On Saturday, March 19, more than 540 runners, including those from the Roslyn area, participated in The Run for Tomorrow’s Hope, hosted by St Joseph School in Garden City. The event, which has grown from the 350 runners who participated last year, is a USATF sanctioned event featuring chipped timing for the serious runners, and a one mile fun run for children and recreational runners. The event is organized as a benefit for the Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation, the Long Island-based charitable organization that provides tuition assistance for families of children wishing to attend a Long Island Catholic Elementary School.
Runners competed on a flat and fast 5K course through the tree lined streets of Garden City. The 5K course was in great shape and was brilliantly run by 12-year-old Lauryn Heskin of Floral Park who set a world record with a blistering time of 17:37.3. Lauryn’s record time also made her the top female finisher with Cecilia Winthrop, 16, taking second with a time of 20:17.6 and 15-year-old Chiara Cinquemani, from Flushing, finishing third with a time of 20:47.7. Overall top finisher Patrick White, 17, from Amityville, set a course record of 16:33.9 and was followed across the finish line by Jay Barry, 37, from Manhasset, in second at 16:36.6. Ryan Heskin, 15, from Floral Park came in third with a time of 17:11.7. The Island’s Catholic high schools were well represented with runners from Kellenberg, St Mary’s, Chaminade, Our Lady of Mercy Academy, St Francis Prep, and Sacred Heart Academy all participating.
A post race festival followed and over $26,000 was raised.
