So, it was 30 degrees, windy, and snow -covered, that did not deter the thirty to forty hardy souls who opened the track season on April 8th at the UB North Campus. Hopefully, Spring will arrive, and the sun will soon shine down on the Checkers workouts. Workouts and Coach’s comments and advice may be found at the web-site.

New Members

Ramona Nowak
Gregory Hyatt
Sandra Harmon
Mark Mahoney
Maggie Mahoney
Chris Connelly
Jack, Donna, Robby, Nicky, Danny,

Joshua Ward
Karen Aavik
Douglas Moreland

Catharine McCracken

Rob Loesch

Kofi Fynn-Aikins

Carolyn, Kristin,

Jessica, Jenna

Ortman

Jessica Nowak

Christine Colucci

Becky Harasimowicz

Douglas Moreland
Walter Potoki
Kari and Tami Sanak
Jodi Reynolds
Michelle Lis

Subject: Post Race Party: UB Track & Field Invitational April 19^th, 6pm. After the UB track meet, any club members who volunteer or participate in the meet are invited to a Pizza & Wing Party at my house, 78 Hillside Ave. Cheektowaga. I will provide the refreshments. If people want to, they can bring some kind of snack, but it’s not necessary. Please contact me by e-mail @ MaryGarlickRoll@earthlink.net or phone 833-3292 before the 19^th so I can have a head count. Spouses and friends are welcome.PLEASE NOTE: There will be a special guest appearance by UB Head Track & Field Coach Victoria Mitchell. Vic will be there to personally thank the volunteers and help clean up the house after the party. Roger A. Roll, President Checkers AC

Apr 19 noon St Pat's Road Race 5k, Cazenovia, South Buffalo 824-7609

Apr 25, 6:00+ Happy Hour, Brinks, Chippewa Street

Apr 26 11:00am Town of Tonawanda 5K, Tonawanda Aquatic Center(off Delaware Road) 876-7424 

Apr 26 10:00am Envirun to Celebrate Earth Day, 5k, Niagara Falls, 851-7130

May 1 6:00pm Lakeside Teachers 5k, Lakeshore HS, Beach Road, Angola 549-2309

May 2 6:00pm Trailblazers Spring Stampede 5k, NCCC, Sanborn, 614-5904

May 3 9:00am Sheriff Pat Galivan's 5k, Chestnut Ridge Park, 549-5987

May 3 10:00am St. Mark's Derby Day 5k, St. Marks, 401 Woodward, North Buffalo, 832-0595

May 3 8:30am Ontario Shore Marathon, Half Marathon, Hamlin State Park, 585-264-1480

May 11 9:00am The Women's Race 5K, Delaware Park Meadow 716-631-8665  

May 17 10:30am Chris Griswold Memorial Race 5K, Como Park, Lancaster, 685-2640  

May 17 9:00am 4 Mile Run For Izzy, 2052 Lakeview Rd, Lake View, 627-7013

May 17 10:30am American Liver Foundation Liver 5k, 2855 South Park Avenue, 447-1510

May 18 9:00am The Blossom Races, Half Marathon & 5k, Kingsbridge Park, Niagara Falls, ON

May 18 9:00am Independent Health Kid's Run, 1.8m, 1m, Mini-Dash for ages 2-4, Delaware Park

May 18 4:00pm Run Walk 'N Roll 5k Race & 1m Family Fun Run/Walk, Jewish Center, Getzville

