On 15 November 1981, Sri Chinmoy sets a personal best 1:55:24 for the half marathon (13.1 miles) in the Sri Chinmoy Half-Marathon, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park; Flushing, NY, USA.
Running under the famous Flushing Meadows globe. Sri Chinmoy would go on to transcend this time in 1982, setting an all-time personal best of 1:54:30 during the Newsweek Long Island Marathon. See: Long distance records
Prize Ceremony from 1981 Race
The Millrose AA, scoring 13 points, picked up the Team Trophy at the third annual Sri Chinmoy Half-Marathon, a 13.1 mile event held November 15 at Flushing Meadow Park, Queens, NY. First place among the 650 runners went to Rejean Gauthier, of SCMT Ottawa (1:09:04), who came in a full 50 yards ahead of Remulus Delle Valle (1:09:16). Delle Valle had run hard at the end of the race, trimming down the 200 yard lead Gauthier established near the outset.
The women's division was won by Isabel McGinty, of Hightstown, NJ. Isabel is a PhD candidate in classics at Princeton U. Sri Chinmoy (age 50) also took part, running 1:55:24.
Times at the Half-Marathon were slower than in past years, due to the damp winter weather and a sudden downpour that chilled the runners a few minutes into the race. The course record is thus still held by Jesus Figueroa (1:07:51), and, for women, by Monica Mercurio (1:27:15), who set the records in November, 1980.
Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team Press release November 15, 1981.
Photos: Bhashwar Hart