WI Graduate Wins Elizabeth T. McNamee Run

West Islip High School graduate Joseph Clark was home from the University of Connecticut, where he attends college, for the summer so he figured why not run in the Elizabeth T. McNamee 5K run and support a good cause.

Among runners, the 20-year-old Clark finished the 3.1 miles in 15:40. "I enjoy running and it's definitely a good cause," said Clark, an 2008 graduate of West Islip High School.

Clark ran track and cross country while he was a student at West Islip High School and currently runs at the University of Connecticut. 

Clark wasn't the first participant to cross the finish line. That distinction belonged to 15-year-old Adam Cruz of Brentwood, a wheelchair racer who finished in 14:23. "He's been participating since he was 5. We know the [McNamee] family now. They're nice people," said Kenneth Cruz, Adam's father. 

Other top finishers from West Islip included Michael Schab (17:05), Brian Doxey (17:36), William Fanning (17:57), James Weydig (18:54) and George P. Roach (19:52), For females, 13-year-old Chrissy Regan finished in 24:02; 15-year-old Holly Mascolo finished in 24:55; 23-year-old Tara Tanoff finished in 25:36; 56-year-old Linda Berquist finished in 26:34; 64-year-old Irene Robinson finished in 26:36 and 65-year-old Mary Kopke finished in 35:46.

Emily Brust, 13, of Mastic, was another wheelchair competitor. She finished in 25:37.

Proceeds from the Elizabeth T. McNamee 5K run go towards supporting local charities.