STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.— Hundreds of local runners spent their Thanksgiving morning at Midland Beach for the 76th edition of the Lou Marli Run, presented by the Brighton Kiwanis Club, coming together to post fast times and start the holiday in togetherness.
Race organizer Steve Zimmerman called the event “a big family reunion where a couple of races happen to break out during the course of the day,” a testament to the tight-knit nature of the Staten Island running community.
“It’s just a tradition that everybody looks forward to. We emphasize giving thanks for all the blessings that we have. It’s our day to give back to the community with the food drive and to have some fellowship and bond a little bit. So I think all those things together make it the place to be on a Thanksgiving morning,” he continued, as the race fee asks for a food donation rather than an actual cost.
He also noted that while it’s always great to see seasoned runners post fast times, the real focus is getting kids involved in running. The event offered races for all ages, including a 400-meter dash for 7–10-year-olds, an 800-meter run for 11–12-year-olds, a mile race for 13–14-year-olds, and even a 50-meter Turkey Tot Trot for children six and under.
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76th Lou Marli Run
In the adult 5K races, the women’s division, dedicated to Island track and field legend George Kochman, was won by Notre Dame Academy alum and current Dashing Whippets member Olivia Jaenicke, who crossed the line in a swift 19:10. Melissa Kraker took second in 20:12, while Amy Jenkins claimed third with a 21:25 finish.
Jaenicke, who was also the top female Staten Island finisher at the 2025 NYC Marathon, said that although she still feels like she’s recovering from the 26.2-miler, Thursday’s effort felt like a continuation of the strong form she’s been carrying lately.
“I’ve had two workout since the marathon and I feel like that took a lot out of me, but now I’m getting ready for the indoor track season so I would say I’m in medium shape right now,” she shared.
She was also grateful for the support and congratulations she received following her win, saying that “I love the Staten Island running community. I grew up running here and got shaped as a runner here; the community is so strong and it really makes me feel at home and supported.”
Womens’ division winner Olivia Jaenicke poses with her first-place trophy at the 76th Lou Marli Run on Nov. 27, 2025.Michael O’Brien
Next up was the men’s 40-and-over field, and unsurprisingly, borough running staple Michael Cassidy — also coming off a strong performance in the marathon in Indianapolis — took first place with a speedy 16:25. The runner-up was Chris Calimano who ran 17:33, while third-place finisher Dave Michaels clocked a time of 17:44.
“It’s just a great tradition; I love this race. I’ve been doing it for about 25 years or so now. I love to support it, love the community feel, and love getting to see friends,” he shared.
He also took a moment to express his gratitude for being healthy, running well, and having the support of his family, saying, “I’ve been lucky to be healthy this year, and it’s been really gratifying after a couple of years of injury to have the opportunity to train at a high level and compete.”
“It’s been exciting, and I’m very grateful to my family. I have a bunch of young kids now, and the fact that they let me get out there and run is just really great. They were able to run the kids’ races today, too, so that was a lot of fun.”
In the marquee race of the day — the men’s under-40 division dedicated to local road racing legend Bill Welsh— St. Peter’s and Wagner College alumnus Johnny Sokoll captured another road-race victory after winning the Sgt. Ollis Run this summer, clocking a blazing 15:30 on Thursday. Dom Palermo followed in second with a 15:37 finish, while Preston Kostioukov placed third in 15:40.
Under 40 mens’ division winner Johnny Sokoll poses with his first-place trophy at the 76th Lou Marli Run on Nov. 27, 2025.Michael O’Brien
Sokoll shared that while the opportunity to post a fast time is always enticing given the deep field, the real reason he came out was to be part of the community on a day like Thanksgiving.
“It’s a big family day and a big community day — and that’s honestly why I came out here. I love seeing all the Staten Island families, communities, teams and clubs. It’s so awesome to see every single person you can remember from the running community out here. That’s honestly why I wanted to run,” he concluded.