Official results are available for Rochester | Fortune 500 results posted


Pushed to a new venue at Rochester Institute of Technology by its growing popularity, the Rochester JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge attracts a record 9,868 participants and 368 companies on a night highlighted by rain, sun and beautiful rainbows. Tents sprouted in the roomy venue, but the race maintained its community feel.

New course opens up more space
for runners, tents, community spirit
Official results | 2004 photo gallery

Runners start first race on new course.

ROCHESTER, May 27, 2004 - For 13 years, the Rochester JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge called Highland Park home. The Frederick Law Olmsted-designed jewel nurtured the Corporate Challenge as it grew from a humble 816 participants in 1991 to a whopping 8,760 in 2003.

But the event reached a crossroads last spring. Event organizers were forced to turn away dozens of companies because the Corporate Challenge had become a staple in the business community. Companies that requested larger tents to accommodate festive post-race parties were squeezed into tight quarters. A decision needed to be made: Either the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge could limit participation, or it had to find a new staging area.

"In all honesty, we were a little bit nervous," said Bob Ryan, Senior Vice President and Region Executive for JPMorgan Chase in Rochester. "But we did our homework, explored different sites, communicated our intentions thoughtfully throughout the community, and made what we thought was the right decision."

Rochester gets a sign its move was a good one

And that decision was to conduct the 14 th annual JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge at the Rochester Institute of Technology, a suburban college campus abounding with green space, nature and parking. Now dealing with a venue that had more than double the footprint of Highland Park, the numbers exploded. A total of 9,868 participants from 368 companies - both Rochester records - took part in a race that began in rain and ended with a breathtaking double rainbow.

"If this isn't a sign that we made the right decision," Ryan said, noting the rainbow, "nothing is."

The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, theoretically, belonged to the two individual winners. Corporate Challenge first-timers Dave McCollam of Monroe #1 BOCES and Laura Bloedorn of the University of Rochester covered the 3.5-mile RIT course in 17:15 and 19:43 respectively, each proving that they are two premier young runners who may soon emerge on the national scene.

Race growing as economic benefit for Rochester

The big winner on the night however, might be the Rochester economy. It is estimated that the enlarged Corporate Challenge might contribute as much as $2 million to the city's coffers.

"We had 80 more tents here than last year," said Ryan. "It's great for those companies, but even better for Rochester. You've got people selling t-shirts, catering in each of those tents, the fees for tent rentals, etc. This has become a fantastic event for the entire Rochester community. The support is truly incomprehensible."

Rochester has increased its participation each of its 14 years on the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Series schedule. No other current city in the Series has boasted growth in more than 10 consecutive years. And no-other city in the Series has more of a community feel with so many mid-size, small and municipal companies participating. Of the top 12 men's and women's individual finishers, seven were from elementary, high or secondary schools. The remaining five were from corporations that have their primary headquarters in the Rochester area.

"I work for a company that encourages participation in events like these," said Ron Guidone of Monroe County Water Authority. "It shows our commitment to the community. We've been doing it every year since it started."

Andrew Winden of Xerox

"This is a family-oriented area, we're a family-oriented company and this event celebrates people coming together," said Joanna Marcelletti of ACRO Industries, a sheet metal manufacturer. "It's a perfect fit. We wouldn't miss the Corporate Challenge. We have 52 of 150 total employees out here tonight."

The Corporate Challenge receives outstanding third-party credibility in comprehensive coverage from the city's largest newspaper, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. The paper provides front page and thorough sports page coverage, and people have noticed.

"This is a great running town, just a wonderful community," said women's winner Bloedorn, who moved to Rochester from Minnesota six months ago. "It's easy to fall in love with this town."

Bloedorn - pronounced Blay-dorn - is a name to remember. A research microbiologist at the University of Rochester, she is a serious marathoner who competed in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials and dreams of making the 2008 Olympic team. She trains for marathons, ironically, by doing repeated loops on the Corporate Challenge's course at RIT.

Bloedorn runs year's best time on a fast, new course

"I know every inch of this course and it treated me well in this race," she smiled.

"I'm the type of runner who gets easily lost, so running in loops is beneficial. The familiarity helped."

The 19:43 clocked by Bloedorn is the fastest women's time thus far this season in the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Series.

Bloedorn moved to Rochester to stay close to her boyfriend, who is doing graduate work at RIT. McCollam also is a Rochester newbie, having moved here two years ago after completing college in his native West Virginia.

"I've heard about this race and I was fixing to make sure I entered this year," said McCollam, a biology and history teacher at Monroe #1 BOCES. "The traffic was tough, and I had to kind of abandon my car to get here 15 minutes before the race, but it all worked out."

McCollam bested a terrific men's field that included a hard-luck second-place finisher in Dave Bradshaw of Macedon Elementary Schools. Bradshaw's 17:18 would win many other Corporate Challenge events, but he finished about 20 meters behind a surging McCollam. The fourth place finisher was two-time Olympic biathlete Duncan Douglas and in fifth was multiple-time Corporate Challenge champion Jim Derick of Corning.

"It was just my night," McCollam shrugged. "The race could have gone to any of the top guys."

Men's winner tops off night by meeting Grete Waitz

Waiting at the awards stage was a significant bonus for McCollam and his girlfriend Stephanie Hatfield. Grete Waitz, the nine-time New York City Marathon champion, was handing out the Tiffany Awards to the winners.

"My dad was an avid runner and he always admired Grete," said Hatfield. "So much so, he named a kitten of mine Grete. I knew all about Grete Waitz growing up. I told Grete about our cat and she told me she never had a cat named after her."

Pat Neville of Energy East and Kathryn O'Neill of Monroe Veterinary Associates were the respective men's and women's Most Senior Executive champions. The University of Rochester had the largest team with 312 total participants.

The JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in Rochester benefited three organizations - the Al Sigl Center, the Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Highland Park Horticultural Trust. And its biggest cause was providing a night of healthy competition and camaraderie for the local business community.

"It's nice to be out here with your co-workers, with your friends, some running hard, some just having fun, enjoying each other's company," said Peter Haggerty, captain of the RIT team and one of the driving forces behind making this event work at the new site. "It's events like these that help make Rochester special.