Buffalo, coming off record crowd, opens registration for 39th year

Runners crossing the finish line at the 2018 J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Buffalo.

That’s the question as registration for the 39^th running of the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge in Delaware Park officially opens.

The popular 3.5-mile road race – which is open only to employees of local businesses and corporations – will begin at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 13.  A Buffalo-record crowd of 14,145 runners and walkers from 391 companies registered in 2018.   The likelihood of a larger crowd – possibly a sell-out – is strengthened by the fact that this event has grown each of the last five years.

Company teams may put together their teams here.  Entry fee is $38 per employee and businesses may enter a minimum of four with no maximum.  The firm deadline for entries to be submitted is Tuesday, May 21, or when capacity is reached.  Support is available via buffalo@corpchallenge.jpmorgan.com or (716) 566-9916.

The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge history in Buffalo dates to the event’s first running in 1981. It has been held at Delaware Park for every year since, save one (Nichols School in 1992). The beautiful Frederick Law Olmsted-designed Park is perfect for post-race hospitality and over 300 companies each year reserve tent space and catering for a unique, healthy, team outing.

Wegmans (620 entrants), Ingram Micro (518) and Kaleida Health (408) were the three largest companies in 2018 in terms of company participation.  M&T Bank (men), Amherst Central Schools (women) and Clarence Central School District (mixed) had the fastest four-person teams in each respective division and will represent Buffalo at the 2019 J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Championship, location and date to be determined.

Celebrating also last year were a pair of first-time J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge champions.

The first-place men’s finisher was Alex Simon, representing Erie County Medical Center.  He covered the 3.5-mile course in 18:35 (5:18 pace). Nick Masiello from Wegmans was second in 18:58 and Jay List of Diamond Cutters of WNY was third in 19:00.

The winning woman finisher was Kim Vona of Western Regional Off-Track Betting (Batavia Downs).  Her winning time was 20:22 (5:49 pace).  The runner-up was Kelsey Gratien of Univera Healthcare, with a time of 21:01.  Third was Mary Giza from Lancaster Central School District in 21:50.

Buffalo is part of the 13-city, seven-country, five-continent J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Series.  Celebrating its 43rd consecutive year of operation in 2019, the Series is the largest corporate sporting event in the world, with 253,191 entrants from 7,661 companies participating in 2018.