A Syracuse tradition Former Syracuse football coach Dick MacPherson was the official starter. Revered in the community, MacPherson obviously shares the same sentiment for Syracuse. “The sense of spirit in this community is contagious," he said. "I’m proud to have worked here, lived here, and consider it a privilege to be asked back to root on these participants.” (Photos: Joe Vericker/PhotoBureau)

Rain fails to dampen enthusiasm
for meeting challenges in Syracuse
Official results are posted | The race in photos

Runners are reflected during a rainy start at Syracuse.

SYRACUSE, August 5, 2003 – You don’t have to be particularly observant when driving through this Central New York community to realize something special happened here in the past year.

Street banners and billboards heralding the 2003 NCAA Basketball Championship for Syracuse University are, quite literally, omnipresent. Hancock Airport has seemingly turned into a giant memorabilia store for SU. Every playground court seems to have young players practicing earnestly to be the next Carmelo Anthony.

And it was against that backdrop that the Syracuse University team entry in the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge created a t-shirt with this statement emblazoned on the back:

“The Champs Meet The Challenge.”

“When I saw that t-shirt,” said Deb Springer, a research technician at SU, said. “I though, ‘Whoa. Somebody better win something because it will be kind of embarrassing if we don’t.”

Not to worry. Springer herself kept alive the Orangemen’s run of championships.

Springer earned her first JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge title, besting two-time champion Kristin White of Wegman’s to earn the women’s crown. Springer ran a 20:23, besting White by 41 seconds on a rain-slicked 3.5-mile Onodaga Lake Park course.

Coach MacPherson has personal ties to Joslin Center, the event beneficiary

Holding the finish line tape for Springer was a beloved Syracuse University figure – former head football coach Dick MacPherson. He was on hand as the official starter and to also support the evening’s primary beneficiary, the Joslin Diabetes Center. MacPherson’s daughter was a juvenile diabetes sufferer and the coach has been a fervent supporter of the Joslin Center.

“This type of event really is what makes Syracuse special,” said MacPherson, noting the 6,149 participants from 265 companies that braved what at times was driving rain. “The sense of spirit in this community is contagious. I’m proud to have worked here, lived here, and consider it a privilege to be asked back to root on these participants.”

MacPherson also greeted men’s winner Mike Melfi of the Syracuse City Schools at the finish line. Melfi earned his third Corporate Challenge title in 17:35, easily defeating second-place Gerry McOmber of Nicom (18:33).

The elementary school special education teacher is one of Syracuse’s best up-and-coming marathoners with an eye on qualifying for the Olympic Trials. But he also has special affection for this event.

Mike Melfi wins his third Syracuse title in 17:35.

“This is three victories in three tries for me,” Melfi, 26, and a former Marist College standout, said. “It’s an important race for me, because it brings together the work I do with the kids at school and my running.”

Melfi finds that his distance training, in fact, helps make him a more patient educator with his students.

“Definitely,” he said. “I’m blessed to have a great rapport with the parents and I definitely feel it’s because I’m patient and thoughtful with the kids. Those are characteristics I learned from running.”

Welch Allyn was the largest participating company on this night with 267 entrants. The medical products company also had a special message to relay on its t-shirts, highlighting that Fortune Magazine had named Welch Allyn one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2003.

A visit to Welch Allyn’s massive tent and you could get a glimpse why the company is a coveted employer. The tent was decked out in a tropical theme with each employee getting a lei and sunglasses. Pineapples and coconuts were on every table and plastic pink flamingoes added island kitsch to every corner.

“The marketing group decided on a theme for this year,” said Welch Allyn company captain Julie Furness. “There was no real point behind it, just a theme that would be fun for everybody. There’s no question this event brings out a lot of company spirit and goodwill.”

Furness and her teammates were interviewed live before the race by Syracuse’s Channel 9, an illustration also of how prominent this event is in the community.

Dumack, O'Brien win Most Senior Executive titles

Folks here hardened by frightful winters filled with Lake Effect snow were hardly deterred by the rain. It was estimated that more than 90-percent of the 6,149 entrants took part and more than 100 of the companies had tents.

“I’m very proud of what this means to our community, how it has continued to grow, and I’m equally proud to be associated with the firm that owns it,” said Jim Small, Senior Vice President for JPMorgan Chase and the host of the evening. “As a Syracuse resident, it’s a win win for me.”

Speaking of victories, Annette Dumack of Select Energy earned her first Most Senior Executive title, as did Harry O’Brien of Crucible Materials. They earned the women’s and men’s crowns respectively in times of 29:38 and 23:16.

The evening’s primary beneficiary, the Joslin Diabetes Center, was represented by medical director Dr. Ruth Weinstock. The Joslin Center is the only one of its kind in upstate New York, an internationally recognized leader in diabetes treatment, research and education.

And ultimately it was appropriate that Syracuse University – in a year where it also won the lacrosse national collegiate title in addition to its high-profile hoops win -- would earn a major award with Springer’s victory.

“It was kind of like running in a stadium,” said Springer. “All through the course, people were yelling, ‘Go SU!’ It definitely made me feel part of something big.”