{"id":10609,"date":"2025-10-21T12:51:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T12:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/10609\/"},"modified":"2025-10-21T12:51:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T12:51:09","slug":"nyc-marathon-2025-olympic-and-world-champions-showing-up-once-again-for-next-weeks-sira-gala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/10609\/","title":{"rendered":"NYC Marathon 2025: Olympic and world champions showing up once again for next week\u2019s SIRA gala"},"content":{"rendered":"

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 In a week-and-a-half, the annual TCS NYC Marathon will be taking place with the five-borough race starting on Staten Island.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s altogether fitting then that the first large live event would begin here in the borough as well!<\/p>\n

The annual Staten Island Running Association\u2019s \u201cMarathon Week Legends & Youth\u201d Gala will kick off the marathon week on Wednesday evening, Oct. 29 at LiGreci\u2019s Staaten.<\/p>\n

The TCS NYC Marathon takes place on Sunday, Nov. 2, and just like the fabled 26.2-mile race, the SIRA Gala has grown into large numbers as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just amazing,\u201d said SIRA Board Chairman Jeff Benjamin, who\u2019s noting that the event, like in previous years will be a sell-out. \u201cI guess it shows that Staten Island can lead off the week with a true world-class event along with honoring those in our community who\u2019ve shown service and devotion to our sport.\u201d<\/p>\n

And while those local honorees consist of those who\u2019ve themselves volunteered on the local running\/track & field scene, it\u2019s also the appearances of true legendary A-Listers in the sport who\u2019ve also enhanced the gala\u2019s international reputation. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis year we once again have people coming in from far and wide,\u201d said Benjamin, who counts on many sponsors and supporters to help bring these legends in, including travelers to the event from Connecticut, South Carolina, Texas, Las Vegas, Ohio and even Canada to name just a few.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are grateful to our sponsors for bringing in these great sports men and women and equally thrilled that the running\/track youth of our community have the opportunities to interact with them,\u201d said Benjamin, noting that all youth who attend are complementary due to sponsorships.<\/p>\n

\"Dave1972 Olympic 800 meters Gold Medalist Dave Wottle greets the youth at the 2024 SIRA Gala.Staten Island Running Association<\/p>\n

Amongst the announced \u201cLegends\u201d appearing, including a few returnees, are:<\/p>\n

Dave Wottle – The former World record holder 800 meters, it was Wottle\u2019s dramatic victory in the 1972 Olympics, where the Bowling Green star doffing his trademark white golf cap trailed significantly in the early stages of the race, but who sprinted strongly at the end to win the Gold Medal in one of the narrowest finishes in Olympic history. <\/p>\n

\"BobThe legendary Long-Jumper Bob Beamon appearing at the 2023 SIRA Gala.Staten Island Running Association<\/p>\n

Bob Beamon – \u201cBeamonesque\u201d was the word added to the dictionary after the NYC native destroyed the long jump world record by nearly two feet at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Like Wottle, this will be the barrier-breaking Beamon\u2019s third appearance at the SIRA gala. <\/p>\n

Ajee\u2019 Wilson – The 2020 World Indoor Champion at 800 meters is returning again to Staten Island as the 12-time national champion is still in the hunt to try and make the 2028 Olympic team. <\/p>\n

\"Ajee'World Champion Ajee’ Wilson with youth athletes at the 2022 SIRA GalaStaten Island Running Association<\/p>\n

Bill Rodgers – A four-time Boston & NYC Marathon Champion, the \u201cKing of the Roads\u201d returns to the borough once again, where 49 years ago he started out and would win the first five-borough NYC Marathon race! <\/p>\n

\"RodgersBill Rodgers (Left) with Steve Jones (Right) with youth athletes at the 2024 SIRA GalaStaten Island Running Association<\/p>\n

Steve Jones – The 1984 world record marathon holder at Chicago (2:08:05), 2025 also marks the 40th anniversary of the fastest marathon Jones ever ran, leading right from the start and running 2:07:13. A 1984 Olympian, Jones also decisively won the 1988 NYC Marathon. <\/p>\n

Butch Reynolds – The 1988 Olympic Silver & Gold medalist also became the world record holder at 400 meters (43.29) and won numerous golds at the World Championships. <\/p>\n

Billy Mills – Called in 1999 by Time magazine, \u201cThe greatest individual upset in Olympic history,\u201d the unheralded Mills took on the world\u2019s best in the 1964 Olympic 10,000 meters, sprinting past the world\u2019s best and winning gold over the 6.2 mile distance at Tokyo. The Oglala Lakota Native-American also co-set the world record at 6-Miles in 1965<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Geoff Smith – The two-time Olympic marathoner is also celebrating a 40th anniversary, as in 1985 Smith would win his second straight Boston Marathon.<\/p>\n

Barbara Friedrich Parcinski – A member of the 1968 Olympic team, Freidrich also competed at the 1967 Pan-Am Games, where as a high schooler she set the American record in the javelin.<\/p>\n

Frank O\u2019Mara – The legendary Irish runner and Arkansas alum is a three-time Olympian, who won the 1985 winner 5th Avenue Mile and is a two-time World Indoor Champion.<\/p>\n

Matt Centrowiz – STILL the NYC high school record holder in the mile (4:02.7 from 1973), the two-time Olympian & four-time National Champion is also the dad of 2016 Olympic 1,500 gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz Jr. <\/p>\n

Allie Wilson – The Monmouth College alum competed as a 2024 Olympian at 800 meters and also won the & 2024 USA National Championships Indoor at 800 meters. <\/p>\n

\"BenjaminSIRA Gala Chairman Jeff Benjamin (Left) with 2024 Olympian Allie Wilson and partner Bernard Rebecchi, a St. Peter’s Boys track alum.Staten Island Running Association<\/p>\n

Tony Staynings – The two-time British Olympian in the Steeplechase also competed for Western Kentucky and on the world-class road racing circuit, clocking a 1:02 half-marathon.<\/p>\n

Elliot Denman – A 1956 Olympian in the racewalk, the nonagenarian has also been one of the sport\u2019s greatest writers, covering everything from youth right up to all of the Olympic Games since 1960.<\/p>\n

Dean Matthews – The 2:11 marathoner was also the winner of marathons in Honolulu and Pittsburgh as well as the Philly 1\/2 Marathon.<\/p>\n

Bill Jankunis – Staten Island\u2019s greatest living Olympian, the New Dorp HS alum stunned the world at the 1976 Olympic Trials, as the Staten Island Sports Hall of Famer upset the American field and won the long jump, thereby making the Olympic team for the Montreal Games.<\/p>\n

With everything going on in New York City that week, Benjamin can\u2019t say if there may be others who might show up as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring Marathon week,\u201d said Benjamin, \u201cAnything and anyone is possible!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"2025The 2025 Staten Island Running Association’s “Marathon Week Legends and Youth” gala will be taking place on Wednesday evening, October 29th, at LiGrecci’s Staaten.Staten Island Running Association<\/p>\n

Bell Lap: Benjamin emphasized that there will probably be no sign-ups at the door. \u201dWe don\u2019t wish to turn people away that night but we\u2019ll have no choice,\u201d said Benjamin. \u201cPlease sign up ASAP!\u201d\u2026To register online for the 10\/29 gala, go to: MarathonLegends2025.eventbrite.com<\/a> \u2026 SIRA President Michael De Vito will host a last chance live reservation sign-up this upcoming Thursday at Jody\u2019s Club Forest (372 Forest Avenue) from 6-8 p.m. \u2026 For further info, contact Benjamin at 917-692-8922<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n

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