Rock ‘n’ Roll 10K Set To Take Center Stage In New York

Nearly 7,000 are expected to line up in Prospect Park on Saturday.

NEW YORK – Its 6.2 miles of Rock ‘n’ Roll and it’s for a great cause. The first ever Rock ‘n’ Roll New York 10k will take place in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park on Saturday morning, October 22. Among the local charities involved with the inaugural event is the Silver Shield Foundation, which was founded in 1982 by late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and the late U.S. Olympic champion James E. Fuchs to provide educational funding to the children of New York City firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty.

“We are delighted to be one of the local charities involved with the first ever Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series event in New York City,” said foundation chairman William Walters.  “The Rock ‘n’ Roll New York 10k is a great way to increase awareness for our mission of preserving the hopes and dreams that fallen firefighters and police officers had for their children.”

With nearly 7,000 participants expected, the Rock ‘n’ Roll New York 10k will wind through the flat, tree-lined beauty of Prospect Park, beginning at 7:30 a.m. on the south side of Prospect Park Lake and finishing outside the Prospect Park Zoo. There is prize money for the top-5 male and female finishers, with first place being awarded $1000.

The elite men’s field features Girma Tola, who ran a personal best of 27:48 in Salt Lake City last year. Ethiopian and Bronx, New York resident Tesfaye Dube, with a personal best of 28:57, is also entered in the men’s field. The top American entrant is Hollywood, California’s Christian Hesch, a sub-4:00 miler who has a 10K best of 29:03.

On the women’s side Alemtsehay Misganaw, who ran 32:08 for 10K earlier this year in Rockville, MD, will wear bib # F1. She’ll be challenged by Bekelech Bedada, who has a personal best of 32:30. The top American entrant is Emily Potter, a member of the Army’s World Class Athlete Program who is training for January’s Olympic Marathon Trials.

The event, in the mold of wildly popular Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, will be distinguished by live DJ’s performing along the course, playing diverse genres of music.  Culminating the festivities will be a post race celebration and finish line concert headlined by The Postelles.

Participants are encouraged to run in the memory of a firefighter or police officer that made the supreme sacrifice.

Race weekend registration will be available on Friday, October 21 at SuperRunners Shop in Manhattan from 12 – 7 pm and, also on Saturday at the Start Line.

For more information please visit RunRocknRoll.com.