The 28th running of the Brookline
Breeze was held on August 8, 2009. Over 700 runners and walkers from the
Pittsburgh Metropolitan region competed in the annual Citiparks neighborhood
5k Run/Walk. Race organizer Debbie Brust was all smiles as the total number
of participants increased by nearly two hundred over the past year.
A talented field of runners packed the
starting line, including annual contenders Tim Wu, Dave Farina, Charlie Ban
and 2007 winner Eric Schafer. This year's top male finisher was Ryan Sheehan,
who stunned the crowd at the finish line by turning in a near-record time of
15:05. Sheehan's performance was only nine seconds off Barry Harwick's course
record of 14:56, set in 1987. The top female finisher was Jessica Zozos, with
a time of 18:47, one minute faster than her third place finish a year ago. The
top Brookline runner for the second year in a row was Pittsburgh firefighter
Ed Hurley, who finished 35th overall with a time of 19:40.
Following the awards presentation,
the 4th Annual Brookline Breeze Community Festival was held. A local Classic
Rock band, Steel Hollow, featuring Brookliner's Michael and John Poremski, kept
the crowd rockin' while attractions like the petting zoo, moonwalk, balloon
art and the climbing wall kept the kids busy.
It was a great day for the community
of Brookline and race enthusiasts everywhere. The increase in participation
is a good sign that healthy living is on the rise, and that can only be a
good thing! Special thanks go out to the many corporate and local business
sponsors, the tireless volunteers, and the Citiparks Audio and Special Events
staffs, whose generosity and assistance have made the Brookline Breeze one of
the best neighborhood races in the City of Pittsburgh.
<View Photos of the Breeze Week Car
Cruise - August 7, 2009>
<Race Results>
* Photos provided by
Linda Andrews and Clint Burton * |