Rising to the Challenge
CPTC’s Carl Dambkowski and Aileen Conlon win Colon Cancer Challenge 15K
New York, March 9, 2008—While accepting kudos as the winners of the New York Colon Cancer Challenge 15K today in Central Park, Carl Dambkowski and Aileen Conlon also were quick to acknowledge the role their Nike Central Park Track Club teammates played in getting them across the finish line first.
Dambkowski, who cruised to victory in 48:39, is a native Californian who has been in the New York area for only 1 1/2 years. Running well despite temperatures in the low 40s and strong winds in Central Park does not come easily to him.
“That’s where it helps to have really great teammates,” said Dambkowski, who took command at the 4.5-mile mark. “I don’t exactly love running in the winter. But I’ve done a lot of tempo runs in the park this winter with John Roberts and Geoff Decker. We just bundle up and come out here.”
For Conlon, the biggest challenge for Conlon wasn’t the weather, it was the distance. “I haven’t run longer than a 10K in quite some time,” said Conlon, who prefers to run indoor races, from the mile to the 3K.
Benefiting from the advice and support of teammate Lauren Gustafson, Conlon surged ahead with four miles to go and won in 55:19. Gustafson finished second, in 55:27.
“Lauren runs longer races—marathons and half-marathons,” Conlon said. “She was great to work with. Lauren and I talked about pacing ourselves, not going out too fast. I tend to go out a little on the fast side. So before the race, I said, okay, this is 9.3 miles. I can’t go out too fast and blow up.”
Instead, Conlon and her teammates blew away the field. CPTC women grabbed the first five spots. Lauren Esposito placed third in 56:07, ahead of Sarah Alaei (56:23) and Felice Kelly (56:44). Megan Guiney of the New York Athletic Club was the first non-CPTC female finisher—sixth in 57:28.
The fifth annual New York Colon Cancer Challenge was the first NYRR team points race of 2008 because snow turned the Al Gordon Snowflake 4M on February 23 into a fun run.
Dambkowski won by 38 seconds over Brendan Callahan of Brooklyn Road Runners Club. Decker of CPTC placed third in 49:27, six seconds ahead of Joseph McElhoney, who is unattached. Jacek Boral of the Polish Runners Club finished fifth in 49:39.
“I don’t ever expect to win when I come into a race,” Dambkowski said. “You never know who else is going to be in the race, or what the pace is going to be. I was fortunate to be up with the leaders at the right time and feel good when I made a move.”
Runners turned out in droves to take part in a competitive race that also benefits a worthy cause. The Colon Cancer Challenge (which also included a 4-mile race and a 1.7-mile Remembrance & Prevention Walk, promotes colon cancer awareness, prevention, advocacy, and research.
Some dedicated their race to loved ones who have either survived or succumbed to cancer. Adrian and Joseph Longo, a father and son from Hellgate Road Runners in Queens, crossed the 15K finish line hand-in-hand, each with an arm raised in triumph.
“I dedicated this race to a friend, Morgan Lacey, who died of cancer three days before Christmas 2007 at the age of 62,” Adrian Longo said. Joseph Longo said he ran in honor of a friend named Vanessa, who died of cancer at age 20 last year.
All proceeds from the event directly support the Partners in Prevention mission as well as initiatives in metropolitan New York. The mission includes supporting efforts to provide colorectal screening for the uninsured.
