"Building Homes in Partnership with God's People in Need"
Running in a 5k race is easy; it’s working one that’s difficult. However, despite all the hard work involved in making this event happen, the NJIT track and field team found this to be a rewarding and worthwhile experience.
Most people prefer choosing their Sunday as a day of rest and regrouping, but not these guys. Coach Alonso and his band of two dozen runners were a big help in the first annual Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plainfield 5k walk/ run. When constituting a fundraiser based off of running, who better to contact than those who do it everyday? Well apparently when Coach Alonso recruited the gifted Dan Sapienza for cross country track, he picked the right guy. Sapienza happened to be the mastermind behind the whole event in effectively communicating this fundraiser between Jane Sapienza, mother and coordinator, and Alonso. Sapienza isn’t one to sit on the sidelines while things need accomplishing, and he knew how festive this would be for his team as well.
And Dan was right! Once Alonso and his team stepped foot onto the Plainfieldsite they began working the scene as if it were their very own cross country race. Even the throwers and sprinters were overly excited in participating in an event outside their element. More impressive is the amount of labor head coach Al. Alonso and volunteer Coach Albert Suita contributed along with their team. Even after hours of working there was still a brisk jog done by the coach and a couple runners before the 12:00pm start of the race.
With some at the registration table, others at the finish line, and the rest assisting with the technological aspects, this event turned out to be more than successful in the end. All that was left to do was have the award ceremony, eat oranges and bagels, and enjoy the warm weather. The NJIT track and field team really came through, and is expected to return next for the second annual fundraiser.