Douglaston Residents Are Hot to Trot

The Douglaston Village Chamber of Commerce hosted its first annual Dick Lynch Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving during which runners in the five-mile race were awarded cigars at the finish line.

Nearly 200 people and a few pets – mostly current and former Douglaston residents – lined up at Memorial Field at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday morning to run and in some cases, skate, bicycle or stagger to the finish line, in front of the Douglaston Market at the Long Island Rail Road station's plaza.

The race was held to honor Lynch, the late Giants defensive back who lived in Douglaston.

First to finish was 16-year-old Jamil Ferguson, a Holy Cross High School student from Bellerose, who "heard about the race from a friend of my father."

Attorney, triathlete and mother of four Karen Pompay led the women's field, while manor resident Charlie Bracken, 12, finished ahead among the junior set.

Rather than a cigar, Bracken and the other kids got a bag of treats.

"It feels very good," he said. "I'll definitely have a good appetite for Thanksgiving dinner."

The chamber of commerce sponsored the race and raffles to raise funds for neighborhood improvement. The most notable prize given away was Lynch family seats for an upcoming Giants game – seven rows back at the 15-yard line.

Another tradition may have been launched by Baysider Jonathan Sauer and Douglaston's Christopher Ginari, both of whom ran in turkey headwear following a night of celebration.

"It seemed like a good idea late last night," Ginari said of their decision to run in the morning race. Now I'm not so sure.".

For years, Lynch could often be found with his ubiquitous cigar at a table in front of the market.

"He used to sit here and think of ways to improve the neighborhood," said proprietor Diego Von Schmeling. "He was always a giver."

Rod O'Connell, known as the Mayor of Douglaston, was the last to cross the finish line. He was escorted by neighbors and children who ran back to support him on the grueling uphill final stretch.

"It's a wonderful tribute," he said of the race.