken this year, Race Director Alex Flyntz noted a statistic that he thinks may well be a record. "We had 11 male entrants 80 years of age or older," he boasted, "including our oldest participant, Bill Benson, who is 91 years old." Mr. Benson received a plaque as winner of the 90 and over group. The oldest female runner was Marge Smith, 72, of Central Islip. The female age 70-74 category was won by Joan Ackerman, 70, of Farmingdale.

On the other end of the spectrum, in the 9 and under group, the youngest male entrant was 6-year old George Maidhof from Smithtown. On the female side were two 7-year olds - Madeline Stanley from Massapequa Park and Adriana Kamor from Massapequa.

One unique category in the Firecracker is the Lift 'n Run Competition, in which runners bench press a percentage of their body weight based on age and sex prior to the race. Each lift deducts 20 seconds off their 5K time. This event draws a small but loyal following, among them Jericho resident Lowell Citron, "This is my 5^th year coming back here," he says with a broad grin. The 41-year old Jericho resident finished in 23 minutes, 55 seconds.

But loyalty to this event goes well beyond Long Island residents. "We have entrants returning year after year from as far away as Buffalo, Maryland and Delaware," says Mr. Flyntz, a member and past president of the Massapequa Road Runners who has run the Firecracker 5K for 20 years.

For Massapequa Park Trustee Teresa Spinosa, on hand to present the awards to the top Massapequa Park finishers, it's the perfect blend of competition and community. "It's my eighth year at the Firecracker 5K Run," she says, "and I am still walking around the park thinking how nice it is to have so many participants, and to see the camaraderie as they cheer each other on."

Find the category winners or get complete race results with times for the 30^th Annual Firecracker 5K Run. Visit Massapequa Road Runners for membership information.