Congratulations to Shari Klarfeld of Plainview, who closed out her successful 2014 racing season by taking top honors among the women in the 27th annual Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt Ho Ho Ho Holiday 5 Kilometer Run through the streets of Bethpage on Dec. 20. Klarfeld crossed the finish line at the John F. Kennedy Middle School in 18 minutes, 36 seconds.
An impressive 1,166 athletes enjoyed the new fast, flat, one-loop course, which was pretty much unanimously acclaimed as a big improvement over the old two-loop course. The course was redesigned in part in the belief that it would alleviate the inconvenience to local residents between the Middle School and Burkhardt Avenue.
The run was coordinated by the Greater Long Island Running Club (GLIRC), with Ric DiVeglio serving once again as the director of the event.
Other local athletes winning awards in the Ho Ho Ho Run included Scott Solomon of Plainview, first finisher in the Clydesdale 185-189 Weight Division with a time of 19 minutes, 39 seconds, and Christian Schiavone of Plainview, who earned the third place award in the 11-14 age group with a time of 20 minutes, 22 seconds.
“We very much appreciate the continuing support of Nassau County Legislator Rose Marie Walker,” said DiVeglio. “Rose almost never misses one of our events in the Town of Oyster Bay, and she was on hand to send the Fun Run youngsters on their way this year. Thank you Rose!”
Proceeds of the run will once again be turned over to the Dominican Sisters in support of The Opening Word, an education program that enables poor and uneducated Long island immigrant women the tools they need to become productive members of society. Thanks to the generosity of race participants, more than 1,000 toys were collected for distribution to needy Long Island children by the John Theissen Foundation.
