Sports
Symmetry Sprints Raises More Than $4,000 for Pelham Turf Field Project
More than 100 people turned out for the first annual Symmetry Sprints in Pelham Manor
PELHAM MANOR, NY—A new sporting event was successfully launched and the Friends of Pelham Sports inched one step closer to its goal during the first annual Symmetry Sprints races.
More than 100 people in participated, which took place on Glover Field Friday and was hosted by . Chris Lauretani, the president of Symmetry and a board member of Friends of Pelham Sports, said he expected about 40 to 50 people to participate in the event, which consisted of a number races and relays.
Lauretani said the event raised at least $4,000. Proceeds from the event will be used to support Friends of Pelham Sports fundraising efforts to build a turf sports field, a project that is expected to cost about $1 million. Lauretani said the group has raise a little more than $900,000 for the turf field project, with additional monies pledged if the group meets certain fundraising goals.
“It was great,” Lauretani said. “It was a huge success We didn’t really know what to expect or how many racers were going to show up. A lot of people didn’t even know what the event was all about until people started talking about it.”
Lauretani said he plans to hold the races each year, with the proceeds going to a different charitable organization.
One of the highlights of the event was the police versus fire department four-by-100 meter relay race. The Pelham Fire Department took first in the event, followed the Pelham Police and the Pelham Manor Fire Department.
Mike Leak, captain of the Pelham Fire Department’s relay team, praised the young legs of his teammates for the victory.
“I got a bunch of young guys and I depend on them with my life,” said the 45-year-old Leak. “This is what we do and the younger guys bailed us out.”
Pelham Manor Fire Chief Joseph Ruggiero vowed his team will make up for its last place performance next year.
“I just hoped that we wouldn’t finish worse than third and we didn’t,” Ruggiero said. “We came in third and I’m very pleased. I will guarantee you one thing. When we come back next year, we will win the police and fire event.”
The events spornsors were Ron & Donna Sylvestri, COBA, Hudson Valley Bank, AJO Home Improvement, Depot Market, Prisco Orthodontics, Dr. DeBenedictis
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The top three finishes from Friday’s races cab be found in the PDF to the right of this story:
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