Nick Lemon Shatters Record, Wins 20th Annual Ellen's Run

It was just a matter of time.At last year’s Ellen’s Run in Southampton, Brendan McGann was two seconds off of breaking Robert Beit’s course record of 16:48 set in 2013. At this year’s race—the 20th annual Ellen’s Run—the record was absolutely smashed by Nick Lemon, 23, of Sag Harbor, who crossed the finish line in a brisk 15:54, a mile pace of 5:07.In fact, the top five runners would have broken Beit’s record. Luis Ramirez, 25, of Southampton, placed second in 16:00 (5:09); Dylan Fine, 18, of Water Mill and New York City, finished third in 16:16 (5:15); Gustaro Morastitla, 15, of Southampton, crossed the finish line fourth in 16:37 (5:21); and Konstantin Filsinger, 20, of Sag Harbor, rounded out the top five, finishing in 16:45 (5:24). McGann, last year’s winner, placed sixth in 16:55 (5:27).Molly Bennett, 22, a 2011 graduate of Westhampton Beach High School, was the first female to cross the finish line in 19:23 (6:15). Hanna Jerome, 19, of Englewood, New Jersey, placed second among women in 19:37 (6:19), with Southampton native Barbara Gubbins, 55, placing third in 19:45 (6:22).Judi Donnelly, 58, of Wellesley, Massachusetts, and Southampton, was the first breast cancer survivor to cross the finish line for the third consecutive year, finishing in 23:26 (7:33).All results can be found on the Ellen’s Run home page at www.ellensrun.org, or go to www.coolrunning.com.“I think it went fantastically well. It went absolutely seamlessly,” race organizer Julie Ratner said. “Every single thing was perfect.”Both the race and the Ellen Hermanson Breast Center at Southampton Hospital are named after Ratner’s sister, Ellen Hermanson, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 1989. Hermanson, a journalist, sought to educate the public about the disease, the challenges its victims face and resources that they and survivors could use. She lost her battle with cancer in April 1995 at the age of 42.Proceeds of the race benefit the Ellen Hermanson Foundation, which provides breast cancer education, support and research. After 13 years in East Hampton, Ellen’s Run was moved to Southampton in 2009 to coincide with the opening of the Ellen Hermanson Breast Center.Through Ellen’s Run and other charitable events, Ratner is responsible for the breast cancer center at Southampton Hospital, new equipment for early detection and Ellen’s Well, a program that Ratner started in 2000 that provides free psychological support to breast cancer patients and survivors.“This is an incredible atmosphere here at Parrish Hall,” Ratner said on Sunday. “There’s great energy, everyone is exuberant and the excitement is that of kind, loving and warm people who are there for the cause and care. You can look at everyone’s back and they’re all running in memory of or in honor of someone who was very dear to them.“It’s a celebration really,” she continued. “Not everyone is still with us, but it is an opportunity to remember and celebrate them.”