May 18 9:00am Lilac 10k,Highland Park, Rochester, NY

Marla Crouse 4/1

Ann Januszkiewicz 4/1

Chuck LaChiusa 4/1

Ed Mills 4/1

David Sardo 4/2

Liz Smith 4/2

Joyce Farrell 4/3

Karen Jann 4/5

Jill Murray 4/5

John Pepke 4/5

Julia Skop 4/5

Tammy Queeno 4/6

Debra Meier 4/7

John Moore 4/7

Margie Giardini 4/8

David Arlington 4/9

Josh Penfold 4/9

Frank Limeri 4/11

Jim Schaffstall 4/12

Peter Forrestel 4/14

Michelle Rioux 4/14

Amy Fakterowitz 4/15

Kathy Klemenich 4/15

Timothy Neddy 4/17

Todd Lemmiksoo 4/18

Anne Marie Ayers 4/19

Gary Raby 4/19

Carol Schuster 4/21

Edna Hyer 4/27

Bill Pellegrino 4/27

Shana Hill 4/29

Tim Byrnes 4/30

John Radzikowski 4/30

Congratulations to Kevin Burke who was married in Buffalo on April 5 to Tyanne Schaefer. Burke is an attorney at Magavern & Magavern & Grimm, and will surely run faster times as a married runner!

Congratulations to Warren Elvers who took a third place in his age group on March 30th at Powerman Alabama. He has now qualified to go to World's in the duathalon which takes place in Switzerland this year. Even with an injury which affected his training for the running aspect of it, Warren pulled the so called "rabbit out of the hat".

01/26 Betsy Schultz Tufts University Invitational 1600 meters 5:19 5:19

02/07 Paul Donnelly Illinois Wesleyan University Open 5k1 6:29 5:18
02/08 Betsy Schultz Colgate University 3000 meters 10:43

03/01 Sandy Bunn Shamrock Run 8k 34:01 6:51

03/01 Ralph Zimmermann Shamrock Run 8k 32:41 6:35

03/01 Paul Donnelly Shamrock Run 8k 27:29 5:32

03/07 Betsy Schultz ECAC championships at Tufts 5000 meters 18:40 03/22 Lauren Ann Lorek Bengal 5k 22:30

