06/23/2024
This year, our annual Polonia 5K Run marks its 10th anniversary, during which many well-known and outstanding athletes have annually graced the event. The run has become a part of the history of street races in several New Jersey cities: Wallington, Garfield, Clark, and Linden. The starting lists included numerous runners, as well as occasional runners and walkers who have always wanted to participate in our running celebration, either to meet friends or simply to boost their fitness. Undoubtedly, there were many reasons for participation.
This year's special guest, Olympic Speed Skating Champion Zbigniew Brรณdka, achieved an impressive 4th place, showcasing his continued high performance, worthy of a true athlete. We congratulate him on his physical condition, which undoubtedly aids him in his daily work as a firefighter in his hometown.
A notable achievement this year was the victory of our so-called "Rookies" in the race. They dominated, especially in the men's category: First place was taken by Davian Simon with the best time (17:22), followed by Hunter Cromwell in second place for the second consecutive time (17:34), and David Queiruga in third (17:49). In the women's category, Magdalena Byra took first place (20:53), ahead of Alice Zhou (20:54) and Joanna Wierdak (22:59).
Our race traditionally began with a children's run, which also provided a lot of excitement for everyone involved. The running kids received enthusiastic support, worthy of the biggest racing events, creating a wonderful atmosphere with their families and friends, which later spread to all participants in the main race.
Before the start, everyone sang the national anthem, beautifully performed by Linden's Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Brady. Polonia 5K Run started at 10:15 am, initiated by a gunshot from Linden's Mayor Derek Armstead.
The route was securely manned by volunteers, with two groups managing water stations at the 2nd and 4th kilometers along the main streets of the city. This year, the runners enjoyed great support from local residents who came out in large numbers to cheer on the participants passing by their homes.
The joy of completing the 5-kilometer race was enhanced for many of our runners by the beautiful participation medals handed out at the finish line, sponsored by the race organizer in celebration of the X-th anniversary of Polonia 5K Run.
Winners in the 11 age categories received additional medals presented by several honorary guests, including Zbigniew Brรณdka, Michelle Yamakaitis, Barry Javic, Rafaล Wrobel, and Mirek Krajewski.
The race sponsor, Abigailโs Restaurant, organized an After Party to which all Polonia 5K Run participants were invited.
We must emphasize the participation of our title sponsors in organizing the event: Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, United Poles Federal Credit Union, BDG Hotels, AK Progress Corporation, Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, and the host city of Linden, New Jersey. Without their support, our race could not have taken place in its current form.
We thank the participants for their numerous entries and the wonderful atmosphere, and we wish them a successful year and participation in many running events worldwide. To our volunteers, we wish them good health and joy in being able to assist in social events, including our Polonia 5K Run.
See Polonia 5K Run 2024 results here: https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/32267 -464641;perpage:100
