Malverne Race Raises Funds for Education and Fitness [Photos]

Turnout was high for the 2012 Malverne Run for Education. Although last year's 5K only attracted 95 runners and walkers, more than 200 people (and one shaggy dog) participated in Sunday's race, which raised funds for the non-profit Malverne Educational and Fitness Foundation. Participants enjoyed perfect running weather, sunny but cool, and a relatively flat and fast course, ideal for setting Personal Bests.

Starting outside Howard T. Herber Middle School, they raced through the streets of Malverne, Lynbrook, Lakeview and Rockville Centre, four communities that make up the Malverne School District, and finished at Malverne High School.

Wheelchair athlete Peter Hawkins, 48, of Malverne, crossed the finish line first with a time of 14 minutes and 37 seconds. Among the runners, first place went to Gerry O'Hara, 48, of East Rockway, who finished in 16:47. Malvernite Chris Koegel, 29, finished just six seconds after to take second place, and 13-year-old Aaron Siff-Scherr, of Port Washington, came in at 18:12 to nab third.

Una Broderick, 46, of Wantagh, was this year's top female finisher, completing the 3.1 mile course in 19:16. Elodie Pinot, 31, of Brooklyn, and Fernanda Borgogelli, 36, of Franklin Square, finished second and third, respectively, among the women.

The fastest Malverne School District residents were Jan Kasal, 49, of Malverne, Christopher Meacham, 13, of Rockville Centre, and Joseph Clines, 52, of Malverne.

Various Malverne school officials including Superintendent James Hunderfund, Business Adminstrator Thomas McDaid, Davison Avenue Principal Ed Tallon, Downing Principal Margaret McDaid, Athletic Director Patricia Desormeau and Board of Education Trustee Joey Bottitta participated in the 5K. (As did Lynbrook Board of Education President Cathy Papendrew and NYS Assemblyman Brian Curran.)

Malverne faculty members signed up as teams this year and the Malverne Educational and Fitness Foundation (MEFF) awarded a $100 gift certificate to purchase school supplies to each member of the winning team.

Another new addition to this year's race was a series of kids fun runs, which took place at the Malverne High School track prior to the 5K. The Malverne Educational and Fitness Foundation, which hosts the race each year along with the Malverne Rotary, also teamed up with the Lynbrook Owls, which holds an annual run in November, to offer discounts and prizes for runners who participate in both races.

This year's annual Fly with the Owls race will take place on Nov. 17. For more information and to sign-up, click here.

The Malverne Educational and Fitness Foundation uses the money it raises from its 5K race to provide grants to support academic and athletic programs within the Malverne school district. Just last month, the organization made a contribution to the efforts to save the sixth grade field trip to Frost Valley YMCA, which was eliminated from the 2012-2013 school budget.  MEFF President and former Davison Avenue Principal Phyliss Wright also made a $500 donation to the cause through the Wright Way Fund, which was matched by the Malverne Rotary.

Click through the gallery above to see photos from this year's Run for Education. Add your photos too by following these steps.

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