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Harriers Enjoy Run Down Memory Lane at Bear Mountain
Furst,
DiMarino individual champs; Suffern, Monroe-Woodbury team titlists The Bill Markiewicz Memorial Rockland Alumni Cross Country Run unleashes a flood of memories for the local cross-country community. Like the swallows returning to Capistrano and worshippers journeying to Mecca, the harriers make their annual pilgrimage to Bear Mountain on Thanksgiving Saturday to run and to remember. They remember the pristine autumn afternoons, the trees multi-colored palette, the sun glinting off Hessian Lake, the welcoming embrace of the Inn. And the hill: How can they ever forget the chin-scraping, lung-searing climb to the old ski-jump launch? We dont run anything with a hill like that on the college courses, said Stephen Furst, a North Carolina State grad who captured this years 26th annual event. Its kind of a shock to the system. The hill is still the hill, said Laura Bergen-DiMarino, the womens champion, with irrefutable logic. It seems to get steeper every year. Conquering the infamous incline is a forbidding challenge but 223 harriers were equal to the task at the Nov. 29 event. Included among them were four participants who gave the race an international flavor by having attended secondary schools in Germany, England, Ireland and Canada. Obamas influence is already being felt before he even raises his right hand, quipped Tom Doherty, who conceived the Alumni Run event back in 1983 and has teamed with Ralph Coleman and a host of minions to shepherd it through ever since. When Ralph sets up the course in the morning I look around and say, Oh boy, I wonder how many people will show up. But then they start arriving and it all comes together. Its always a fun day and theres a lot of goodwill. Mary Haugh, a native of Ireland who attended secondary school in Woodford, County Galway, participated for the first time and was joined by her son, John, Nanuet class of 1993, and daughter Erin, Nanuet class of 1997. Erin was a two-time Rockland County champion at Bear Mountain, of course and the 1994 New York State Class C champion while at Nanuet. We watched Erin run here many times and I always wanted to do this, said Mary, whose husband John served as cheerleader along with his sons wife Marissa, their two young children and Erins husband Tim. Bear Mountain is a lovely place and the day was very nice for it. The sun did indeed shine on the plains of Bear Mountain, bathing the throng in mid-40-degree temperatures and warming the hearts of the reuniting revelers. One of those celebrants was Matt Markiewicz, Goshen class of 1993, a son of the late Bill Markiewicz, for whom the race is named. Theres a great spirit here and its continuing to grow every year, said Matt, who was joined in the race by his uncles Tom and Mike, both Albertus Magnus alums, aunt Margaret (Rosary Academy 76) and cousins Mark and Patrick. This is a great turnout. It shows how much everyone is dedicated to the event and the sport. The Markiewicz clan also included Matts brothers Danny (Goshen 96) and Luke (Goshen 99), his uncle Pete, Dannys 13-month-old son Ian William, and of course Bills widow, Janet. Bills other brother, Duke, would have been there too had he not been delayed by the heavy holiday traffic on I-95 coming up from Virginia with his wife, Jackie. Janet Markiewicz attends the race faithfully each year and assists in presenting the Bill Markiewicz Award as the runners are assembled at the starting line. This years honoree was Fred Adler, the longtime head of the Rockland and Southern Catskill officials association and the race starter for the Alumni Run. Adler and Markiewicz were fellow teachers in the Clarkstown Central School District. Bill Markiewicz was a 1967 Albertus Magnus graduate and spent 11 years (1978-89) as Clarkstown Norths head cross country and assistant track coach. He coached the Rams to the Section 9 cross-country championship in 1983 but more importantly, his infectious enthusiasm and unshakable commitment to kids left a profound legacy on everyone who knew him. The award named for him is presented to an individual who has made a lasting contribution and rendered distinguished service to the sport of cross country in Rockland County. Fittingly, he was the awards first recipient in 1991, when the race was renamed in his memory. He had succumbed to cancer earlier that year, at age 41. Bill Markiewicz would have been proud that the event named in his honor continues to flourish into its second quarter-century. The exhortations he imparted as his runners ascended the signature hill would have been gratefully accepted by any number of participants this year, including DiMarino, who was reduced to walking for a brief stretch on the steepest part of the incline. The 1984 Nanuet alumna managed to regain her momentum after the hill and went on to win the womens division in 19:50, a 20-second improvement over her runner-up performance last year. Kelly Thompson, a 1995 Pearl River grad, was second in 20:24. Seeing all the people like the old coaches and everyone makes me feel young again, said DiMarino, the 1982 Rockland County champion, who at 42 has been revitalized