Third-grade Fayetteville-Manlius teacher Laurel Burdick shows the fun in the serious side of running as she breaks the tape in 19:33 in front of a throng of spectators to win the 2008 Chase Corporate Challenge in Syracuse. Online registration has opened for this year's event, scheduled for Tuesday, June 23.

Registration opens for 27th annual
Corporate Challenge on June 23
Registration

Be a part of the fitness and camaraderie of the 2009 Chase Corporate Challenge in Syracuse as Beth Featherly of Seneca Data (top) and DestinyUSA were in 2008 at Onondaga Lake Park. Register now for the June 23rd race.

SYRACUSE, March 17, 2009 — The Syracuse running and business communities showed their strength at the 2008 Chase Corporate Challenge®. Now, they have a chance to make sure they are a part of the 2009 celebration of fitness and camaraderie at beautiful Onondaga Lake Park.

Online registration for the 27th running of the Corporate Challenge in Syracuse has opened. The 3.5-mile team road race will be held on Tuesday, June 23 at 6:25 p.m., with plenty of post-race company parties figuring to last much longer on the park grounds.

This will be third year that Syracuse’s Corporate Challenge has been held in June, since shifting from August. And, judging from the response last year, the date switch has caught on with runners and the business community. Attendance in 2008 spiked by more than 600 entrants over 2007, with a near-record crowd in excess of 6,700 runners and walkers from 259 companies. It was the largest crowd for this race since 2001 and one of the five largest road races in Central New York history.

Last year’s ideal weather helped bring out Syracuse ’s media — with live coverage from all of the city’s television stations. It also made for pleasant post-race parties, with more than 200 companies hosting hospitality tents in the park. The weather also helped Syracuse showcase its vibrant running community.

The women's champion was a familiar name in local circles. Third-grade Fayetteville-Manlius teacher Laurel Burdick broke the tape in 19:33. She starred at F-M High School under legendary coach Bill Aris, earned a full scholarship to run at Boston College, and now is back in town running with pride for her home area.

“This is a great running community and it does give me a lot of pride to represent it,” said the 23-year-old Burdick. “I had heard about this event growing up, knew it was special.”

She defeated a pair of former winners — Kristen White of Wegman's and defending champ Eileen Combs of General Electric.

The men’s field was equally strong. Scott Shaw, representing SWBR Architects, earned his second Corporate Challenge title in a fast time of 17:32, but to win he had to overcome three other past champions — Mike Melfi of Jamesville DeWitt Schools, Todd Halbig of Purcell's Paint, and Derek Powers of Stickley.

The entry fee for the 2009 Chase Corporate Challenge in Syracuse is $30 per entrant. All entries must be part of a corporate team, with each team needing to register a minimum of four employees. There is no limit to the number of employees that can be on a company team.  Awards will be given to the fastest five men’s, women’s and mixed teams and the three most creative t-shirt designs.  If you require assistance registering your company or have any questions please email Syracuse@jpmorganchasecc.com or call (315) 446-6285.

As in 2008, the Corporate Challenge will be “Teaming Up For a Greener Tomorrow” by utilizing best environmental practices in organizing and staging the event. Thanks in part to your responsible choices last June —registering online, recycling waste and taking alternative transportation to race site — the Corporate Challenge was named by Runner’s World as one the Top 10 Green Road Races of 2008.

The JPMorgan Chase Foundation will also make a donation for each entry to a worthy not-for-profit organization that will be announced prior to event night. Please check back to this web site for details as the race date approaches.

For now, let your colleagues know that it is time to make plans to be a part of the 2009 Chase Corporate Challenge at Onondaga Lake Park on Tuesday, June 23, by registering online as soon as possible.