A runner displays the exuberance of finishing the Chase Corporate Challenge in Syracuse. Online registration has opened for this year's event, scheduled for Tuesday, June 22.

Enter the 28th annual Syracuse
Chase Corporate Challenge on June 22
Registration

Syracuse, NY, March 22, 2010 — Online registration has opened for the Chase Corporate Challenge® in Syracuse, which, in its 28th year, has become a fixture in the Central New York business and fitness community.

This year's race will be held on Tuesday, June 22, with the traditional 6:25 p.m. race start at Onondaga Lake Park.

Last year, 32-year-old Mike Melfi of Jamesville-Dewitt Central School District won the men's title, then put his accomplishment, and those of the other 6,151 runners from 243 companies who competed, in perspective.

“We all worked a full day today and you can't say that at a lot of races,” Melfi said. “It is a unique race and great for the community. I've been competing in this race for 10 years and I feel like I'm part of the family now with Chase.”

That feeling is shared by many in Syracuse, where the race start is annually aired live by the city's television stations. The 2009 event was the 12th consecutive year the race for full-time workers has drawn 6,000 or more participants. That's especially impressive because Syracuse is the smallest city in the worldwide JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge.

Last year's team winners in Syracuse also showed that the area's runners can be competitive on a world stage. At the March 4th JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Championship in Johannesburg, South Africa, General Electric finished 9th in men's division, Lockheed Martin was 10th among women's teams and Fayetteville-Manlius Schools was 11th in mixed teams.

A similar trip awaits the three team champions this year, but there are three rule changes for 2010:

• First-place teams in the men's, women's and mixed categories will earn a trip to the 2011 JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Championship (location and date: TBD). Qualifying companies must have a strong Syracuse presence, with the company having a locally-based address (or addresses). At least three of the employees on the qualifying team must be employed at the address (or addresses). Individual runners who participated in the 2010 Championship in Johannesburg are not eligible to qualify for the 2011 Championship.
  
  
• The t-shirt contest will now choose two t-shirt winners, with each receiving $1,000 to donate to the charity of their choice.
  
  
• The Most Senior Executive category has been eliminated so the event can more appropriately focus on team accomplishments over individual.

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 five fastest men's, women's and mixed teams.  If you require assistance registering your company or have any questions please email syracuse@jpmorganchasecc.com or call (315) 446-6285.

Again this year, the Syracuse Corporate Challenge will be part of the “Teaming Up For a Greener Tomorrow” campaign, which uses best environmental practices in the organization of 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 has been recognized for its efforts and the Series has made a significant, positive impact on the environment.

And, a local non-profit organization will be selected as the beneficiary of the race. Please check back to this website for details.

For now, get your team together, start training, and enter the 28th annual Chase Corporate Challenge in Syracuse today.