as a masters runner, having completed the recent New York City Marathon in an excellent 3 hours 13 minutes. I was nervous that men would see me coming and say, Here comes grandma. Not only is she a girl but shes old too. While DiMarino is enjoying a middle-age running revival, mens winner Furst is parlaying his youthful experience into a bid for national prominence. The 2003 Goshen alum ran the grinding Bear Mountain course in 15:06, the fastest time since Art Gunthers 14:46 in 2001. Furst finished a full 30 seconds ahead of his closest pursuer, Kyle OBrien, Monroe-Woodbury class of 2006. I had this race on my calendar since August, said Furst, whose best high school time on the course was 15:27 in 02, when the layout was slightly shorter due to a change in the downhill section. I wanted to take it more seriously but I got a virus and that forced my body into a rest period. I would like to come back again some year and go after the course record. That record is no piece of cake 1992 Olympian John Trautmanns blistering 14:08 from 1994 but if anyone has the potential to threaten it, its Furst. He won the Penn Relays college division 5,000 meters in April in an outstanding 13:49 and matched that time to place 10th and claim the eighth and final All-America berth at the NCAA outdoor championships in June. Furst also scored a difficult 10,000/5,000 double at the Atlantic Coast Conference championships the week before Penn, giving him three major triumphs in a seven-day span. Furst is currently a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater, N.C. State, where he earned his undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering in 2007 and is set to graduate in December 2008 with a masters in mechanical engineering, also from N.C. State. He plans to remain in Raleigh for the next few years to pursue a Ph.D in mechanical engineering while continuing to train under his college coach, Rollie Geiger. His goals include finishing in the top six in the U.S. national XC championships in February to qualify for the World Championships in Jordan the following month. In track, he wants to take a shot at a sub-4:00 mile (he has an indoor 4:07 to his credit and a 3:48 1,500), make some U.S. traveling teams and, long term, gear up for the Olympic Trials in 2012. On the team scoring front, the Suffern Mounties took home their fourth Alumni Run mens crown with 60 points, while the Clarkstown North Rams shaded the Nanuet Golden Knights for second, 124 to 126. In the womens division, the Monroe-Woodbury Crusaders edged Nanuet, 62-65, to notch their sixth team title and move into a tie with Pearl River for most womens championships. For the third time in recorded race history, the team participation title was shared. Suffern and Monroe-Woodbury each fielded 25 participants, followed closely by Clarkstown North (23) and Pearl River (22). The other ties occurred in 2002 and 2004. Overall, 49 high schools were represented as alma maters of participating runners, including schools in California, Minnesota, Illinois and Virginia. Among the notable female entrants were seven-time champion Julianne Littmann-Viscardo, Monroe-Woodbury 95, who gave birth a few months ago but still managed to place sixth; Janet Pietropaolo, Nanuet 80, the 1978 Rockland County champion; Laurel Gilhooly Reilly, Albertus Magnus 81, the 1980 Rockland County victor; Lisette Hautau, Tappan Zee 78, the 1975 and 77 Rockland champ; Lauren Tuchband Cullen, Nanuet 98, the 2002 Alumni Run winner; and Sue (Gulla) Lanoce, Pearl River 83, who has participated in the Alumni Run more times than any other woman 25, missing only the inaugural event in 1983. On the mens side, Brian Crowley, Albertus Magnus 82, has been aging gracefully since winning the Alumni crown in 1990. The 44-year-old continued to upstage the younger runners, finishing eighth for the second straight year. Three entrants kept alive their streaks of having participated in all 26 editions of the meet: Pat Chambers, Albertus Magnus 76, who won the inaugural 83 race held in blizzard-like conditions; Larry Beckerle, Albertus Magnus 1973; and Walt Johnston, Suffern 65. Johnstons waxed enthusiastic about his daughter Dianas first-time participation in the race. Diana, a 2005 Clarkstown South graduate who attends Villanova, ran with her dad for the first half of the race before pulling away on the hill. She was the 23rd female finisher and 148th overall in 26:14. Walt wound up 164th in 27:44. As her
father/coach, I advised her to go out with me so she would have energy for the
hill and at the end of the race, Walt said. I had this vision of running
the whole race together and letting her cross the finish line ahead of me. Well,
when we got to the big hill, she just started to fly away from me and by the
time I reached the ice skating rink, she was a good 200 meters ahead of me. So
much for my plans! Introducing his
daughter to running and taking part in events like the Alumni Run clearly means
a lot to Walt: I feel that some of me has rubbed off on her. I feel that by
doing what I love and care for, it has somehow had a real impact on what she has
chosen to incorporate into her lifestyle. Well said, Walt. Heres to the next 26 years!
