Kelly comes up big winner with record Rochester crowd
Results are official, team results posted | See the 2003 Rochester race in photos

Jim Kelly cheers runners home at Rochester.

ROCHESTER, May 29, 2003 – Thirty minutes earlier, Renee Rombaut of Sage Rutty broke the women’s finish tape, earning her seventh JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge® title in Rochester.

But the lifetime Buffalo Bills fan didn’t realize that, in addition to the Tiffany plate she would collect, the victory carried a special prize -- a photo session with the Bills’ Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly.

“I’ve been a season ticket holder for the Bills forever,” Rombaut exuded. “I can’t believe I get to meet Jim Kelly. That makes this win extra special.”

Kelly’s presence, in fact, lent an air of Western New York royalty to this 13th annual event. The record crowd of 8,760 participants from 346 companies provided overwhelming applause for the quarterback when he was introduced on the starting stage.

“You’re the best, I’m overwhelmed. I can’t believe how many of you are here,” Kelly told the crowd, which included Rochester Mayor William Johnson in the front row of spectators. “This event shows the spirit of Rochester.”

In an 11-year NFL career in nearby Buffalo, Kelly delivered four AFC Championships and finished in the Top 10 in a passel of categories, including completions, yards and passing rating. But it’s been his post-retirement work with the Hunter’s Hope Foundation that attracted JPMorgan Chase to him.

“Jim is such a symbol of excellence in Western New York and now a symbol to community giving,” said Bob Ryan, Senior Vice President for JPMorgan Chase in Rochester. “We couldn’t think of a better person to have associated with our event and our brand specifically.”

Kelly and his wife Jill were on hand to accept a donation from JPMorgan Chase to the Hunter’s Hope Foundation, a not-for-profit organization established by the Kelly family in 1997 after their infant son Hunter was diagnosed with Krabbe disease. The Foundation is committed to increase public awareness of the disease, and all leukodystrophies, so other children may benefit from early detection and treatment.

A Rochester record 8,760 participants starts out.

“I was excited to meet Jim and had always heard he was a nice guy,” said Diane Trentini, company captain for Optimation Technology. “It’s great to see him putting out all this effort to raise money for the cause. As a team captain, I promote that if everyone gets out there, you are helping a great cause. It makes us feel good about participating.”

Kelly noted in his opening remarks that he was pleased to have the opportunity to be the one doing the cheering at a large sporting event, particularly for his hometown fans. And the Orchard Park, NY resident was right there at the finish line, giving high fives to hundreds of finishers while saving special praise for the winning male, Scott Bagley of Medved Running.

“That’s some serious speed there,” Kelly said after Bagley crossed the finish line in 17:41 for his second JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge victory in Rochester.

The 3.5-mile Highland Park course was – thankfully near the tail-end of a dreadful spring – bathed in sunshine and a top-notch field participated. There were eight past champions in the race (four men and four women), but Rombaut and Bagley were clearly the cream of the crop. Rombaut, 35, defeated former champ Audra Naujokas-Knapp of Brockport High School by 37 seconds, the exact margin of victory Bagley enjoyed over Jason DeJoy of the Pittsford Schools.

John Legere, CEO of Global Crossing, ventured up from New York City to win the Men’s Most Senior Executive Award in 22:15. He is a past winner at the Morristown, New Jersey Corporate Challenge. The women’s Most Senior Executive champ, Kathryn O’Neill of Monroe Veterinary Associates, opened some eyes with a 23:34 finish, just missing the women’s Top Five overall.

But perhaps the most startling statistic on this night was that participation grew once again. The JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in Rochester has enjoyed an increase in numbers each year of its existence, beginning with a tidy 816 in 1991.

Rochester enjoys record crowds on a beautiful night

“Sometimes I have trouble explaining the success,” said Ryan. “We’ve had 13 years of increases, despite economic plusses and minuses. It has become a ritual of summer, a huge celebration. People recognize it was a great opportunity to get together with their colleagues.”

The University of Rochester led all companies with 376 total participants, but Impact Technologies may have outdone the collegians. The software engineering company had all 26 of its employees on the starting line.

“I think half of our company may have hated me a month ago when I was badgering them to enter,” said Impact Technologies company captain Ben Atkinson. “But we had a great time. At 5 p.m. we all came over together as group and it was a special feeling to being doing this together. We’re growing, just like the Corporate Challenge.”

Rochester, in fact, has the highest per capita participation of any event in the entire JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Series.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” said Jim Castor, running writer extraordinaire for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. “This is an outstanding running town and the event embraces joggers and walkers too. And it’s all on a great site.”

Indeed, Highland Park, with the scent of lilacs prominent, did Rochester’s nickname – the Flower City – proud on this night.

In addition to Hunter’s Hope, the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in Rochester also benefited the Al Sigl Center, the Cornell Cooperation Extension, and the Highland Park Horticultural Trust.

And the lasting memory of this event will be Jim Kelly, wearing a ceremonial No. 12 bib, a number destined to be retired by the Buffalo Bills.

“This is a great event anyway,” said Randy Ogi, Financial Reporting and Analysis Manager for Nixon, Peabody. “But when you add Jim Kelly to it, then it becomes a can’t miss event. You definitely felt like you were part of something special.”