Club Night 2008

[Club Night]

Kathy McIntyre and Pete Squires, the first-ever NYRR Runners of the Year, in 1980, returned to Club Night in 2008 as part of NYRR’s year-long 50th anniversary celebration.	(l-r) Age 65-69 Runner of the Year winner Tom Maile, age 40-44 nominee Laura DiMarino, age 70-74 nominee Al Finger, Greater New York Racing Team coach Bob Glover, and age 60-64 winner Julio Aguirre enjoy the reception.	The NYPD’s assistant chief of operations, Harry Wedin (left), and other representatives of New York’s Finest attended Club Night to accept the Ted Corbitt Award for Dedication to Running in New York City.	NYRR board of directors chairman George Hirsch (left) and secretary Mike Frankfurt welcomed the opportunity to salute the past, present, and future of New York City running.
The determination and accomplishments of women’s running pioneer Nina Kuscsik opened doors for female runners everywhere. Kuscsik holds a Club Night program featuring a photo of the lead runners in the 1979 NYRR Women’s Half-Marathon.	Co-hosts Ian Brooks of NYRR and Heidi Jones of WABC Channel 7 set a lively pace for an awards ceremony that recognized dozens of athletes, teams, and other contributors to NYC running.	NYRR Foundation executive director Cliff Sperber presented the NYRR Foundation Awards to Tyto Moore and Shamel Victoria of PS/MS 15 in the Bronx. The youngsters “represent all that is good about running,” said Sperber.	The 50th Anniversary Champions’ Circle includes (l-r) Toshi D’Elia, Anna Thornhill, Witold Bialokur, Gillian Horovitz, and Gordon Bakoulis. Champions John McManus, Max Popper, and Althea Wetherbee are deceased, and Bill Fortune was unable to attend.
Hirsch and NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg presented the 2008 President’s Award to D’Elia, who has won 25 NYRR Runner of the Year awards and was the first woman over age 50 to run a sub-3:00 marathon.	For the second year in a row, Demesse Tefera of the Westchester Track Club was the Fred Lebow Runner of the Year. The female winner, Tefera’s WTC teammate Alemtsehay Misganaw, was out of the country and unable to attend.	Celebrants, more accustomed to seeing each other in singlets and shorts than tuxedos and evening dresses, got in touch with their inner Fred-and-Ginger on the dance floor.	Let’s party! As always, Club Night was a chance for runners of all ages and fitness levels to get a different kind of aerobic workout.
Age 20-29 Runner of the Year nominee Elmustafa McHkirate lets loose.	There probably wasn’t a fitter and trimmer group of revelers anywhere in Manhattan on March 6!	For once happy to follow rather than lead, friends and friendly rivals moved to the music.	Hey, isn’t it past your bedtime, little guy? Dad promises an extra loop around Central Park in the running stroller tomorrow morning.
Age 70-74 Runner of the Year and world-class marathoner Ginette Bedard has her own definition of acting her age—one that we could all learn to emulate.	Joan Rowland won the Runner of the Year Award for age 80+, and has no plans to slow down.	Achilles Athlete of the Year Daniel Trush suffered a near-fatal brain aneurysm 10 years ago at age 12. Last year he completed the ING New York City Marathon in 7:46:12.	Here’s to another great year of running!