Snowball Runners Take Wantagh by Storm

Hundreds of runners from the seasoned to novices gathered en masse Saturday morning outside for the 18th annual Snowball Run.

The five-mile run began and ended outside Mulcahy's starting at 8 a.m. The race, which benefits the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce, was sponsored in large party by local businesses.

The overall winner in the race was Dan McGrath of Sunnyside, Queens with a time of 25:52. The top female finisher was 44-year old Una Broderick of Wantagh with a time of 31:54. _

Despite freezing early Saturday morning temperatures runners were eager to participate. Katie Joos of Shoreham said that the Snowball Run was only her second race and that she started running only about six months ago. Joos, who is training to participate in a half marathon, said her initial motivation for doing sponsored runs was simply that her friends invited her out to participate in one and since then, she'd been hooked.

Peter Kinirons of Baldwin Harbor on the other hand, was participating due simply to familial support. Participating in this race was his nephew's idea and he willingly complied, though he knew that completing the race would be tough.

"I haven't been training for this very much and I felt it out there but it's impetus to get back in shape," said Kinirons, who also ran a five-mile Turkey Trot race in Garden City on Thanksgiving morning.

Winners from each race/age category were given small raffle prizes. Participants filled Mulcahy's after the race, to enjoy bagels, apples and for some, an early morning beer. Those in need of a massage waited patiently while a trained masseuse skillfully removed cricks from necks and relaxed sore muscles.