Runners Shrug Off Heat And Humidity In Rye Derby's Five-Mile Race

While one racer blitzed to a record sub-24-minute finish at the Rye Derby, the biggest cheers were reserved for Dan Costa and Robin Arnoe, who came striding across the finish line more than a half hour later.

Costa, who is blind, completed the five-mile run with Arnoe at his side, a rope connecting them as the crowd cheered them on.

Rye's version of the Kentucky Derby got off and running without a hitch Sunday, despite the threat of rain and oppressive humidity.

The 22nd annual Derby is Rye YMCA's version of the famed equine horserace featuring human runners—334 this year, several of whom were world-class athletes.

When the five-mile race through the streets of Rye ended, the winners in the male-and-female open competition were all originally from Ethiopia, one of the world's greatest long-distance running meccas.

The overall winner was 24-year-old Kumsa Adugna, a sub-four minute miler and a ranking member of the famous Ethiopian cross country running team.  Adugna hit the tape in 23: 57.3, a new Rye record.

In fact, the top three male runners were all from Ethiopia, as was the top female finisher. They all finished about 100-yards apart in their race for the prize money—$600 for first place, $350 for second and $250 for third.

Adugna took the lead almost from the starter's gun— which was actually a horn sounded by Rye City Mayor Doug French— breaking from the front row of runners lined up in tiers on Purchase Street, flanking June & Ho's, Water Moon and, fittingly, Shoe's n'More.

Right on Adugna's blue running-shoe heels were three of his countrymen: 24-year-old Genna Tufa, Abiyou Endale and the top female finisher, Derkalem Abrha. Abrha finished the race in 27:58.

But the Rye Derby isn't just about the competitive five-mile race. It is also about the community-wide one-mile fun walk that followed.

Indeed, the Rye YMCA parking area was converted into what looked like a carnival midway, with various kiddy rides and games, free barbeque, ice cream and music.

At the outset of the five-mile run, French -- who was waiting to start the race with a bullhorn instead of a starter's pistol -- told Rye Patch: "The Rye Derby is really part of what Rye is all about—a great city participating in a great community event that really brings the locals together while welcoming outsiders as well."

Rye YMCA executive Gregg Howells agreed with the mayor.

The Rye Derby is part of the YMCA's "mission to help build strong kids, strong families and a strong community," he said.

Rye Police Commissioner Bill Connors said 18 policemen were stationed at key areas throughout the race. Sections had to be re-routed off Milton Road to Midland Avenue and along Playland Parkway because of the heavy church traffic around Milton at the race's 10 a.m. starting time.

The competitive race time was moved up to 10:15 a.m. from the traditional noon start time due to the unseasonable heat.

While the Ethiopian runners made news by breaking the Derby record, the event was not without stirring moments that had less to do with winning or losing than simply finishing the race.

The biggest cheers were for Dan Costa and Robin Arnoe, who finished together in 54:39, with Costa's right hand linked to Arnoe's left by a rope. Costa is blind and Arnoe, running with him for the first time, had volunteered to accompany Costa as a member of the Achilles Track because his usual partner had bowed out of the race.

Arnoe met with Costa, originally from England but now living in Rye Brook, to train several times a week with the Achilles Track Club for Disabled Athlete's in Manhattan's Central Park.

Another local story was Rye attorney Alan Weiner, who surprised himself by running 40 minutes flat, as his wife Anahid and their two children Natalie and David, both promising young runners, cheered him on in his bid to get back into shape after concentrating almost solely on his career.

Maureen Delfs, a Rye YMCA member, was joined on the course by her two daughters, Aaron, 4, and Casey, 5 during the last 100-yards to the finish line that flanked the Rye Y's old annex.

Three of Rye's best female runners –Vickie Cox, Maureen Groglio, and Caryn De Fillippo – stood on the sidelines cheering the runners on. All three had run the Boston Marathon two weeks prior, but still insisted on coming to support their cohorts at Rye Derby.

Former mile world-record holder Eamonn Coughlin, who founded the event before returning to his native Ireland, could not get back to Rye for the Derby this year.

But Adugna, the sub-four-minute miler from Ethiopia, did. And he ran away with the race despite having been boxed in at the start in one of a few race glitches.

First he was introduced as Kenyan, one of Ethiopia's most bitter running rivals. And then two Rye running moms flanked him at the starting line, violating race protocol that states elite runners only in the front tier.

The women were waving to their kids when the starting horn sounded, slowing Adugna's start.

Not that it affected his time.

Nor did it really matter that Adugna had to run into what amounted to a human funnel—a galloping, fleshy two-legged V—jockeying for positions at the start because cars were parked on Purchase Street within less than five yards of the starting line.

Adugna had to make a mad dash at the outset, veering away from one of the parked cars as his smooth ground-gulping stride eased him to the front of the pack where he quickly settled into his metronome-like distance stride on his way to a Rye record that could have been even faster.

Complete results of yesterday's exciting race can be found at:

http://www.runner.org/resultsrye10/