Bergen Elite

As we come to end of another successful year, we want to reflect on the many achievements we had in 2023. The men’s team won the Niagara club Grand Prix, and Joey Whelan won the USATF Niagara runner of the year title, while Paul Suflita took 3rd overall. The women were 2nd overall in the Niagara Club Grand Prix, and Laura Galeazzo won the Rochester Runner of the year title.

We went to the top of Sunapee and the top of Mt Washington. We suffered at Swain(again), and survived Twisted Branch. We crossed the finish line in Boston, NY, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. We also had another Olympic trials qualifier this year. In between, there were a lot of wins, age group titles, PRs, and smiles. We also had a lot of new faces come our way who made huge contributions to the club in 2023. There is so much for us to look forward to next year, and we will see you on the trails, tracks, and roads in 2024.

📸 creds- Goat Factory Media and Diane Sardes

While our team is mainly known for our amazing athletes, quite a few of us are skilled coaches as well. Congratulations to Dave Rappleyea on winning the greater Rochester coach of the year honors for 2023! Dave has been the coach of the Pittsford Sutherland men’s and women’s cross country and track teams since 2018. This past season, his boys and girls teams won the Section V class B cross country championships, and his top runner Will Tempest won the Class B individual state title at the New York State Cross Country championships. Dave is assisted on his staff by his wife and Bergen Elite athlete Jen Spitzer and Mike Welden. Congratulations Dave!

This weekend, Sam Cottrell and Bobby Cooper helped put the finishing touches on an amazing 2023 for the team by competing at the BU mini meet at Boston University. Bobby put down a nice time in the mile, finishing 12th overall in 4:28.33. Sam was 13th overall in the 800m in a time of 2:03.58. You’ll see these 2 plenty on the track this coming winter.

Last weekend was the final race of the 2023 Niagara runner of the year series and club Grand Prix, hosted by the Checkers Christmas 3k at Delaware Park. Leading the way for the men was Joey Whelan, finishing 2nd in 8:49. His 2nd place finished clinched the runner of the year title. Just behind him in 3rd place was Paul Sulfita, who took 3rd in 8:59, and also wrapped up 3rd overall in the series.

Rounding out the scoring on the men’s side was Bobby Cooper, who took 6th in 9:28, Sam Cottrell, who took 7th in 9:33, and Greg Selke, who took 8th in 9:44. Also running for the men were Tim Metivier, who took 9th in 9:52, and Joe Moberg, who was 11th in 10:03. The men also won the team competition to win the club Grand Prix for 2023. Lynn Gottfried was the lone women’s participant, running 13:50 to finish as 10th woman overall. The womens team finished 2nd in the club Grand Prix series for 2023

That’s a wrap for the 2023 runner of the year series. The 2024 series kicks off next March with the Johnnys runnin of the Green 5 mile race in Rochester. Congratulations to all the victorious teams and individuals in the 2023 Niagara runner of the year series!