03/22 Sandy Bunn Bengal 5k 20:29 6:36

03/29 Diane Sardes Indoor Masters Championship- Boston Mile 5:56:12

03/29 Diane Sardes Indoor Masters Championship- Boston 800 meters 2:44:22

03/30 Fred Lew Around the Bay 30k 2:06:51 4:14/KM

Brad Heron 16:51 2M15-19

Sandy Bunn 21:00 3M40-49

Ellen Hamm 23:16 2F30-39

Bill White 24:24 1M60-69

Mike Heitzenrater16:05 1/M20-24

Paul Drexler17:001/M25-29

Dan Essler0:17:501/M45-49

Ron Snavely0:18:54 3/M35-39

Paul Duttge0:19:00 1/M50-54

David Ward0:19:04 2/M50-54

Michael Harrison0:19:46 2/M55-59

Amy Fakterowitz0:20:061/F30-34

Lauren Lorek0:22:302/F30-34

Patricia Kunselman 22:59 1/F55-59

Kathleen Yesny0:23:062/F45-49

Joannie Padginton 23:432/F40-44

Shana Hill 25:58/F20-24

Kim Chmielewicz0:26:26 3/F35-39

Allen Dise 18:12 2/F-SON

Dan Essler 18:52 1/M45-49

Don Seitz 19:07 3/M40-44

Dave Ward 19:33 1/M50-54

Patrick Garrity 19:47 1/M30-39AL

Joanne York-Rapl 19:49 1/F40-44

Michael Harrison 20:09 1/M55-59

Amy Fakterowitz 20:12 1/F30-34

Richard Hasling 21:35 3/M00-29AL

Katie Pietrak 22:08 2/F15-19

Kenneth Gordon 22:12 3/M60-64

Ed Mills 22:14 3/M40-49AL

Jessica Hamm 23:06 1/M-DAUGHT

Ellen Hamm 23:07 1/M-DAUGHT

Andrew Moynihan 23:35 2/M30-39AL

Chuck LaChiusa 23:53 1/M50-59AL

Joannie Padginton 24:03 2/F40-44

Sandra Hebeler 26:35 1/F50-54

2:06:51.2 Lew, Fred 8/224 M50-54

2:15:14.2 Dafgard, Andrew 6/23M15-19

2:18:17.4 Snavely, Ron 91/319 M35-39

2:19:14.6 Levine, Cathy 4/178 W45-49

2:20:58.7 McRobert, Ricky 77/322 M45-49

2:21:21.3 Neal, Samuel 41/224 M50-54

2:25:39.6 Shanahan, Tom115/360 M40-44

2:27:07.4 Appenheimer, Tom Sr.14/105 M55-59

2:27:11.4 Schiavone, Michael 109/322 M45-49

2:28:15.7 Prentiss, James 135/360M40-44

2:28:02.6 Tracy, Jeff 104/257 M30-34

2:28:03.9 Clark, Richard 105/257 M30-34

2:28:10.9 Priore, Jennifer 29/191 W25-2 9

2:28:30.2 O'Lay, Robert 115/322 M45-49

2:29:06.9 Caruso, Robert 166/360 M40-44

2:31:11.4 Lavis, Greg 126/322 M45-49

2:31:11.1 Dittenhofer, Carol 28/279 W35-39

2:35:21.5 Loesch Jr., 139/257 M30-34

2:40:00.0 Wells, Gene 38/105 M55-59

2:42:00.7 Ludwa, Sandi 2/26 W55-59

2:43:28.1 Klein, Richard 109/224 M50-54

2:43:05.3 Wiltrout, Kathleen 11/76 W50-54

2:50:04.3 Davis, Greg 43 280/360 M40-44

2:50:29.8 Dalton Jr, Patrick 16/23 M15-19

2:55:12.5 Linstedt, Sharon 70/178W45-49

2:55:22.0 Carriero, Anne-Marie 29/57 W20-24

3:01:32.5 Sullivan, Richard 3/5 M70-74

3:01:40.4 Dalton Sr, Patrick 176/224 M50-54

3:04:02.0 Occhino, Julie 182/279 W35-39

3:04:30.6 Zelasko, Timothy 322/360 M40-44

3:05:48.4 Curry, Mike 38/77 Clyde M 40+

3:04:24.4 Chmielewicz, Kim 188/279 W35-39

3:09:00.9 Noe, Amy 183/239 W30-34

3:09:03.6 Rioux, Michelle 144/191 W 25 - 29

3:14:09.6 Meier, Debra 177/229 W40-44

3:30:10.8 Strenkoski, Gary 65/77 Clyde M40+

Mike Heitzenrater 1:12:55 1/M20-24

John F. McMahon 1:18:44 2/M35-39

Bach Weslow 1:20:09 2/M30-34

Allen Dise 1:22:46 1/M40-44

Matt Ruddy 1:22:51 3/M30-34

Ted Paget 1:22:57 1/M50-54

James Waldron 1:23:15 2/M40-44

Jerry J. Irving 1:23:18 2/M50-54

Judy Arlington 1:24:58 1/F35-39

Debra Morris-Allen 1:30:11 1/F40-44

Robert C. Bucelli 1:31:01 2/M20-24

Elizabeth P. Randell 1:33:50 2/F35-39

Joanne York-Rappl 1:34:13 2/F40-44

Michael H. Harrison 1:35:04 3/M55-59

John Feroleto 1:35:32 3/M45-49

Amy Fakterowitz 1:35:35 2/F30-34

Patrick J. Dalton Jr 1:39:10 2/M0-19

Jeanne Chiarmonte 1:39:11 3/F35-39

Jerry Bergman 1:42:26 3/M60-64

Diane Sardes 1:43:23 1/F50-54

Nicole Ludwa 1:46:05 2/F20-24

Joe Antkowiak 1:47:04 2/M65-69

Sandra Harmon 1:47:18 3/F50-54

Sandi Ludwa 1:50:09 1/F55-59

Richard Sullivan 1:58:51 3/M70-74

Edye Radice 2:21:33 2/F65-69

FrankRowe 2:27:57 2/F60-64

Friends and Alumni for Maryvale Athletics

Fun Walk and 5K Run

Saturday, May 17th, 2003 11:00 AM

Maryvale High School Campus

1050 Maryvale Dr. Cheektowaga, N.Y. 14225

P.S.—If you have not been receiving e-mails this month, your e-mail address may be incorrect. I have been deleting addresses that are repeatedly returned. If you want to check, or update your e-mail, contact me at jcrouse@acsu.buffalo.edu.

