Marathon Racers Reach 15-Mile Mark In Long Island City
BY DAN MILLER

Paula Radcliffe, 33, from Great Britain, was only a few paces ahead of Gete Wami of Ethiopia as the runners at the head of the 2007 Marathon ran through Queens. Radcliffe finished the race in 2:23:09, her second New York City Marathon victory. She last won in 2004. Wami, running her second marathon in 35 days, finished in second place at 2:23:32, only 23 seconds behind Radcliffe.

Sunday, November 4 was a perfect day for a race. Temperatures in New York City hovered in the 50s, there was no precipitation to speak of and more than 30,000 runners participated in the largest marathon race in the world.

Spectators lined the route of the marathon, starting from the Staten Island side of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, through Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and The Bronx before returning to Manhattan, where the runners raced for the finish line not far from Tavern on The Green in Central Park. At Crescent Street near 44th Road, a stone's throw from the tall, shiny, green glass CitiCorp Building, a landmark in Long Island City, excitement grew as spectators and volunteers holding cups of water and Gatorade awaited the first marathon runners. First to appear were the wheelchair racers, followed by the women and then the men. The smiles on their faces declared that the marathon volunteers lining the race course in Queens were excited to hand out the liquid refreshments and cheer on the marathon runners to continue the 26-mile marathon course.

Dutch Kills Civic Association Vice President Gene Napolitano filled cups with Gatorade for the marathon runners passing through Long Island City.

The Dutch Kills Civic Association had among the largest numbers of volunteers for this year's marathon. Gerry Walsh, Dutch Kills Civic president, has been volunteering for more than two decades. On this Marathon day, Walsh was the team captain. Wearing a bright yellow cap, Walsh darted from one water station to another on both sides of Crescent Street in Long Island City, checking to see that water and Gatorade supplies were adequate and ready for distribution to the runners as they passed through Long Island City on their way to the Queensboro Bridge. Walsh shared the microphone with George L. Stamatiades, executive director of the Dutch Kills Civic Association as they welcomed the runners to Queens and let them know that they had reached the 15th mile of the race. Besides Walsh and Stamatiades, Dutch Kills Civic Association Vice President Gene Napolitano headed one of the groups of volunteers ready to hand out cups of water to the runners.

Newcomers H.S. student volunteers stand ready with cups of water for runners to grasp as they race through Long Island City. Photos Dan Miller/DMD Images

Dozens of students from Newcomers H.S. and the Academy of American Studies in Long Island City also handed out water to the runners. Teachers from both schools gave up a Sunday to lead school groups. Newcomers H.S. Coordinator of Student Activities Lidia Enriquez was joined by Crystine Cavaleire, dean and girls' basketball coach, in leading the student volunteers. Brian Loesch, a social studies teacher at the Academy of American Studies led his school's group of 20 student volunteers, filling in for the group leader, who could not be present. This was Loesch's fourth year volunteering for the race.

"This is the first year our troop is participating in the New York Marathon," Linda Cotov, leader of Girl Scout Troop 4111, Maspeth, said. Troop Leaders Rhonda Hollins and Cynthia Spatola and Scouts Morgan Spatola, Staci Hollins and Cara Sweeney of Girl Scout Troop 4199, Astoria, were also present and volunteering. Fran Garace, leader of Girl Scout Troop 4435, Astoria, and 14 Girl Scout volunteers also stood at the curb holding cups of water for the marathon runners to grab as they ran the short route through the borough of Queens. Two of the Scouts, asked what they found most rewarding about their volunteer duties, said: "Giving the stuff to the runners and seeing how happy they are with it."