New York Colon Cancer Challenge - Local Gallery

Some of the area’s top athletes, including these West Side Runners teammates, were on hand for the New York Colon Cancer Challenge. WSX place third among open men’s teams.

The women of the Nike Central Park Track Club captured the top five places to easily capture the women’s open team title.

The men of Urban Athletics finished fifth in the open division and fourth among masters teams. The event benefited colon cancer awareness, prevention, advocacy, and research.

They’re off! The race took place under sunny, though cold and windy conditions. It was the first NYRR team points race of 2008.

CPTC’s Carl Dambkowski was the overall men’s winner in a speedy 48:39, and led his team to a men’s open-division victory.

Brandan Callahan placed second overall in 49:17; he represents the Brooklyn Road Runners Club, whose open men finished sixth.

Geoff Decker, Dambkowski’s CPTC teammate, rounded out the podium finishers with his 49:27 clocking.

Jorge Pardo of Urban Athletics finished sixth overall in 49:54.

CPTC’s John Roberts followed Pardo; his time was 50:04.

Chris Ellis-Ferrara of the New York Athletic Club was ninth overall in 50:41, leading NYAC’s open men’s team to a fourth-place finish.

Brenton Wheatley of Warren Street Social & Athletic Club recorded a time of 52:27; WS was the second open’s men team.

Hernan Lopez of the Hoboken Harriers traveled from New Jersey to Central Park and completed the Challenge in 58:57.

On the women’s side, Aileen Conlon of CPTC stepped up in distance and ran to victory in 55:19. She has been concentrating on the indoor track this winter.

Lauren Esposito, also of CPTC, nabbed third; her time was 56:07.

The fifth-place runner, Felice Kelly, also represented CPTC (as did Sarah Alaei, who finished fourth), giving this women’s open team a commanding victory.

Jill Vollweiler, who will turn 40 in July, finished seventh (57:39) and first among the women of the Westchester Track Club, which did not field a scoring team.

Jennifer Busse of CPTC was ninth in 57:57.

Gretchen Grindle of NYAC finished 10th in 58:03. She has qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Women’s Marathon, which will be run in Boston on April 20.

Katie Casto of Nixon’s Vixens was 17th in 59:44. The 15K field totaled 3,281.

An accompanying 4-mile race, though not a club points competition, still featured some fast running at the front.

Worku Beyi of WTC, the 2007 NYRR age 20-29 Runner of the Year, won in 20:37—in windpants!

Beyi’s WTC teammate Genna Tufa followed just one second behind.

Collette Kavanagh of Long Beach broke the tape in the women’s 4-mile in 24:58. There were 2,803 finishers.