26th
annual Bill Markiewicz Memorial Rockland Alumni Cross Country Run Saturday, November
29, 2008 Bear Mountain State
Park, Bear Mountain, N.Y. Course: 3.0 miles Meet records: 14:08, John Trautmann (Monroe-Woodbury 86), 1994 17:03, Debbie Grant (Ramapo 83), 1995 Mens Team Scores: 1. Suffern (Suf), 60; 2, Clarkstown North (CN), 124; 3. Nanuet (Nan), 126; 4. Monroe-Woodbury (MW), 142; 5. Pearl River (PR), 176; 6. Albertus Magnus (AM), 303; 7. Clarkstown South (CS), 401; 8. Goshen (Gosh), 425; other teams incomplete. Womens Team Scores: 1. Monroe-Woodbury (MW), 62; 2. Nanuet (Nan), 65; 3. Clarkstown South (CS), 132; 4. Clarkstown North (CN), 149; other teams incomplete. Team Participation (Combined): 1. Tie, Suffern (Suf) and Monroe-Woodbury (MW), 25; 3. Clarkstown North (CN), 23; 4. Pearl River (PR), 22; 5. Albertus Magnus (AM), 17; 6. Nanuet (Nan), 16; 7. Clarkstown South (CS), 13; 8. Tie, Goshen (G), North Rockland (NR), and Warwick Valley, 5; 11. Tie, Millbrook (Mill), Ramapo (Ram) & Tappan Zee (TZ), 4; 14. Tie, Beacon (Bc), Burke Catholic (BC) & Cornwall (Corn), 3; 17. Tie, Arlington (Arl), Chaminade (Cham), Newburgh Free Academy (NFA), Spring Valley (SV) & St. Joseph Regional (SJ), 2; 22. Tie, Nyack (Ny), Yorktown (Ykt), Guilderland (Guild), St. Cloud Apollo, Minn., Mamaroneck (Mk), Hendrick Hudson (HH), Francis Lewis, Shasta (Redding, Calif)., Putnam Valley (PV), Jesuit, South Kent, Jericho, George Washington, Mepham, Bayside, H. Frank Carey, Notre Dame College School (Welland, (Ontario, Canada), K.Z. Gymnasium (Germany), C.D. Hylton (Woodbridge, Va.), Washingtonville, Voorheesville, Moulsham (United Kingdom), Solanco, Central Catholic (Ill.), Rosary Academy, St. Gabriel, Maria Regina, Woodford (County Galway, Ireland), 1. Womens Top 20 Individuals (51 women finishers) 1. Laura Bergen-DiMarino (Nan 84), 19:50 (40th overall); 2. Kelly Thompson (PR 95), 20:24; 3. Suzanne La Burt (MW 81), 20:44; 4. Erin Haugh (Nan 97), 20:51; 5. Lauren Tuchband Cullen (Nan 98), 20:52; 6. Julianne Littmann-Viscardo (MW 95), 21:20; 7. Julie Gillis (Corn 00), 21:24; 8. Jessica Petrina (TZ 00), 21:53; 9. Christine Bibbo (MW 930, 22:10; 10. Leslie Ballantyne (Suf 92), 22:50; 11. Beth Bushong (Solanco 96), 23:13; 12. Caitlin McVey (War 00), 23:28; 13. Katie Barnes (CN 01), 23:49; 14. Laura Murray (Suf 02), 23:52; 15. Desiree LoBianco (MW 96), 24:08; 16. Jill Pietropaolo (CS 06), 24:33; 17. Allison Clark (War 99), 24:41; 18. Judi Gallagher (BC 01), 24:48; 19. Marietta Bennett (CN 02), 24:51; 20. Laurel Gilhooly Reilly (AM 81), 25:12. Overall Individual Results 1. Stephen Furst (Gosh 03), 15:06; 2. Kyle OBrien (MW 06), 15:36; 3. Bert J. Rodriguez (Ny 97), 15:45; 4. James Kopcsay (Ykt 01), 16:15; 5. Lou Maturo (TZ 04), 16:24; 6. Evan Flach (Suf 08), 16:34; 7. Louis Tafuto (War 06), 16:42; 8. Brian Crowley (AM 82), 16:48; 9. Einar Gary Brissing (Nan 02), 17:03; 10. James Attle (Suf 98), 17:07, 11. Kevin McCarthy (Nan 04), 17:22; 12. James Biondi (Suf 08), 17:27, 13. Paul Lagno (Mill 08), 17:31; 14. Mike Kohlbrenner (PR 76), 17:34; 15. Brian Horowitz (Suf 06), 17:40; 16. Tom Zarnoch (MW 08), 17:41; 17. Michael Koral (Suf 07), 17:42; 18. Jamie Kempton (AM 76), 17:43; 19. Rafael Ortiz (SV 05), 17:54; 20. Anthony Calingo (CN 01), 17:59; 21. John Roth (Mill 06), 18:00; 22. Tom McCarney (CN 93), 18:02; 23. T.J. Ciccone (Suf 94), 18:09; 24. Andy Kohlbrenner (PR 81), 18:15; 25. Mike Morris (CN 96), 18:18; 26. Andrew Rickert (Guild 97), 18:23; 27. Martin Gibbs (Moulsham, United Kingdom, 80), 18:27; 28. Tom Dillon (CN 97), 18:27.8; 29. Pat Driscoll (CN 98), 18:28; 30. David Blumel (MW 75), 18:35; 31. Frank Visingardi (Nan 86), 19:04; 32. Devon White (CN 96), 19:17; 33. Blair McGrady (Cornwall), 19:20; 34. Cornwall, 19:21; 35. Matt McKenna (CN 03), 19:25; 36. John Haugh (Nan 93), 19:38; 37. Tom List (PR 80), 19:44; 38. Zach Berbit (Suf 96), 19:45; 39. Justin Sierpinski (Nan 08), 40. Laura Bergen-DiMarino (Nan 84), 19:50; 41. Tim Waples (Suf 00), 19:55; 42. Jim Dugandzic (PR 81), 19:57; 43. Paul Mueller (St. Cloud Apollo, Minn. 02), 19:59; 44. Jim Trautmann (MW 90), 20:05; 45. John Byrne (War 05), 20:16; 46. Tony Modafferi (CS 04), 20:18; 47. Duane Davis (CS 96), 20:23; 48. Kelly Thompson (PR 95), 20:24; 49. Jim Boddorf (Ram 73), 20:25; 50. Paul Kreischer (MW 85), 20:39. 51. Suzanne La Burt (MW 81), 20:43; 52. Patrick Markiewicz (BC 06), 20:47; 53. Adam Skrypack (CN 96), 20:49; 54. Erin Haugh Colleran (Nan 97), 20:51; 55. Lauren Tuchband Cullen (Nan 98), 20:52; 56. Peter Viscardo (MW 95), 20:54; 57. Matt Markiewicz (Gosh 93), 20:55; 58. Michael Beckerle (Nan 79), 20:59; 59. Michael Ward (PR 81), 21:01; 60. Alex Litzky (Mk 05), 21:02; 61. Richard Harris (CS 01), 21:08; 62. Bob Hermesch (HH 68), 21:12; 63. Scott Fine (Suf 07), 21:14; 64. Julianne Littmann-Viscardo (MW 95), 21:20; 65. Julie Gillis (Corn 00), 21:23; 66. Steven Estremera (Mill 08), 21:31; 67. Jason Friedman (CN 93), 21:45; 68. Jered Haag (MW 89), 21:46; 69. Douglas Putzelt (War 05), 21:46.5; 70. David Donohue (AM 95), 21:47; 71. Jonathan Vaughan (NR 00), 21:47; 72. Michael Sokoll (Francis Lewis 84), 21:50; 73. Tim Nye (Nan 03), 21:52; 74. Jessica Petrina (TZ 00), 21:53; 75. Brian Bader (CN 99), 21:56; 76. David Herbstman (Ram 79), 22:05; 77. Christine Bibbo (MW 93), 22:10; 78. Ray Sussman (PR 81), 22:14; 79. Steve Cobb (NR 78), 22:14.6; 80. Randall Duggan (Shasta, Redding, Calif. 