And ... they’re off
Runners lead the way in the race’s return to its original course
Racers head out at the start of the CDPHP Workforce Challenge race on Madison Avenue in Albany on Thursday. Ryan Udvadia beat Paul Nichols by five seconds for the victory, while Caitie Meyer repeated as the top finisher on the women’s side, completing the 3.5-mile course in 20:16, more than a minute faster than last year’s time.
After finishing second last year, Ryan Udvadia beat Paul Nichols by five seconds to win the CDPHP Workforce Team Challenge on Thursday evening.
“We were neck and neck, I have to say, up until the last half-mile or so, and he actually started to pull away,” Udvadia said. “I found another gear as soon as we got to the street up over here, and I kind of just turned on the jets and used the downhill to my advantage.”
Udvadia’s time was 17 minutes, 18 seconds.
Brady Bobbitt finished third. Caitie Meyer repeated as the top finisher on the women’s side, completing the 3.5-mile course in 20:16, more than a minute faster than last year’s time.
“Right now it kind of feels hard. It hurts a little. But it was good, it was fun,” Meyer said.
Abbi Wright finished second in 20:46, and Tricia Longo came in third.
“I run with her a decent amount, and she’s a great athlete. I felt her on my tail the
whole time. She definitely pushed me to finish,” Meyer said of Wright.
The race returned to its traditional course starting at the New York State Museum and winding through Washington Park for the first time since the start of the COVID -19 pandemic. It was canceled in 2020 and held at the Altamont Fairgrounds in 2021.
The clouds parted just before the starting gun went off, turning what had been a drizzly, dreary day in Albany into a pleasant spring evening, reminding Udvadia of the first time he ran the race in 2019.
He won that year with a time of 17:37.
“I woke up this morning feeling confident. You never know who’s going to show up to race, or how you’re going to feel once the gun goes off and you’re out there actually racing,” Udvadia said.
He ran track at the University at Albany, winning three America East championships as a junior: the 1,500 meters in outdoor and the 3,000 and 5,000 in indoor.
“I was looking forward to this event all year and to come across representing my company, Latham Pools, is exciting. I always enjoy being able to compete, represent a team,” Udvadia said.
Meyer, representing Albany Med, was running for the second year.
“I’m a medical student there, and it brings together all the people in the hospital. It’s right here in my backyard, and I like it promoting health for all people in Albany, which I think is a huge part of Albany Med’s mission, so it all fits together really nicely,” Meyer said.
Meyer walked on to the track team at Dartmouth, where she represented the Big Green in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA East Regional meet as a freshman.
Since graduating, she’s focused on longer races. Meyer ran the Boston Marathon last month, finishing 135th among women with a time of 2 hours, 56 minutes.
“It’s more of the distance I ran in college,” Meyer said of the Team Challenge, “but it’s fun to try to get fast. It hurts in a different kind of way.”