David Nolan, Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Communications, JPMorgan Chase, addresses entrants.

Central Park shines in central role
Official results are posted | The race in photos

NEW YORK, May 14, 2003 – The star of the show on this evening, appropriately, was the venue.

The 27th season of the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge® Series continued tonight at its original home. Central Park, emerging from a difficult northeast winter unscathed, was at its lush and fragrant best, serving as breathtaking backdrop for a 3.5-mile road race that featured 11,981 participants from 511 New York companies.

“No matter how many times you run here,” said Mike Guastella of TD Waterhouse, “it’s a special run. There is no greater park in the world, and the Corporate Challenge is one of the best events of the year held here.”

This is a special year for Central Park as it celebrates its 150th Anniversary. JPMorgan Chase is stepping to the front in the celebration, establishing the Central Park Conservancy as the primary beneficiary of all three Corporate Challenge events in New York this year. It’s an appropriate gesture. After all, this was where the Corporate Challenge concept was born, way back in August, 1977.

“We are always looking for events that can bring together the greatest number of people who have common interests,” said David Nolan, Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing & Communications for JPMorgan Chase. “The Corporate Challenge and Central Park is the perfect marriage for that. It’s a healthy activity, it brings colleagues together, and it’s at a destination all New Yorkers adore.”

Rolly rolls in yet another Corporate Challenge

One runner in particular is quite fond of the Corporate Challenge course in Central Park. Philippe Rolly of New York Presbyterian Hospital won his third consecutive men’s title in 17:39. He won both timed JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge events held in 2002 – the third was a non-timed event due to hot weather – and is the only man to have won three Corporate Challenges over a two year stretch in Central Park.

Goldman Sachs team members pause for a photo in the beauty of Central Park.

“I never get tired of this,” said Rolly, a 2:20 marathoner with an effortless stride and a ferocious finishing kick. “Huge crowds, great course. You couldn’t ask for more as a runner.”

Rolly bested TD Waterhouse’s Guastella by 22 seconds, though the Managing Vice President took home a nice consolation prize – the Fortune Magazine Financial Fitness Award for being the first male finisher from a financial institution.

“I live on Park Avenue and run here virtually every day,” said Guastella. “I am continually amazed how beautiful this park is and how much work goes into it to keep it that way. So I’m very happy that JPMorgan Chase not only continues to do the Corporate Challenge, but is supporting Central Park through the donations.”

Charlotte Cutler of the United Nations is another experienced champion on this course. She ran a 21:05 and nipped Meredith Freimer of New York City Parks and Recreation by one second, earning her second Corporate Challenge title in two years. Cutler works as part of the British mission on the UN’s Security Council. The past year has been tumultuous, and the 30-year-old has never appreciated running more.

“The hours were incredibly long and the day-to-day stress was difficult to deal with at times,” Cutler said. “But running is something that is there to get you through it. Maybe you can’t train as long or as hard as you would like, but during the past few months it was more important than training for a race. It was training to maintain a quality of life and to create separation for what was going on in the world.”

Kerin Maganzini of JPMorgan Chase earned the women’s Fortune Magazine Financial Fitness Award, coming in at 22:27.

The New York Times Most Senior Executive Awards – the fastest senior executive in the men’s and women’s divisions – went to Joe Mangan of SBI and Company (20:59) and Clarice Kennedy of Chamrock Computer Network (28:25).

"This is just a spectacular event"

Alex Hungate of Reuters, who had won a Senior Executive Award in Central Park last summer, was able to smile about his second place finish.

“We had 104 runners out here tonight from Reuters, up from about 30 last year,” Hungate said. “This is just a spectacular event, after all these years it shows no signs of letting up. It enhances the reputation of JPMorgan Chase and, since they are a customer of ours, we’re proud to be out here supporting it. That is what this event is all about, really, celebrating the fact that we all do business together in a great city.”

Bear Stearns had the largest gathering of any company with 312 total participants. By the time all three Corporate Challenge events are held in Central Park this summer, more than 50,000 corporate employees will wear JPMorgan Chase bib numbers.

“And what’s really good about that,” said the United Nations’ Cutler, “is that they all feel special about their participation…and it’s all for a good cause.”

Central Park Conservancy's mission supported by race

The mission of the Central Park Conservancy is to restore, manage, and preserve Central Park, in partnership with the public, for the enjoyment of current and future generations. Since its founding in 1980, the Conservancy has developed and implemented a major management and restoration plan; performed major capital improvements; created programs for volunteers and visitors; built an endowment to ensure continued Park maintenance; and set new standards of excellence in Park care.

The JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge continues on Thursday, May 29 in Rochester, New York. NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly will be on hand as the event’s official starter in an event that will benefit the Hunter’s Hope Foundation.

The Corporate Challenge returns to Central Park on June 3 and June 25. Entries to both events are still available and you can download printable registration forms on this site for New York City #2 and New York City #3.