Popular victory in Syracuse Scott Shaw charges to the finish line to win his first JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in Syracuse. A former All-American at Clemson, Shaw now works for MacKnight Architects and he claimed his 17:23 win before a cheering contingent of friends and family at Onodaga Lake Park. Photos: Joe Vericker /PhotoBureau, Inc.

Champions' family ties reflect
community spirit at Syracuse
Official results posted | The race in photos

Representatives of Welch Allyn are congratulated by Jim Small of JPMorgan Chase (second from left) and Bob Savage of American Airlines (right) for their Largest Participation Award.

SYRACUSE, New York, August 3, 2004 - Individual winners at the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge earn engraved prizes from the prestigious jeweler Tiffany & Company. But on this steamy night in Central New York, the top male and female finishers received something much more valuable.

"That's my brother," was the cry from a large gathering of friends and family as Scott Shaw from MacKnight Architects was saluted on the awards stage as the first male.

"I'm blessed to have a supportive family and it means so much to have them here rooting for me," said Shaw, who earned his first JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge title in 17:23, 25 seconds faster than runner-up Mike Melfi, the defending champion from Syracuse City Schools.

Kristin White, a pharmacist at Wegman's, is no stranger to adulation at the Corporate Challenge. On this night she earned her fourth title, covering the 3.5-mile Onondaga Lake Park course in 21:19, besting Karen Kemmis of SUNY Upstate Medical (21:45). This win was extra special however. It was White's first Corporate Challenge crown as a mom.

After she left the awards stage, White was greeted by and embraced by her three-year-old daughter Phoebe Elizabeth. "Phoebe has taught me about priorities in life," said White.

Some 200 teams celebrated with corporate tents

The two standout performers embodied the feel-good, community nature of the 23rd annual JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in Syracuse. A total of 6,092 participants from 262 companies took part, making it the largest road race in Central New York and easily the most robust corporate picnic. Approximately 200 of the teams had corporate tents, with the menus ranging from the finest cuts of meat to post-race carbohydrate replenishing. And, particularly on this 85-degree evening, there was plenty of liquid refreshment.

"I've been doing this event for 20 years," said Ed Kelley, a partner at the law firm Bond, Schoeneck & King. "I remember when just a couple of hundred people took part, the progression has been outstanding. It's terrific to see so many people out here taking part in a healthy activity."

The Syracuse event has thrived for nearly a quarter century in large part due to the tireless cooperation of the Onondaga County Parks. Nick Pirro, Onondaga County Executive, and Bob Geraci, Commissioner of Parks, both attended and were beaming as the companies enjoyed the recently-beautified Onondaga Lake Park.

And the participants of the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge also are playing a part in the building of a much-needed facility in Syracuse. The event beneficiary was the Central New York Children's Hospital at University Hospital, a $15-million facility slated to open in 2007.

This event is "all about the community"

"It's all about the community," said Jim Small, Regional Commercial Executive for JPMorgan Chase and the host of the event. "The goodwill is real for the people who are here. When you have 6,000 people in a compact space like this, the feel of community, that there is a bright future, is profound."

Indeed, the running and business future for Shaw, the men's winner, appears to be blinding. In November, while running as a fifth-year senior at Clemson University, he qualified for the Division 1 NCAA Cross Country Championships and earned All-American status. "The next month, I graduated on a Thursday and I started a job at MacKnight on a Monday," Shaw said.

And Shaw is discovering that life as a full-time architect is challenging, indeed.

"When you're in college as an athlete, it's just classes and running," he said. "That's all you have to worry about. Now, in the real world, there are so many more demands on your time. That's why an event like this is impressive. It was great to come home and win a big race like this, for my company, myself and my family."

White, the four-time women's winner, also takes great pride in getting publicity for her employer, Wegman's.

"I just love it there, they are so family friendly and take the individual's needs into consideration," she said. "I left for a couple of months to work somewhere else and it was a big mistake. I just had to get back to Wegman's.

More than 6,000 runners start out at Onodaga Lake Park.

"I love this event," she continued. "With obesity such a problem in America and being in the health field, I think it's great to see everybody out here getting exercise. I wish we had more events like this."

Toni McFadden, a manager of financial operations at Unity Mutual Life Insurance, agrees. She has been "addicted" to running for 16 years and has participated in the Corporate Challenge each of those years. She gets ready for the event with 5 a.m. training runs most days.

"When you can set a healthy example for others, it's worth it," she says of her pre-dawn jaunts.

Rayo, Durnack win Most Senior Executive titles

Other executives setting a healthy pace on this night were the Most Senior Executive champions - Robert Rayo of Haylor, Freyer & Coon (21:13) and Annette Durnack of Select Energy (28:30). Durnack successfully defended her title.

To illustrate how widely-accepted this event has become in the Syracuse market, two network-affiliate television stations broadcast the 6:25 p.m. race start live. And with eight former male and female champions at the front of the line, it was a Who's Who of Upstate Corporate Challenge participants.

But this is an event that celebrates the back-of-pack participants with equal gusto and when the last walker crossed - at approximately the 90-minute mark - the party was on full throttle.