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Gabe Vitale Memorial 5K run returns after one-year hiatus

By The TimesLedger

The 21st Annual Police Gabriel Vitale 5K Memorial Run will be contested on Sunday, Sept. 22nd at 9:30 a.m. in College Point.

The start of the 3.1 mile race will be near 119th Street and Poppenhusen Avenue outside of McNeil Park. The course takes the runners through College Point and ends within the park itself. There will be splits at each mile.

Race director Leo Nicholas and his staff expect to get a large turnout of runners and are hoping to get some top-name athletes.

Last year’s race was canceled following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

In addition to the 5K, there will be a half-mile race for children ages 12 and under starting at 6:30 a.m.

The race is named for Police Officer Gabriel Vitale, who was killed in the line of duty while apprehending a burglar in December 1980. He was assigned to the 109th Precinct in Flushing.

A Perpetual Memorial Cup donated by the Vitale family will be presented to the winning police team representing the first-place precinct. A team is compromised of three members from one precinct.

Proceeds from the age group race will benefit the College Point Road Runners Club’s age groups program.

For further information and/or applications call 762-1519 or 424-2478.