Thousands run Long Island marathon, half-marathon, 10K
Shaun McGrath of Lynbrook crosses the finish line as the winner of the 2011 Long Island Marathon. (May 1, 2011) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
A sunny sky served as the perfect backdrop for the 39th annual Long Island Marathon at Eisenhower Park Sunday morning.
Shaun McGrath, 32, of Lynbrook won the full-marathon with a time of 2:39:43. The top woman finisher, Jodie Schoppman, 26, of Levittown qualified for the Olympic trials with a time of 2:42:54.
The full marathon -- a 26.2-mile journey started on Charles Lindbergh Boulevard in Uniondale, and ran along the Wantagh State Parkway before finishing at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow.
For a complete list of runners and their times, please visit exploreli.com in your browser.
Demesse Cefera, 29, of New York City claimed the top men's spot in the 10K run with a time of 32:34. Brooklyn's Angel Confesor, 26, finished second, crossing the finish line at 34:26.
Peter Francis, 20, of Jackson Heights, placed third at 35:36.
Lynbrook's Petra Fasungova crossed th finish line not too much later. The 20-year-old top female runner completed the 10K in 38:46.
Aaron Robertson, 33, of Altamont, NY, won the half-marathon in 1:10:05. Merrick's Chris Mammome, 27, finished second (1:10:21), followed by 31-year-old Michael Nehr of West Babylon (1:10:46).
Lyndsey Cunningham's 1:22:23 was the top women's time in the half-marathon event. The 28-year-old Babylon resident had held the previous course record until last year when Levittown's Jodie Schoppman completed the race in 1:17:15).
Liza Grudinski of Newburgh, NY came in second (1:23:26), followed by Woodbury's Sharon Kapusta (1:28:08).
Approximately 8,200 people registered for the two-day event, which began Saturday with the I-Mile, 5K and Kids Fun Run.
