Sports Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, September 2, 2010
Altamont 5K gets best turnout ever, could have been best weather ever for event
By Jordan J. Michael
ALTAMONT –– The sun was in full force for the record number 363 participants of the 13th Annual Altamont 5K on Saturday. It was a worry-free day for an event that usually gets hit by unfortunate weather.
“There were no complaints,” said race director Phil Carducci, who lives in the village. “It might have been the best day we’ve ever had.”
With the temperature sitting in the mid-60s, runners were able to cruise through the course without getting overheated. The 3.1-mile race began and ended at Bozenkill Park after winding through the village.
“Everyone got through it without getting too tired,” Carducci said. “We even got compliments on the course.”
With last year’s winner not in attendance, Chuck Terry, 28, of Albany, won the race and beat the Bozenkill course record by 21 seconds with a time of 15:30. Dan Haggerty, also of Albany, came in second at 15:50. Altamont resident Gedred Burns had a time of 16:40 for third place.
The race used to be held at the fairgrounds and the overall record of 15:13 was posted there in 1999.
Previously, people had mentioned to Carducci that the new course “wouldn’t break 16 minutes.”
“I think we put that theory to bed,” he said.
On the women’s side, Courtney Tedeschi, 15, of Westerlo, won for the second straight year with a time of 18:40, good enough for 15th place overall. Tedeschi finished this year’s race about a minute faster than last.
Carducci thinks that the absence of Sarah Domermuth, a past winner from the Hilltowns, contributed to Tedeschi’s faster time. “She took off because she had no one to talk to this time,” said Carducci.
“She works super hard and has a fantastic attitude,” said Tedeschi’s cross-country coach at Berne-Knox-Westerlo, Bill Tindale. He went on about Tedeschi, who is a sophomore, “She’ll keep getter better and better. Her finish at this race is impressive because we haven’t even started speed training. She just does this on her own.”
Tedeschi was the only woman that placed in the top 40. Diana Tobon-Knobloch, of Albany, and Jolie Siegel, of Voorheesville, came in 41st and 42nd respectively with times of 20:57 and 21:00.
“We usually have more women towards the top,” said Carducci. “But, the men really came on strong this time.”
Carducci said that even the older men were putting down “insane” times on Saturday. Bill Babcock, 60, of Amsterdam, finished in 19:55. “There were a lot of fast times,” Carducci said.
The John Dornbush Volunteer Award was given to the Kuon family. Dornbush, a top volunteer and Carducci’s “right hand man,” passed away last year from cancer.
During the race, the raffle awarded 100 different prizes –– New York Mets tickets, an autographed New Jersey Devils hockey puck, and a framed Eli Manning poster.
Funds raised by the event this year went to the Altamont Food Pantry.
“All these people come for the prizes,” said Carducci.
Here is the list of local finishers for the 13th Annual Altamont 5K: