Written by USATF MUT Council vice-chair Meghan Canfield.
Greater Long Island Running Club (GLIRC) is hosting the Heckscher State Park USATF Road 50k Championship, in East Islip, on Long Island, New York. A 5-kilometer loop run 10 times will provide spectators and racers alike to see runners of all speeds multiple times without leaving their seats, and watch the race unfold. If the winning USATF male runs under 3:00 at the race he will automatically qualify for the World 50k Team that will compete in India in November 2023. The same holds true for the winning USATF female runner, provided she runs faster than 3:33.
GLIRC has hosted the 50k championships for multiple years now, previously at Caumsett Park, also on Long Island, and in Heckscher Park for the past 2 years.
Prize Money
Top 3 Open Men and Women athletes equally as follows:
1st place $500
2nd place $150
3rd place $100
Top 3 Masters Men and Women athletes equally as follows:
1st place $500
2nd place $150
3rd place $100
Bonus
- There will be a $1000 bonus if the first male 50K finisher breaks the race record of 2:48:56 set by Tyler Jermann in 2017.
- There will be a $1000 bonus if the first female 50K finisher breaks Emily Harrison’s race record of 3:15:00.
- There is a $1500 bonus if the first male 50K finisher breaks Josh Cox’s USATF National 50k Record of 2:43:45
- There is a $1500 bonus if the first female 50K finisher breaks Des Linden’s USATF National 50K record of 2:59:54.
- No duplication of Cash Awards, except Course and National Record Bonus Awards.
Runners to Watch
Women:
2022 50k Championships, 2nd place finisher (3:29) and outstanding masters’ 50k runner, Melissa Tanner (42) is returning. To add to the competition, there are 3 women with blistering marathon times – Brittany Charbonneau (34) with a 2:33, Annemarie Kirkpatrick (41 with a 2:37, and Andrea Pomaranski (40) with a 2:33. This speaks very highly of the master’s field!
Men:
Forty-year-old Fernando Cabada and 26-year-old Kallin Carolus Khan each have a personal best of 2:57 for the 50k. Charles Sogoleski (37) comes to the table with a speedy hal marathon best of 1:06. In the 60-64 age group, 2 men to watch are Brian Teason and Michael Hunter. And finally, we have a 73-year-old James Miner to remind us to never stop moving!