88), 22:15; 81. Michael Sandhage (PR 94), 22:15; 82. Joe Tomasso (BC 89), 22:17; 83. Matt Diglio (MW 96), 22:18; 84. 84. Chris OBrien (MW 04), 22:29; 85. Adam Liscia (Putnam Valley 05), 22:30; 86. Keith Reilly (PR 90), 22:31; 87. Kevin Heraghty (NR 94), 22:33; 88. Bob DeMarco (Beacon 69), 22:35; 89. Paul Voelke (MW 94), 22:35.8; 90. Jeff Cerefice (Gosh 75), 22:40; 91. Unofficial entrant, 22:47; 92. Leslie Ballantyne (Suf 92), 22:50; 93. Dominick Ponzio (NR 00), 22:56; 94. Edward Meyer (Jesuit 92), 22:59; 95. Michael Weiss (Suf 96), 23:02; 96. Chris Hecht (CN 10), 23:04; 97. James Whelan (South Kent 07), 23:05; 98. Kevin Chanowsky (MW 94), 23:09; 99. Beth Bushong (Solanco 96), 23:13; 100. John McNiff (AM 75), 23:15. 101. T.J. Maglione (MW 01), 23;15; 102. Mark Nedell (Suf 96), 23:17; 103. Evan Ratnow (Suf 96), 23:21; 104. Caitlin McVey (War 00), 23:28; 105. Steve Sutton (TZ 90), 23:30; 106. Thomas Huether (Ram 73), 23:32; 107. Larry Beckerle (AM 73), 23:34; 108. John Murphy (PR 84), 23:35; 109. Harry Owens (Chaminade 76), 23:36; 110. Andrew Strayer (Mill 07), 23:37; 111. John Herr (MW 83), 23:38; 112. Chris Craig (AM 82), 23:46; 113. Ed Casey (PR 82), 23:47; 114. Katie Barnes (CN 01), 23:49; 115. Laura Murray (Suf 02), 23:52; 116. Ray Alicea (CS 86), 23:54; 117. Josh Hanat (CN 97), 23:55; 118. Christopher Goodwin (MW 89), 23:57; 119. Desiree LoBianco (MW 96), 24:08; 120. Dan Cohen (Suf 08), 24:12; 121. Roy Friedman (Gosh 93), 24:16; 122. Tim Sullivan (Beacon 78), 24:18; 123. Ed Brown (Jericho 80), 24:21; 124. Jill Pietropaolo (CS 06), 24:33; 125. Allison Clark (War 99), 24:41; 126. Judi Gallagher (BC 01), 24:48; 127. Matt Carcaterra (MW 01), 24:48.4; 128. Tom Dempsey (PR 83), 24:49; 129. Marietta Bennett (CN 02), 24:51; 130. Nick Parente (CN 87), 24:56; 131. Samuel Lin (CS 94), 25:04; 132. Sujohn Sarkar (Suf 96), 25:09; 133. Suffern 96, 25:09; 134. Laurel Gilhooly Reilly (AM 81), 25:12; 135. Matt Ammer (Suf 94), 25:25; 136. Chuck Sommerlad (MW 85), 25:31; 137. Pat Chambers (AM 76), 25:32; 138. Kristine Beckerle (AM 07), 25:36; 139. Lisa Ansorge Ratnow (Arlington 96), 25:41; 140. Matt Hemmer (MW 95), 25:46; 141. Dan Avener (Suf 65), 25:46; 142. Joe Dempsey (PR 92), 25:48; 143. Jay Kaplan (SV 67), 25:50; 144. Ben Walker (Notre Dame College School, Welland, Ontario, Canada 85), 25:51; 145. C. Freeman (St. Joseph Regional 92), 25:51.7; 146. Stephen Beckerle (AM 74), 25:57; 147. Alan Brandstaedter (CN 92), 25:59; 148. Diana Johnston (CS 05), 26:14; 149. Brian Tuchband (Nan 01), 26:16; 150. Fred Schuepfer (George Washington 78), 26:20. 