The first unofficial weekend of fall brought beautiful weather to Ossining, and a big, enthusiastic crowd to the 4th annual Ossining MATTERS Education Foundation’s 5k Trail Race / 2 Mile Walk, a community event that just keeps getting better! Runners’ and walkers’ entry fees raised nearly $8,000, which Ossining MATTERS will use to fund enriching programs for students throughout the Ossining School District.

This year’s race drew runners from as far away as California, and featured competitors from five to seventy-one years old. Nine Ossining High School sports teams participated, with top race honors going to a brother and sister pair of Cross Country runners, Mike and Katie Poleski. More than 240 runners participated in the competitive portion of the event, scored by the Westchester Track Club, and more than 200 walkers enjoyed the scenery, the weather, and the good company of friends and neighbors.

After the race, world-famous marathoner (and Ossining resident) Khalid Khannouchi graciously autographed race numbers, shirts, jerseys, and more for a big crowd of enthusiastic fans – and then turned the tables, requesting autographs from overall winners Mike and Katie Poleski.

Nearly seventy-five community volunteers, including members of the Police Department and the Recreation Department, plus Village of Ossining employees, helped to make the day the big success it was. Dozens of Ossining MATTERS volunteers registered and checked in participants on race day; handed out this year’s t-shirts, featuring photographic artwork by an OHS junior; took photos; and served refreshments, donated by local businesses and restaurants, at the end of the race. Members of the school board and district administration handed out water to the runners and walkers along the way – with the exception of OHS Principal Josh Mandel, who finished the race in the top eighty overall, ahead of plenty of the varsity athletes. And OHS Cheerleaders celebrated the participants as they stepped off and as they reached the finish line.

Congratulations to all who participated, and many thanks to all the volunteers and community sponsors whose contributions made the race possible.

2006 Race Photos by Neal Temple