The Indoor Masters Track and Field Championships was held the weekend of March 28^th at the Reggie Lewis Arena in Boston. Coach Bob and Becky’s van took 7 of us, baggage and all on a road trip to the meet, only 7 ½ hours away.

We left early on a Friday morning, Bob was the only one who had to race that evening. He needed to get there in enough time so that he could loosen up to race the 3000 that evening. He was worried about an Achilles injury that had healed, but he was still stiff if he didn’t warm up properly. I approached Bob before the race to wish him luck. He said he felt real good. The race gun went off, and some very elite men were on their way. It was a tight bunch of men, and after only 100 meters, we saw Bob start to hop as if there surely was a problem. He fell back to last place, but looked as though he would be all. We thought he might have pulled his Achilles, but we later had found out someone had stepped with full force right on that Achilles. He got back into the race, picking off 3 other runners. We were screaming with amazement at his racing ability when on the 3^rd lap he had too much pain to continue and had to stop. Bob had to baby-sit the rest of us that weekend. He limped everywhere we went. Becky Heuer was supposed to race also, but was set back with a touch of pneumonia. She was feeling better that weekend and decided to take the trip. It was already a month-old illness, but she was still recovering.

There were still two days left for me, Kenny Gordon, Dave Carroll and Gary Hurta to race. Bob and Becky made the best of it. They are true champions. They told us stories about so many other times that there were disappointments. You work through them; you recover and come back when you’re healed and ready.

Saturday was the day Dave, Ken and I were to race the Mile, and Gary had the 200. We arrived at the arena, and you could tell how our mood changed. Had to get the race-face on--the nerves were piling up. I knew not to say anything stupid to the others. It was time to get into our own cocoons, so we would be ready to race as hard as we could. I looked at Dave. He was somewhere else, and it was probably the same place I was. We trained months for these short races. I went off first, I had to break six minutes, and the desire was back. Somewhere I had lost it. It was two years since I felt like trying to race that time again. Would I do it? If you want something bad enough you better do it! I finished--5:56.12.

Ken was next. Ken knew he wasn’t in the same shape he was two years ago when he trained hard. It wasn’t the same this year. He was busy moving, and didn’t get in as many quality workouts as planned. Either way he thought he would do it again as well as he could. It was in his heart to run well. And he, did but this BIG BLACK BEAR jumped on his back on lap 5. Know what happens when you go out too fast? This BIG BLACK BEAR suddenly appears and you can’t shake him. Ken finished the race, and we must have teased him all that day and the next because he went out way too fast. We had some great laughs at his expense.

Dave ran a fast mile, but the special race he was saving himself for was the 800 meters the next morning. Same with Gary. He ran his 400 (3^rd place), but was gearing for the 800. Bob and Becky had four more races to watch us perform in. We mingled with runners we know from other clubs and all went out to eat together that night.

There was no worry for my 800-meter race, the Mile race I had trained so hard for was a success, and I would run this one for fun. By the way, if anyone has ever raced an 800-meter race, you know that it is a different animal. It’s a faster sprint then a mile. It hurts really bad! Dave Carroll ran his best time of the year, Ken ran well,and Gary placed 2^nd in his age group. Indoor tack this season was well worth the time and training for all of us….except poor Bob and Becky. They WILL be back!

This challenge is for members only and will consist of three disciples: 1. Roads, 2. Track, 3. Cross Country. Each disciple will have 3 races for a total of 9 races. The last race of series will be considered the "Championship Race" where all points will be doubled. There will be an overall male and female category as well 5 yr age groups.

Invite Men 8k/Wmn 5k
9. Nov 20 – Turkey Trot "Championship Day" 8k
For more information check out the web site.

