By The TimesLedger
Panifilo Gomez, of Woodhaven, made a short trip to Fresh Meadows to complete in the second annual Quantum Feet 5K race on a recent Sunday morning.
Gomez took the lead at the start, went out at a 5:03 pace fir the first mile and was clocked in 10:11 at the second mile, on way to a first place finish of 16:28. Perez Rubio wound up second in 16:54 in a competitive field.
The course was slightly changed from last year, when Julio Chuqui won the event in 16:11.
Actually, Gomez is a half-marathoner and is training for the Bronx Half to take place in July. He trains about 70 miles a week in Forest Park.
The 29-year-old Gomez said he feels that he can still run faster, but that he enjoyed running on the course.
Meanwhile, the first three females all posted excellent and fast times and impressed race director Dominic Ortiz.
Jamaica resident, 14-year-old Tynika Greene, a freshman at Newtown High School, was the female winner in 19:25. Overall, she wound up in 27th place in the age group race. Susan Yang ran a 19:36 for second place and placed first in her age group, Last year’s female winner, Theresa Juva, improved from her 21:52 to 20:03 and wound up third and first in the 15 to 19 category.
“We were very pleased with the women’s times and we had a strong women’s category contingency,” Ortiz said. “In fact, we had praise from everybody about our race. We had very good support from the neighborhood, and all the community groups who made the race possible and a success.”
Rounding out the top 10 and behind Rubio were Aaron Ishmael (16:57) Adam Guzman 17:01 Andrew Heiz (17:03), Jamie Palacios (17:07), Jon Berman (17:27): Marvin Andreade (7:31), Chris Mendoza (17:56) and Arthur Vendryes (18:01) The oldest finisher wan 73-year-old Jerome Tiger, who was timed in 29:95 in the age group event.
The race started one block north of Union Turnpike on 189th Street, went through the tree-lined residential streets of Fresh Meadows and the Cunningham Park green Belt Trail. It ended on 189th Street near Union Turnpike.
The College Point Road Runners track Club helped in various capacities including timing and scoring the race.
“With 181 finishers for a second year race, it was a big success,” said race committee member Linda Russo of the Quantum Fee Running Club, which put on the event. “we had good competition.”
“We had a lot of support and will continue the race next spring,” Ortiz said
Proceeds went to benefit the Steppingstone Day School of Flushing. Suzanne Martin and Roni Horowitz were on hand to represent Steppingstone.
“We raised about $3,000 for Steppingstone,” Ortiz said. “We also had a kids fun race and drew 60 children. All received an award.”
