10th Annual Wheelchair 10K Draws Athletes from Around the World
2011-03-18 09:04:18 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Read about the winners and their times in this report of the Ridgewood Run.
June 16, 2010FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 10, 2010
Kessler Foundation Wheelchair 10k Achieves New Heights
Click here for pictures from this years 10K.
The 35th anniversary of the annual Fred d'Elia Ridgewood Run, in Ridgewood, New Jersey, on Memorial Day also celebrated another milestone: the 10th anniversary of the wheelchair division of the Ridgewood Run. The wheelchair division was made possible thanks to the sponsorship of Kessler Foundation—now called the Kessler Foundation Wheelchair 10k.
Rodger DeRose, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kessler Foundation, said, "We know how important this race is and we anticipate Kessler Foundation continuing to offer support for the race and all of the amazing athletes."
As the first race in NJ to hold the wheelchair race at the same time as the runners, along the same course, it's a special event for all who participate and a means of inclusion for all athletes.
Angela Smith, now the research coordinator at Kessler Foundation's Neuropsychology & Neuroscience Lab, was the first coach of the WheelBlazers, a wheelchair racing team sponsored by the Foundation. Smith recently was awarded the Silver Shoe Award for her dedication and commitment to advancing the sport. She also organizes the wheelchair 10k and looks forward to the event every year.
"The most meaningful aspect of the race is how it spotlights the abilities of our remarkable athletes," said Smith. "Since the race is inclusive of wheelchair racers and able-bodied athletes, it allows everyone, including the runners, to see the determination and athleticism that the racers have."
As one of the biggest wheelchair races in the country, wheelchair athletes come from all over to compete. For the first time, it attracted an international athlete—Santiago Sanz—from Spain. This Paralympic athlete came to the U.S. for six weeks to compete in numerous races around the country.
Racers competed in ten divisions: Men's Open, Women's Open, Quad Men, Male Masters, Female Masters, Grandmasters, E* Athlete Male, E* Athlete Female, Male Junior, and Female Junior. Masters was for those ages 40 and over, while Grandmasters was for people 50 or older. E* Athletes had to be between the ages of 19 and 21 and Junior athletes had to be under 19.
Besides bragging rights, the athletes competed for cash prizes. First place in the Open, Quad and Masters divisions was $1,000. The winner of the Grandmasters and E* Athlete division received $500, while the Junior athlete winners received $300. If there was only one racer in the division, the prize value decreased.
It was the perfect day for a race. The sky was blue and the weather comfortably warm for the 8:40 a.m. start. The racers approached the starting line with the runners behind them. They leaned over, hands ready to push their three-wheeled racing chairs, and took off as the horn blew.
Leading the racers was 21 year old Jordan Bird from CT—a lead that he held through the finish line. Bird clinched the Men's Open, completing the 10k in 20 minutes and 47 seconds. He is now the fastest wheelchair racer in the country.
The winner of the Women's Open was not surprising. Jessica Galli, from IL, set the standard for winning. She has won six medals in three Paralympics. Now at 26 years old, she completed the race in 26 minutes and 13 seconds as she won her ninth title.
"I really enjoy [racing] and having fun and staying fit," said Galli. "I [have] had a little taste of success so I'm chasing that success and trying to see it again."
The favorite to win the male Quad division entering the race was Sanz, 30, and he did not disappoint. Not only did he win, but also broke the record of his division by nearly three minutes, completing the 10k in 25 minutes and 9 seconds.
Achieving his third Male Masters title, Grant Berthiaume, 48, from AZ, crossed the finish line in 24 minutes and 17 seconds. The four time men's open winner, Tony Nogueira, 42 years old from NJ, couldn't compete for the male masters title due to a shoulder injury he suffered during training. Nonetheless, he wanted to support his fellow racers and use it as a training race to build his strength. He proved his shoulder was feeling better and showed his determination by completing the 10k in 25 minutes and 2 seconds. Shannon Francklin, 47 from GA, completed the Female Masters in 51 minutes and 54 seconds.
Clinching the title for the Grandmasters division was David Lowell, 59, from NJ. He completed the race in 30 minutes and 36 seconds. This former marathon runner never allowed his injury stop him from competing.
The younger athletes proved that they are the rising stars and have the motivation needed to succeed. Brian Siemann, 20 years old from IL, won the E* Athlete Male division for his second consecutive win. Last year, he broke the course record but this year he beat his own record, completing the 10k in 24 minutes and 14 seconds. He broke his previous record by over a minute. Chelsea Crytzer, 19, from NJ, crossed the finish line in 35 minutes and 55 seconds to complete the E* Athlete Female Division.
Jerson Calderone, 15 years old from NJ, took the Male Junior division as he crossed the finish line in 26 minutes and 45 seconds. Bridgette Wise, 14, from PA, completed the 10k in 40 minutes and 44 seconds. With their abilities, they will likely be seen at the top of future races.
For this elite group of wheelchair athletes, the term "disabled" does not apply. They have more abilities than the average person who is able to walk. The Kessler Foundation 10k at the Ridgewood Run allows people to see the true abilities of these athletes as they are recognized for no less than their pure athleticism. With the race expanding each year and with new records set, there is no telling what next year's race will bring.
