Winners of NHP-Mineola race reflect on victory

Tom McCarthy
Participants of the championship start the 8k. (Photo by Stephen Cipot)

The 42nd annual New Hyde Park-Mineola Championship run, an 8K race, drew more than 300 competitors on June 2.

The 8K, which is almost five miles, kicked off at 8:30 a.m. at the Denton Avenue School in New Hyde Park.

The first male to cross the finish line was Sean Mahon, 33, in a time of 26:33. His average mile pace was 5:20.

“Competition brings out the best in everybody,” Mahon said. “We all connect in that way.”

Victoria Kornieva-Robitaille, 31, was the first to cross the line in the women’s division in a time of 29:13. Her average mile pace was 5:52. She said that her performance set a record for female finishers in the race.

Mahon and Kornieva-Robitaille, both members of the Bellmore Striders, said they were thankful for the work of the New Hyde Park-Mineola Runners Club with Victoria noting that with there are so many races on Long Island that it “says a lot” that this race has become a staple in the community for four decades along with so much participation.

“It was a really nice group of people and a great day all around,” said Stephen Cipot, a member of the New Hyde Park-Mineola Runners Club.

‘We’re one of the oldest racing clubs on Long Island,” he said.

At the ceremony, The New Hyde Park-Mineola Runners Club received a Proclamation from the Town of North Hempstead for promoting LI racing, health, and community.

In addition to the 8K, Cipot said that the event included a children’s fun run, and post-race refreshments and raffles.

The award for first place in all divisions was $75, second place was $50 and third place was $25. All division winners also received free entry for next year’s race.

Registration on race day was $30. The money raised supports the race and the Nassau County firefighters’ Operation Wounded Warrior program and local Boy Scout Troops 298 and 544. The Scout troops managed three water stops for runners in the 8K run.

Cipot said that over the past eight years, the race has raised more than $35,000 for Nassau County firefighters, and thousands of dollars for local youth groups.

The Operation Wounded Warrior program “provides benefits and services to wounded L.I. veterans above and beyond what the VA provides, including veterans living in the greater New Hyde Park, Mineola, Williston Park area,” Cipot said.

“It takes a village to get everything going,” Mahon said. “It feels good to be a part of the Long Island running community.” Mahon said that he feels at home with his fellow runners, while also joking about how competitive races can get, and that great things happen when everybody is striving for the same goal.

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