151. Ross Stephens (Arlington 94), 26:31; 152. Paul Devine (CS 77), 26:32; 153. Aaron Krochmal (CS 92), 26:34; 154. Cindy Parliament (CS 88), 26:35; 155. Mike Moran (AM 83), 26:47; 156. Kevin DeSantis (Gosh 95), 26:58; 157. Matt Bracconeri (CN 99), 26:59; 158. Patti Zodda (Nan 88), 26:59.5; 159. Chris Bracconeri (CN 97), 26:59.8; 160. Evan Bracconeri (CN 04), 27:00; 161. Unofficial entrant; 162. Thomas Kelly (PR 78), 27:11; 163. Michael Greco (PR 78), 27:14; 164. Walter Johnston (Suf 65), 27:44; 165. Colleen Thompson (PR 96), 27:51; 166. Robert Solimier (K.Z. Gymnasium, Germany, 06), 27:53; 167. Rob McNamara (Nan 86), 27:54; 168. Teresa Scott (CS 80), 28:09; 169. Michael Collins (Mepham 78), 28:38; 170. Elizabeth C. Miller (Central Catholic, Ill., 98), 28:40; 171. Colin Gribbin (Newburgh F.A. 89), 28:43; 172. Denise Esserman (MW 95), 28:43.8; 173. Craig Riegelhaupt (Washingtonville 94), 28:44; 174. Janet Pietropaolo (Nan 80), 28:52.5; 175. Paul Pietropaolo (Nan 76), 28:53; 176. Jennifer Gribbin (Newburgh F.A. 92), 29:06; 177. Buddy Gilbert (Beacon 75), 29:11; 178. Alison Meisner Luscher (CN 84), 29:25; 179. Kathy List (PR 91), 29:28; 180. Sean Kilkenny (CN 85), 29:29; 181. Jim Freeman (AM 82), 29:34; 182. Danny Hlavac (PR 79), 29:51; 183. Christopher Costanza (PR 69), 29:52; 184. Larry Quinn (AM 69), 29:52.8; 185. Jeff Ratnow (Suf 89), 30:08; 186. Lisette Hautau (TZ 78), 30:11; 187. Josh Levine (Suf 96), 30:18; 188. Rebecca Ratnow (Suf 94), 30:18.8; 189. Sean Barron (PR 79), 30:23; 190. Dan Hogan (Suf 99), 30:24; 191. Ken Gerber (CS 92), 30:28; 192. Chip Moreau (AM 74), 30:41; 193. Jerry Tuchband (H. Frank Carey 69), 30:47; 194. Brian Flannery 89, 30:48; 195. Sal Viscardo (MW 91), 30:50; 196. Mary Flannery, 31:32; 197. Susan (Gulla) Lanoce (PR 83), 31:43; 198. Alison Limpert (NR 99), 31:47; 199. Nicole Tracey (CN 00), 32:19; 200. Shawn Houck (Voorheesville 85), 32:30. 201. Jackie McCracken-Houck (Nan 84), 32:38; 202. Gibby Sweet (PR 68), 32:44; 203. Margaret Markiewicz (Rosary Academy 76), 32:49; 204. Shirley Quinn (CS 81), 32:51; 205. Unknown entrant; 206. Mark Markiewicz (C.D. Hylton, Va. 95), 33:44; 207. Tom Markiewicz (AM 65), 33:50; 208. Unknown entrant; 209. Unknown entrant; 210. Mike Markiewicz (AM 70), 33:55; 211. Marianne Pade Mitchell (AM 94), 33:55; 212. Erica Norey (CN 00), 34:04; 213. Alex Beg (Chaminade 01), 34:23; 214. J. Lee Snow (MW 83), 34:40; 215. John Murphy (MW 85), 34:40.4; 216. Unofficial entrant; 217. Mary Haugh (Woodford, County Galway, Ireland), 35:04; 218. Sherry Berbit (Ramapo 69), 47:49; 219. Suffern, 47:50; 220. Debbie Prozzillo (Maria Regina 74), 48:01; 221.Vicki Bibbo (St. Gabriel of New Rochelle 72), 48:02; 222. Pam Quick (MW 79), 49:30; 223. Warren Berbit (Bayside 60), 51:04. |