Sachem North Hosts First Annual Fallen Heroes 5K Trail Run/Walk

While thousands stormed the streets in the city an hour west of Sachem for the New York City Marathon, close to 60 participated in the first annual Fall Heroes 5K Trail Run/Walk Sunday afternoon at Sachem High School North.

Intended to raise money for the 9/11 monument at Sachem North that will be completed on the 10th anniversary of the terror attacks, the mornings festivities included the race, and a fun run.

"It really shows people care," said Alexis Shaw, an advisor that helped create the race as part of the Freshman Legacy Project for the Class of 2014. "People ran with their hearts for a real good cause."

Sophomore Mike Mirrione won the overall race with a time of 19:30. Last week he ran at the Section XI Cross-Country Championships and finished with a personal record of 19:40.

"It's nice to run for something like this," said Mirrione, who mentioned the last 100 meters were difficult because of the wind and cold temperature. "It's really cool to be a part of this."

Jon Weston, an advisor for the legacy project, who along with Shaw orchestrated the 5K, said he's been thinking of a way to honor 9/11 victims for a few years. 

He recalled sitting in Steve Tuttle's social studies class in 2001 as a junior at Sachem High School when he learned of the news. Sachem showed its character after the devastating day.

"It was the sense of benevolence and community giving that I saw in the days, weeks and months following that made me truly believe that Sachem, despite having suffered tremendous blows, still had something special," he said, " and that prevailed through all its tribulations."

Yet again, Sachem is prevailing and the final product of the 9/11 memorial will be unveiled in less than a year.

Other notable runners:

-Sachem teachers (male): Gold, Jeff Lederman; Silver, Mike Klein

-Sachem teachers (female): Gold, Barbara Bancke; Silver, 

-Sachem alumni (male): Gold, Fred Mullin; Silver, Brendan Travis

-Sachem alumni (female): Gold, Katie Williams; Silver, Cassie Pearson

-18 & under (male): Gold, Michael Mirrione; Silver, Chris Birjla

-18 & under (female): Gold, Jennifer Weiss; Silver, Allison Riss

-19-30 (male): Gold, Brendan Travis

-19-30 (female): Gold, Katie Williams; Silver, Nicole DeLuca

-31-40 (male): Gold, Pat Burke; Silver, Fred Mullin

-31-40 (female): Gold, Vanessa Scharfenberger; Silver, Erica Karnes

-41-45 (male): Gold, John McNamara; Silver, Chris Birjla

 -41-50 (female): Gold, Ellen Petelin