By Diane Hasili
While it felt like a party with a great energy, good music, and a festive atmosphere, it was actually the 7th annual ETS Firecracker 5K Race/Walk. A passing rain just hours before ushered in cooler temperatures and a partly cloudy sky making for better than expected race conditions.
Nearly 600 runners and walkers ranging in age from 5 to 81 participated in the USA Track and Field (USATF) sanctioned event Tuesday evening, June 21.
Christine Colosimo, YWCA Dance Director, led participants in a pre-race warm up to the vibrant music of Sound Choice DJs as calves were stretched and spines elongated in anticipation of the race. Even the youngest were focused on ensuring their bodies were limber and race ready.
Kurt Landgraf, ETS’ President and Chief Executive Officer, popped the starter’s gun as participants dashed across the start line seeking good times and breaking personal records. The race route wove its way through ETS’ campus with the water stations being a welcome sight.
“The smiles at the finish line said it all,” proclaimed Diane Hasili, YWCA’s spokesperson. “It was a good race for a good cause that keeps getting bigger and better each year. Participants came from near and far with one mother-son team participating for the fifth year taking a train from Long Island and another from Penn Station to participate. They look forward to the event and promised to be back next year.”
Proceeds help fund the YWCA Princeton’s Bilingual Nursery School. With a large multi-cultural community that attracts families from all over the world, the Bilingual Nursery School prepares young, immigrant children with English language skills ensuring they start kindergarten on par with their peers. Last year, the YWCA Princeton provided over $500,000 in scholarships and financial assistance to children, families and seniors that needed YWCA services but could not afford them.
After the race, participants were treated to refreshments and sandwiches as the awards were presented to the top finishers by the event chair, Michelle Everman, and committee member, Jerry Fennelly.
Taking the top three finishing spots for men were G. Casanova Alig of Princeton with a time of 17:32.53, Gilles Merckx of Pennington with a time of 17:47.91, and Scott Mccann of Lawrenceville with a time of 18:32.01.
The top three finishing women were Elyssa Gensib of Princeton with a time of 18:36.45, Megan Griffith of Lawrenceville with a time of 19:40.70, and Jennifer Davis of Princeton with a time of 21:12.90.
Taking the top team spot was Tyco, followed by ETS, The Mercadien Group, New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Group, and Nelligan Sports Marketing. A complete list of individual and team scores and results can be viewed at www.ywcaprinceton.org and at www.compuscore.com.
