- Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team USA

About the author:

Rupantar has been the race director of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team since 1985, having been asked by Sri Chinmoy to serve in that capacity. As well as working on the big races the US Marathon Team organise each year - the 3100 Mile Race and the Six and 10 Day Race - he also spends a considerable amount of time archiving the Marathon Team's 40 year history on this website.

"Sri Chinmoy Marathon." (Press Release). October 8, 1983. Retrieved 2013-1-15. Archive copy at the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team office, New York.

"New York runners would be hard pressed to find a more relaxed, congenial marathon than the Sri Chinmoy Flushing Meadow Marathon, held Saturday, October 8 in sight of the World's Fair Unisphere. In the spirit of a fun run, many of the 200 starters took advantage of the weather, flat course, water, ERG and time splits to tune up for the NY Marathon or to run the course as an alternative to the highly selective October 23 event.

First over the finish line in his 52nd marathon was Hector Vargas of the West Side Y leading teammate Curtis Washington by 48 seconds with his time of 2:37:10. Vargas held first place for mile fourteen, after he successfully challenged the early pace-setter, Kevin Malley of the FDNY. Malley then guarded the number two position until the last four mile stretch when, tiring, he gave way first to Washington and then to Brian Adler from Haverstraw, NY. Washington clocked 2:38:03, Adler and Malley finished 2:43:48 and 2:45:41 respectively.

Thirty-two year old Kathy Culla had the women's race wrapped up from the start, bring home a strong 3:08:11. Not so with Susan Kearns, a Millrose teammate of Kathy's. Out for only a 20-mile tune-up, Susan had to reconsider at mile 19 when, trailing in third but feeling strong, she pulled alongside second place Wen-Shi Yu of Kew Gardens. Digging in, Susan surged ahead, finishing second women in 3:28:34. Wen-Shi Yu happy to be racing after a summer-long bout of bronchitis, finished 3rd overall woman, first woman vet in 3:35:37.

Charlie Merritt, age 43 of the Flushing Meadow TC, won over an exceptionally strong field of 40 and over, while John Sullivan, 55, edged out Walter Brown, 58, 'again', (complained a laughing Brown: 'That's the third race this year he has won over me by seconds.') Willie Rios, back one week from the World Masters Games in Puerto Rico in which he competed with Sri Chinmoy, won for the over 60 in 3:34:56.

West Side Y sported the best overall times, taking the Team Trophy with the combined times of first place Vargas, second place Washington and 14th place Ed Sandoval (2:56:39).

This race was one of two held back to back that weekend by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team. On Sunday, the Team traveled to Breezy Point, L.I. to sponsor the Sri Chinmoy Breezy Point 4-Miler Run."

(r to l) Eddie Coyle and Susan Kearns.

Wen-Shi Yu, third women overall.

"Olympic Qualifying Marathon Comes to Plainsboro" (Press Release). July 7, 1983. Retrieved 2012-10-15. Archive copy at the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team office, Queens, NY.

"An Olympic qualifying marathon comes to Plainsboro, when the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team holds its 3rd annual Plainsboro Marathon on Saturday, September 10. The event, an official Olympic qualifying race, is registered with the NRDC and is TAC and RRCA sanctioned and certified. It starts and finishes at the Wicoff School.

The flat course and comprehensive runner services have helped many runners bring in personal records over the past years. 'The course is gorgeous,' said Tibor Latincsics, the 1982 winner and course record holder at 2:22:25. 'It's flat and fast and has the potential for a very fast marathon.' The course winds along well-paved country roads, past corn fields and meadows.."

"Johnston Wins Sri Chinmoy Plainsboro Marathon" (Press Release). September 10, 1983. Retrieved 2012-10-15. Archive copy at the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team office, Queens, NY.

"Kevin Johnston, of Ottawa, Canada, went out fast to win the September 10 Sri Chinmoy Plainsboro Marathon in 2:29:30. Johnston held first place from mile eleven, coming in well ahead of Warren Street's Mike Koczanski of New Canaan, CT (2:39:08) and of George Cummings of Montclair, NJ (2:39:4). Koczanski and Cummings outlasted Barry Gibins and Steve Levinson who held second and third until fading at 18 miles.

First place woman b y a wide margin was Glenda Calabro of Bricks, NJ, looking strong at 3:10:48. Excellent times in the upper age categories placed John James (40) of Walden, NY fourth overall in 2:42:29, Rudy Becker (50) of Maplewood, NJ 18th overall in 2:55:17 and Alma Kunes (50) from Levittown, PA 99th overall in 3:33:29. Alma, who won the 40-49 women's age division in this event last year began running 16 years ago, using a pair of nurses shoes for want of available running gear.

Also in the running was Gary Novicky, recent winner of the C.W. Post 24-Hour Run and, tuning up for the September 24 Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour Run, Richard Wagner, director of the Haverford 48-Hour Race. New Jersey's Sneaker Factor took the team prize for the third consecutive year.

This race is a favorite for PR seekers and beginner alike, due to its real down-home feel, beautiful country-road course and flat, well-paved surface, 'No hype', said one runner, 'just you and the road'".