NYRR Club Night 2009

The marquee of the Hard Rock Café in Times Square gave Club Night the attention it deserved.

The cocktail reception was an opportunity for runners and fans to mingle in a relaxed setting.

Runner of the Year nominees could be identified by elegant silver-and-black medals.

It’s always a pleasure to see running friends dressed in something other than a singlet and shorts.

Members of the Korean Road Runners Club (KRRC) posed for a group shot…

…as did the Mercury Masters (MERM), a team for women 50 and over.

The Hard Rock Café was a fun venue for this celebratory evening.

Among the attendees were George Hirsch, chairman of NYRR’s board of directors, and his wife, Shay.

Age 12-14 nominee Shannon Quinn attended with her proud parents.

Video monitors showed scenes from NYRR races throughout 2008.

Fit, fast runners looked great in their evening clothes.

The audience moved toward the stage for the awards presentations.

The 60+ women’s team award was shared by MERM…

…and the Millrose Athletic Association (MILL).

NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg posed with KRRC, the top 60+ men’s team.

The 50+ team awards were won by the Nike Central Park Track Club (CPTC) women…

…and men.

Running Divas New York (RDNY) took 40+ women’s team honors…

…and the Warren Street Social & Athletic Club (WSSAC) were the 40+ men’s team winners.

In the open men’s B division, the New York Flyers were #1.

Among women’s open teams, RDNY was third…

…CPTC, second…

…and the New York Athletic Club (NYAC), first.

The Greater New York Racing Team took third place among men’s open A teams...

…CPTC placed second…

…and West Side Runners (WSX) was first.

Achilles Track Club vice president Mary Bryant (center) presented the Achilles Athletes of the Year Awards to Ben Simmons (right) and Karen Lewis, whose award was accepted by a friend.

NYRR Foundation executive director Cliff Sperber presented the NYRR Foundation Awards to Jalal Alassari (left) and Josephine Garcia.

Co-host Bart Yasso of Runner’s World presented the women’s 12-14 Runner of the Year award to Shannon Quinn.

David Mann received the men’s 12-14 award from co-host Heidi Jones, the weekend meteorologist for ABC 7.

Kaitlyn Dibello was the women’s 15-19 winner.

Carlos David Roa of WSX won the men’s 15-19 award.

Buzunesh Deba of the Westchester Track Club (WTC) took women’s 20-29 honors…

…and her teammate Genna Tufa was the men’s 20-29 winner.

The men’s 30-39 winner was John Henwood of NYAC. The women’s 30-39 winner, Maria Lucia Alves Veira of WSX, could not attend.

Paul Thompson of WSSAC won the men’s 40-44 award. The women’s 40-44 winner, Eileen Patrick of the adidas East Women’s Racing Team, could not attend.

Zofia Wieciorkowska of WSSAC took top women’s 45-49 honors; Piotr Karasiewicz of the Polish Runners Club, the men’s 45-49 winner, could not attend.

Sharon Vos won the women’s 50-54 division.

Greg Diamond of Taconic Road Runners (TRR) received the men’s 50-54 award.

The women’s 55-59 winner was Kathryn Martin of the Northport Running Club.

Yasuhiro Makoshi of CPTC won the men’s 55-59 division.

KRRC’s Sang Lee received the men’s 60-64 award. The women’s 60-64 winner, Sylvie Kimché of CPTC, could not attend.

In the women’s 65-69 division, Susanna Beltrandi took top honors.

There were two men’s 65-69 winners: Thomas Maile of TRR (center) and Samuel Skinner.

Ginette Bedard won the women’s 70-74 division.

Witold Bialokur of Witold’s Runners was the men’s 70-74 top dog.

Carlo Digiorgio of Amazing Feed took top men’s 75-79 honors. The women’s 75-79 winner, Bertha McGruder, could not attend.

Joan Rowland of MERM won the women’s 80+ title.

Sab Koide of MILL was the men’s 80+ winner.

The Fred Lebow Runners of the Year were Aziza Aliyu of WTC…

…and Worku Beyi, also of WTC. Congratulations to these two outstanding athletes—and to all our honorees this year!