Roger Roll, Jim Schaffstall, Patty McManus, Tom Appenheimer, Bob Carroll, Diane Sardes, Jeanne Chiarmonte, Tom Donnelly, Paul Wandel, and Sharon Linstedt. And a special thanks to all who responded to the call for nominations, and to those who agreed to run for the Board.

Checkers teams for the

are being organized now by Fred Lew. Please contact him at 773-5146, if you are

interested in participating.

Condolences to Bob Kolodziej's whose father recently passed away.

Seven years ago, I stepped down from the Checkers board after being president for four years. I was getting burned out, and the interest just wasn’t there anymore. Fast forward to 2002, club president Diane Sardes asked if I would be interested in rejoining the board to replace a member who had stepped down. Diane said there would be no pressure and that the board meetings were fun and informal. Well, now it is 2003, and some how I am president again. Sounds like a setup to me!

I really am grateful to the board and club members for this great opportunity to lead Checkers again. There have been many changes since my last term, (all for the good). Checkers has grown from 150 to 550 members. Track practice attracts large numbers with great workouts, from a great coach. With UB and Crosby Field, the club is assured a track to practice on every week. Besides road racing, there are opportunities to run indoor and outdoor track meets, along with cross-country in the fall. We have a newsletter, second to none, and an unbelievable web site which our club takes great pride in.

However, what hasn’t changed are the people. Checkers has always been the best club and will continue to be so because, you the members, make it that way. The reasons I joined years ago are still there today. Checkers is a club with friendly members that welcome everyone, regardless if you are the fastest, slowest, or don’t even like to run. There is a place for everyone.

I will end my first newsletter by saying I will try to continue the growth and great changes made during Diane’s presidency. I feel I have a great board of directors who have great ideas that surround me. However, remember you the members make Checkers great, so do not hesitate to approach me or any other board members with your thoughts and ideas.

‘See you at Track"

Recognition and a large bouquet of flowers were given to retiring Checkers President Diane Sardes for the club’s growth and accomplishments during her tenure. During Diane’s six years as president, there have been many changes to Checkers AC: The club has grown from 150 members to 550; Bob Carroll took over track practices bringing with him many new members; the use of the UB track was secured; our selection of club clothing has expanded from running gear to jackets; members have been given the opportunity to participate in road racing, indoor and outdoor track meets, and cross-country; the newsletter has been updated and a web site was developed; and the club has been incorporated as a not-for-profit organization. Diane continues on the Board and as special projects coordinator for the club.

The program presented at the general meeting included a presentation on Marathon Training by Vicki Mitchell (a handout from the presentation is available at the web site), and a talk by Coach Bob Carroll then on runner safety and general running at Chestnut Ridge. Bob also introduced a members-only competition covering the running season. See the web site for more details.

The club also recognized the many contributions made by John Feroleto as recipient of the 2002 Tom Steele Award. This award is given annually to the member who has contributed the most to the club. John was recognized for volunteering his services in legally incorporating the Club as a not-for-profit organization, for continuing financial support of the Buffalo Mile, and for his overall promotion of the club through his participation in events.

Dear fellow Checkers members, I will be running the San Diego Marathon on June 1 with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's "Team in Training" in memory of my son Michael Augustyn, who died when he was 10 years old of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He would have been a senior at Amherst High School, Class of 2003. I will also be running in honor of my former student at St. Mary's School for the Deaf, Amy Weber.

On March 24, I held a fund-raiser at Loughran's Bar and Restaurant. It was very special to have Amy there, newly in remission and looking great. I was overwhelmed by the number of people in attendance. I was surprised and deeply touched to see so many fellow runners and Checkers members, some of whom I'd never met. I am most grateful to all of you for support, friendship, and remembrance. It was a magical evening that I will treasure always in my heart. With warmest appreciation, Kathie Evans Augustyn

BPAC Six Hour Race
Congratulations to Rich Clark who apparently had nothing better to do for six
hours on Sunday, so he ran 21 laps around Delaware Park!!! Rich finished 4th
overall (36.71 total miles) at the Buffalo Philharmonic AC annual 6 hour race. Well Done!!! Ed Harkey