Sports - Memorial Run brings out locals

The majority of participants were from the Capital Region and throughout New England.

Overall winners of the Half-Marathon were:

• Male – Josh Merlis (25), Albany, 1:15:54

• Female – Kari Gathen (38), Albany, 1:22:56

Overall winners of the 5K were:

• Male – Dan Vassallo (22), Willimington, Mass.A 16:32

• Female – Erica Howes (14), Saratoga Springs, 21:59

The 13.1-mile half-marathon course saw runners pass by many of the area’s natural springs, through Saratoga’s historic streets, Saratoga Springs Spa Park and Skidmore College.

According to race director Mimi Maurer “the event was larger this year due to the sponsorship efforts of Palio Communications. We were able to keep a hometown feeling for the race and yet have a greater impact with more participants. We are already looking forward to 2008.”

The decision to create a half-marathon and 5K is a reflection of Melanie O’Donnell’s personality, who challenged herself in every aspect of her life.

The event organizers decided that the half-marathon would encourage and challenge people to run just a little father than they previous thought possible. The 5K run/walk was included to allow any level of participant.

“Melanie enjoyed running to stay healthy and we believe that this event is a perfect tribute to how she lived her life,” says Maurer.

Throughout her life, Melanie worked to help people in need and to better the world. She volunteered with and later became a staff member of the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) and a board member for eight years of the Capital Area Crisis Response Team (CACRT).

O’Donnell trained crisis responders for the organizations until 2004. Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, she coordinated the care of 28 crisis response teams in New York City and eight teams in Washington.

O’Donnell also aided crisis responders in Somerset County, Penn., following the attacks.

In June 2004, she was honored as the first recipient of the Melanie Merola O’Donnell Award for Excellence, given by the Capital Area Crisis Response Team. Melanie played an instrumental role in improving her native community of Saratoga Springs.

O’Donnell was influential in the creation of a community based crisis response team and formed Saratoga Families, a support group for adoptive families.

A car accident took O’Donnell’s life in 2006. At the time, O’Donnell was attending Antioch University for her graduate degree in clinical psychology.

Sunday’s running event supported the Melanie Merola O’Donnell Memorial Scholarship, a scholarship set-up in O’Donnell’s memory. The scholarship is awarded to a candidate pursuing a doctoral or master’s degree in the mental health field.

For more information on Melanie, the running event or how to apply for the scholarship, log on to http://mmoscholarship.com