Queens to cheer marathoners

When marathon runners head into Hunters Point on Sunday, November 2, they will get an extra special boost from a new Queens cheering section made up of local elected officials, community leaders and residents.
The New York Road Runners will sponsor the cheering zone located at Vernon Boulevard and 148th Street, and they will have entertainment including a special surprise guest DJ as well as schoolchildren from New York Road Runners school-based program Mighty Milers cheering on the runners.
“Our marathon is defined by the world’s greatest fans who line the route. Each neighborhood has a distinct feel and special energy,” said Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners and race director for the ING New York City Marathon. “That Queens can host runners from around the corner - and the world - gives residents and borough officials a chance to both show off and take pride in their borough.”
The festivities will begin early Sunday morning, as the first group of runners passing through the cheering zone will be athletes with disabilities, and they are expected to arrive around 9:45 a.m. Then, the leaders of the women’s marathon and men’s marathon will likely arrive at the area around 11 a.m. and 11:20 a.m., respectively. When the runners arrive, the fans assembled in the cheering zone are expected to erupt as the runners continue on their journey to marathon glory.
“We’re very excited to participate in our city’s positive events,” said Debra Markell-Kleinert, district manager for Queens Community Board 2. “Those runners passing through our borough will know how excited Queens residents are that they are here.”
Some of the Queens schools that will be participating in the cheering zone are I.S. 125 in Woodside, JHS 194 in Whitestone, Long Island City’s P.S. 78, Kew Gardens’ P.S. 99 and P.S. 84 in Astoria, among others.
City Councilmember Eric Gioia, who represents the Hunters Point area and who has run a marathon himself, said that in addition to inspiring the marathon runners, the New York Road Runners provide a great service in educating youngsters about the benefits of running.
“Running is a great way to stay in shape and live healthy while also having fun, and the programs that the Road Runners sponsor go a long way towards a healthier future for New York’s school children,” Gioia said.